Summer hiking. Part 12. Visual story of 18 photos.

 Today I will write about an excursion to the forest. We left somewhere at 10 o'clock in the morning - after breakfast and swimming. The direction was not along the river, as the first day, but the opposite - right into the forest. At first, we walked across the field; it was scorching. Good thing we brought water bottles with us. The kids sat right on the road to drink some water😃

 So slowly we reached some stones, they were huge! And behind them lurked a wolf! Which, upon closer inspection, turned out to be an entirely peaceful dog😁 There was a sign on the stones that the territory of the reserve begins here. We went on, the dog behind us.

 After walking another kilometer, we turned into the forest. It was more relaxed in the woods, and we went faster. The forest was deciduous at first, but then coniferous thickets began. We stopped in front of the booth, and the tour guide warned us not to take pictures inside the sanctuary. I was very disappointed, and I secretly took a couple of photos. But they do not quite convey the atmosphere of this place. A dark coniferous forest, a wooden fence, and a giant stump with some dark streaks. Here, once a year, the ancient Mari tribes made sacrifices to their forest gods. And who knows - maybe they are doing it now, and perhaps they are sacrificing not only livestock:))) Therefore, right at the altar, I was afraid to take a picture, just in case.

 As it turned out, not only I violated the ban on photography. And on the way back, we paid for it. Our instructor Sasha seriously injured his hand, and he had to be removed from the route and sent to the city hospital. Yes, the forest gods are not to be trifled with!

 After the clearing with the altar, stairs began up and down the slopes overgrown with fir trees. On them, we reached the cliff, where, according to legend, there was the grave of an ancient hero. Once upon a time, the Mari people could call him to help in the battle with the enemies. Then we went to the river; it was already possible to take pictures. And also, it was possible to collect water in empty bottles.

 Then we took a different path back to the camp. And for the better - now I will stay away from the altar clearing🤣