(Source: http://konakovo.bezformata.ru)

Forest "Ship Thicket" is a reserved place on the Porbysh river shore in Udorsky region of the Republic of Komi, on the border with the Arkhangelsk region. It is also called Prishvinskiy pinewood, because in 1935, Mikhail Prishvin visited it. While travelling he wrote an essay "Berendeev Thicket" and a fairy tale "Ship Thicket." To get to the Ship thicket you have to travel 176 km from Usogorsk to Verkhne-Vashkinsky woods, then to walk 17 km more through the forests, avoiding the swamp. The road itself becomes a trial of strength and prepares for the strong impression, which a virgin forest makes.

The power and the height of twenty meters trunks are amazing and almost frightening. These pine trees are about three hundred years old. During the reign of Peter I solid wood was used for ship hulls and in 1940 plywood made of this wood was used for aircrafts.

There are no traces of modernity in the lands of the reserve, excepting the charred stumps, reminding that in the late 1990s Ship Thicket was fortunately saved from the forest fire. Hunting huts and barns with a century age preserved and the remains of old roads and passes represented carved ancestral Komi signs on trees. Area of Prishvinskiy pine wood is about 500 to 200 meters. Pines are mixed with spruce here and there. According to the official statement, the reserved forest guards ripe pine forests of site class III and rare plants. It is home for Red reindeer. Any activity that violates the peace of protected forest is prohibited in the reserve including the use of any vehicle, hunting and hay. Picking mushrooms and berries is allowed. You can lay the tourist routes, but without any permanent structures and devices. Mezhdurechensk forestry is responsible for the protection of the reserve.

Please pay attention that there is no road into the thicket. There is not even any trail. It will be necessary to make your way by 17 km to the thicket through swamps and forest, which protects Ship Thicket.

Travel time is 1.5-2 days through wood. The following activities are prohibited in the reserved forest: industrial logging and forestry operations; soil disturbance; soil improvement; land plowing; exploration works (search, geophysical, geological exploration, including drilling); development of mineral resources; storage and use of pesticides and fertilizers; running by all types of transport; any construction; hunting; haymaking and grazing.

On the way to the Ship Thicket  it is also necessary to strictly observe the following rules: do not move away from the guide and tour group; do not pluck the flowers, do not eat unfamiliar berries and mushrooms, do not  make unnecessary noise. It is particularly important to prevent from the occurrence of forest fires, so do not make fires without any need, out the prepared places and without special precautions. You can not light a fire in windy conditions and it is not allowed to leave unattended fire. To hike to the Ship Thicket you should be thoroughly equipped. You will need a hat, closed long-sleeved clothing to go through the brush, and spare clothes, a raincoat and waterproof cape and relevant shoes. Please do not forget to take an insect repellent with you.