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Vladimir Ofitserov

Severo-Chuysky Ridge/Gorny Altai/-92

Gorny Altai (North-Chuysky Range)

PARTICIPANTS OF THE TRIP: Ofitserov Vladimir, Sharov Andrey, Goryunov Yury, Shvedova

Natalia Maksimova, Nina Brook, Alexandra, Svetlana Trekhonina

1. Entrances and approaches.

From Dimitrovgrad to Novosibirsk they traveled by train with a change in Chelyabinsk. From Novosibirsk to Biysk you can get by train Novosibirsk Biysk or Tomsk - Biysk. The journey from Dimitrovgrad to Biysk took us more than 80 hours. From Biysk to Gorno-Altaysk travel by bus. The bus station in Biysk is located in close proximity to railway station. Buses run at intervals of 2 hours, travel time 2.5 hours. Train Novosibirsk - Biysk arrives in the morning just in time for the opening of the bus station. It usually attracts a lot of tourists. To be able to leave with one of the first buses, you need to make a dash to the ticket office of the bus station. The most dashing representatives of the groups even jump from the still moving train. From Gorno-Altaisk to the village of Kurai can only be reached by bus Gorno-Altaisk - Kosh-Agach departing at 6-00. Travel time is about 8 hours. If you fail to buy tickets for this bus, you can, as a last resort, get to Aktash (by bus Gorno-Altaysk - Aktaysk departure 8-30 or Gorno-Altaisk - Ulagan) and then 40 km on passing transport. The hiking part of the route starts from Kurai. Its initial section (about 25 km) runs along the steppe, streaked with country roads. Walking along it is probably tedious, and difficult to navigate. Therefore, it is advisable to arrange with local residents about a pickup by car to the crossing over the Tete River (approximately 15 km). Here is the most suitable place for the first night. The water in the river is clear, a forest grows in the floodplain.

2. BRIEF TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION.

Seventh of August. First day. Tete River - Aktru weather station.

From the Tete River, the path continues through the steppe along a country road. Sometimes there are forks, then you need to keep to the western direction. An irrigation canal runs almost parallel to the road on the left (not visible from the road). The road then crosses it and forks. You need to turn onto the left road leading to the mountains. However, both roads lead to the Aktra River and cross it, but the right road makes a larger detour and goes further downstream. A heavily damaged log bridge leads across the river, but it is not difficult to cross it on foot. Near the bridge there are equipped places for spending the night. The water in the river is muddy. Behind the bridge, the road goes along the left slope of the wooded gorge, then descends into the floodplain of the river and gets lost. The floodplain is wide, in some places traces of motor vehicles are visible. After some time, a path appears on the left slope, which leads to the houses of the weather station (the former Aktru alpine camp). We went the whole way quite easily. The weather changed from partly cloudy at the beginning to rainy in the middle of the journey, and the sun shone again at the weather station. We walked past the houses across the bridge to the right bank and further along the path to a small lake, near which we stopped for the night. Surrounded by cedar forest.

Eighth of August. Second day. Radial exit to the Uchitel pass.

The exit was undertaken for the purpose of acclimatization. The Uchitel pass (3100m, 1a) is located in the spur of the Kzyl-Tash peak on the edge of the Eshtyk-Kel plateau on the border with the Aktru valley. The plateau abruptly breaks off to the Aktru River and has a slope towards the Chuya River. The rivers originating in this section of the plateau flow into the lower reaches of the Aktru. The Teacher leads to the pass by a couloir, the base of which is behind the houses of the weather station. The trail starts on the right slope of the couloir, at the level of the forest border it passes to the left slope and, winding along a steep grassy slope, leads to a small platform on which a precipitation gauge is installed. Then the trail is lost, the slope becomes scree, the steepness decreases somewhat. The ascent can be carried out on any slope along the scree. In the upper part, the couloir narrows and leads to a wide saddle - a plateau. Just before the exit there is a small snowfield, which can be easily bypassed. The ascent took us about 2 hours. The descent along the ascent path took about an hour, but it could be much faster. We left the place of spending the night at 8-30, returned by 12-30. It rained in the evening and at night.

Ninth of August. Third day. Ascent to the Tete pass through the Green Hotel. The Tete pass (3150 m, nk) is located in the spur separating the basins of the Tete and Aktru rivers to the east of the Kashtalyk pass. The crest of the spur is wide unpaved with rocky outcrops. Gentle slopes consist of wide couloirs along which streams flow. After some decrease, the slopes break off to the Aktra River with rocky walls, the couloirs are filled with scree. The Green Hotel is a wide clearing directly in front of a rocky cliff in the valley of one of the streams flowing from under the Tete pass and flowing into the Aktru River. Two couloirs lead from the glade to the river valley. A stream flows along one of them, the path of a traditional ascent runs along the other. To climb the Green Hotel from the place of overnight stay, you need to go up along the slope to the base of a wide old large scree. Steepness about 30 . As it rises, the couloir narrows, and the scree becomes mobile. At its narrowest point, the steepness is 45 , the width is about 5 meters. On the right is a solid rock mass, on the left is a smaller rock. Its top forms a small platform on which stands a precipitation gauge. Behind the site, the couloir expands, the steepness is small at first, then the scree goes further upwards, increasing the steepness, and leads to a wide marshy clearing, called the Green Hotel. There is good places for an overnight stay. Flat ground, close to water. There is no firewood. Due to bad weather, we left around noon in the morning. The climb up the scree took 3.5 hours. In order to shorten the next day's approach to the snowy pass Kupol, we went further along the stream and spent the night near the Tete pass. It drizzled again in the evening. The Tete Pass is a wide dirt ridge. There is water here, but the place is strongly blown.

Tenth of August. Fourth day. Pass Kzyl-Tash through the peak Dome. (Per. Dome) Kzyl-Tash pass is located in the eastern part North Chuisky ridge and separates the basins of the Aktru and Dzhelo rivers. It has category 2a. The difficulty is determined by the steep ice slope on the side of the Small Aktru glacier. This slope can be bypassed if you go up to the Tete pass through the Green Hotel, then to the top of the Dome of Three Lakes (3527 m) and descend from it to the bridge of the Kzyl-Tash pass. This path has category 1b. The morning was beautiful: clear and calm. From the place of spending the night we began to move towards the snowy slope of the top of the Dome. Half an hour later we came to the base of a wide snowy ridge. There is a fairly large flat area, the place is protected from the wind. There is a small HMS house. The water is only snowy, but a place to spend the night is still preferable than on the Tete pass. There is a shorter route to this site. After ascending the Green Hotel, you should not go towards the Tete pass, but to the right to a well-visible couloir, which goes just to the site with the house. On the snowy ridge we began to climb towards the top of the Dome. The steepness of the slopes 20 - 30 . The snow is dense with a small fresh layer. An hour later we came to a small snowy area with a rain gauge. We found fresh footprints of several people who approached the site from somewhere below and went up towards the top. After a halt, we continued to move towards the top. Soon the orientation became difficult because of the cloud that covered the summit. We moved in the fog in the footsteps of the group that had passed ahead, which led us to the lintel of the Kzyl-Tash pass. If you need self-orientation, you should go avoiding the steep slopes to the Small Aktru glacier on the right and leaving the peak on the left. When descending, you should be especially careful: the first ridge extending from the top separates the basins of the Kuskunnur and Dzhelo rivers. And the ridge separating the Dzhelo and Aktru rivers departs from it to the right. It is necessary to descend along it to the saddle of the Kzyl-Tash pass. The pass is a wide rocky scree ridge. It consists of a reddish-colored rock, for which it received its name. They removed a note from the group of the Kherson State Pedagogical Institute dated 20/07/92. Descent from the pass along a steep shallow scree. Soon a path appears leading around the waterfall on the stream - a tributary of the Dzhelo River. Grassy slopes begin near a small lake. The gorge widens greatly, the trail is lost. There are two options for approaching the Karagem Pass from this place. The first one is standard. Descent along the Dzhelo River to a stream flowing from under the Karagem Pass and ascent to the pass along it. It is better to descend along the Dzhelo along the left bank along the path and cross it near the confluence of the stream. Then from the lake you should go, adhering to the left slope of the gorge. Before the stream leaves for the canyon, the trail reappears on the left bank and goes down the valley of the Dzhelo River. The current in this river is of medium power, the slope is small. The trail and then the country road lead to the village of Kzyl-Many, which has a bus connection with Kosh-Agach. Perhaps there is a shorter route to the Yoldo-Ayra valley. The right slope of the Dzhelo gorge is the slope of the bridge that connects the North Chuisky and South Chuisky ridges and separates the Dzhelo and Ioldo-Ayra valleys. It is necessary to start climbing this slope a little below the right tributary of the Dzhelo River with a waterfall and climb up to the exit to the ridge. Then you can go along the ridge to the Karagemsky pass or immediately go down to the Ioldo-Ayra valley. If you traverse the slope to the left during the ascent, then you will get to the ridge just in the area of ​​the Karagem pass. The slope has no deep gorges, couloirs, but is covered large fields thickets of dwarf birch, which will significantly impede progress. In general, the advantages of this path are not obvious. But if this variant of the route is chosen, it is better to cross the Dzhelo River in the upper reaches. Then it is better to immediately leave the lake to the right, to the main channel of the Dzhelo. At the same time, the path passes through grassy and scree areas with a steepness from 0 to 45. Descent to the Dzhelo valley along a steep rather long grassy slope with thickets of dwarf birch. The Dzhelo River flows here in two branches. Going through both of them is not difficult. Our path according to the second option is most likely not optimal. We wish our followers a better progress. For the night we stopped on the right bank near a stream with a waterfall. There is no forest, but we managed to build a good fire from dry bushes. A little drizzle of light rain, but in general the evening can be considered dry.

Eleventh of August. Fifth day. Pass Karagemsky. The Karagem pass (2837 m, nk) is located in the cofferdam connecting the North Chui and South Chui ridges and dividing the basins of the Karagem and Taldura rivers. We did not dare to climb the slope. We descended along the Dzhelo along the right bank. There are no trails along this coast. From the place of spending the night in 2 hours we reached the stream flowing from under the Karagem pass. From the confluence of the stream with the Dzhelo, a motor-tractor road leads through the pass to the Karagem glade. But it is more convenient to climb the path to the pass along the left slope of the gorge, past the lake. We passed this way and climbed the cofferdam along the grassy-scree slope. On the tour, they found a note from the group of the Novosibirsk State Pedagogical Institute dated 18/07/92. The descent is more convenient to carry out on the road. In several places it crosses streams, but crossing them is not difficult. Under a drizzle, we stopped for the night in the valley of the Ioldo-Ayra River near the confluence of two streams on the border of the forest. If possible, it is better to descend further into the forest zone, since our place has little firewood, and is generally not very comfortable. Twelfth. Sixth day. The Ioldo-Ayry River, the Komru River. We crossed the stream over the stones at the place of spending the night and in 3 hours on the way we easily reached the Karagem glade. The road sometimes crosses the river bed. In these cases, we made a detour along the slope, all the time remaining on the right bank. We made a big halt in the clearing and went further to the Comreux River. Crossing the ford across the Karagem River in the area of ​​the glade is not very difficult. Medium power current, slope not big. You should definitely find a path on the right bank of the river. First, it goes along the coast itself, then moves away from it. The trail is weak and easily lost. An hour later, the river goes into a canyon, the slope becomes steep. The path is now and then blocked by fallen trees, it is difficult to walk, and without a path it is almost impossible. After 3 hours, we met a stream, which we crossed over logs. After another 1 hour, we approached the Comreux River, where we stopped for the night. Pure water in the river Komru. Firewood is scarce as the place is very popular. We met several groups of watermen and miners here at once. The day was very hot and it rained in the evening.

August thirteenth. Seventh day. Lake Comreux. From the place of spending the night on logs they crossed to the right bank of the Komru River. The slope in the river is very large, the current is powerful. There is no path to the lake, you should go along the right bank along the channel. The gorge is completely littered with fallen trees, it is hard to go. We tried to go up the slope, but had no success. The slope is steep, cut by deep sandy couloirs, there are rock outcrops. We went down to the riverbed again. After 1.5 hours, a path appears that leads to the lake. Parking places at the bottom of the lake. Here we stopped for a day. There is little firewood for the same reason as at the last parking lot. Surrounded by cedar forest. We tried to collect cones, but they are not yet ripe. In the evening rain, already familiar. Fourteenth of August. Eighth day. Lake Komru - approach to the Tereshkova pass. From the lake, along a sometimes lost path, we reached a stream flowing from under the Tumanny and Tereshkova passes. Along the channel littered with stones, we climbed to the rocky terraces. The further way to the moraine of the glacier under the Tereshkova Pass can be made either along the left (along the way) side of the valley along the moraine ridges and scree, or directly, through a series of rocky massifs and lakes. The first path is longer, but clear. For an overnight stay, however, you still have to go down to the lakes. The second path is unlikely to be done without reconnaissance and looping, but, perhaps, it is still preferable. At this stage of the approach, a section of the ridge with the Tereshkova pass becomes visible. We left Comru Lake at 11 o'clock, stopped for the night at one of the numerous lakes under the Tereshkova Pass at 18-00. There is no firewood. It rained heavily all evening.

August fifteenth. Ninth day. Tereshkova pass. The Tereshkova Pass (3000 m, 1b) is located in the Karagem branch of the North Chuya Range and connects the basins of the Komryu and Levy Yungur rivers. From the place of spending the night, along a labyrinth of rocks and lakes, along a previously explored path, we approached a moraine and climbed the glacier along the starboard (along the way) side. The glacier is open, without cracks, the steepness is 25 - 30 . Apparently, this is the maximum steepness at which one can walk along the glacier without crampons. On the glacier we approached the take-off of the Tereshkova pass. Climbing the Tereshkova pass along a steep narrow couloir. At the base there is a medium scree, the steepness is 35 - 40, at the top - a small scree with rocky ledges. The steepness is 45 - 50 , the width of the couloir is about 5 meters. Possible rockfall. The saddle of the pass is a narrow rocky ridge. A note was taken from a single tourist from Riga, Andrey Kalinin, dated 04/08/92. In the direction of the Left Yungur River, the pass breaks off with a steep snowfield (steepness is about 45). It is possible to avoid going down it by traversing the slope along the border of the snowfield to the right to a flat section of the snowfield. Further descent along a narrow rocky hollow. Before entering the hollow there are places for 2 tents. But the place is very uncomfortable. Narrow rocky gorge, water only from snow. The weather turned bad. For a long time already the sky was covered with clouds, and now it started to snow, then rain, at first weak, then heavy. When descending the hollow, one should be wary of rockfall. Soon we came to a small flat area, which breaks off further with a rocky ledge. A stream flows out from under the stones, which is then lost again. Because of the fog, the further path was not visible. We stopped for a halt with a snack. Soon the rain stopped, the fog cleared. Inspection of the area showed that two options for the path are possible. The gorge in a narrow hollow in a sharp bend bypasses a small spur on the left, ending in a hill. And straight ahead, between the top of the hill and the right slope, a saddle is visible, located almost at the level of the platform. Further descent to the lake can be carried out either along the bottom of the gorge (there is a danger of rockfall), or by traversing along a gentle rocky right slope to the saddle, and then down to the lake along a steep grassy slope. We have gone through the second option. The scree on the slope consists of a rock with a layered structure. Walking along it is much easier than wading along the cobblestones at the bottom of the gorge. According to the description, a trail begins near the lake, but we did not find it. The shores of the lake are gentle, it was possible to stop for the night. But there is no firewood here, so we decided to go down to the forest zone. We continued down the slope, overgrown with dwarf birches. When they passed the lake and found themselves on steep slopes, it began to rain again. During the descent, the slope was traversed to the right, the second lake was bypassed much higher than the coast line. Then followed a steep descent straight down to the third lake, near which they found a path. Having reached the path to the border of the forest, we stopped for the night. When the tents were pitched and the fire lit, the rain stopped. Due to heavy rain, the place was not particularly chosen. They stood on the bumps and away from the water. Well-equipped places were seen only the next day. They are located in the Left Yungur gorge on the border of the forest, closer to the river. August sixteenth. Tenth day. Approach to the pass Moskvich. The morning was devoted to drying out after yesterday's march in the rain. We left at 11:45. From the place of overnight stay, we started climbing along the left slope of the Left Yungur gorge to the moraine of the glacier in the cirque of the Moskvich pass. Basically, the path passes along the slopes overgrown with dwarf birch, only at times a trail appears. There is a good trail on the right bank. We stopped for the night on a flat area near the tongue of the glacier at 15-20. There is no firewood. Here you can easily cross the river. It would be nice to come here on the right bank. It is not clear, however, what it is like to cross the rivers at the confluence. In the evening it rained again, turning into snow.

August seventeenth. Eleventh day. Passes Moskvich - Orbita. The Moskvich Pass (3075 m) is located in the western part of the North Chuya Range and connects the Yungur river valley and the Glaciologists glacier (the left tributary of the Shavla river). The Orbita Pass (3000 m) is located in a spur of the North Chuya Range, which separates the basins of the Shavla River and its left tributary and connects the Glaciologists Glacier with the Shavla River Valley. The complexity of each pass and their bundles is 1b. Left around 9 o'clock. From the place of spending the night we moved to the right side of the glacier and began to climb along the lateral moraine. I had to go along the ridge in which the pass is located, which presented some difficulty in finding the right couloir. According to our calculations, this is the fifth rather wide couloir with a scree cone. Having reached the flat part of the glacier, we crossed to it and on the starboard side continued the approach to the take-off of the Moskvich pass. The glacier was open, without wide cracks, but the surface was covered with fresh snow. The pass take-off is a scree couloir with a steepness of 35 - 40 . Saddle rocky ridge. We reached the saddle at 10 o'clock. The note of the Moscow State University group dated 15/08/92 was filmed. The path to the Orbita Pass begins along the firn plateau, which is closely adjoining the Moskvich Pass and gradually turns into a glacier. Near the Moskvich Pass, the glacier is closed and gently sloping. There are no cracks. As you move towards the Orbit pass, the steepness increases. There is a bergschrund, which we crossed through a snow plug. Further, the glacier becomes open, the steepness is 30 - 35 . A railing of 50 meters was hung up to the rocky area, and along the heavily destroyed rocks, without loss of height, they reached the saddle of the Orbita pass. The pass is a rocky scree ridge. They filmed a note from the group of the Domodedovo Children's Children's and Youth Department of the Moscow Region dated 16/08/92. The path along the rocks, however, is quite dangerous: at the bottom there is a glacier with cracks. You should go around the rocks from below and go to the beginning of the pass take-off, which is a snow couloir with a steepness of 35 - 40, about 50 meters long. Climbing it head-on is less dangerous than traversing a rocky area. Descent from the pass along the middle and shallow scree of layered structure with a steepness of about 30 to the side moraine of the glacier. Further descent along the left lateral moraine, where soon a good path appears, leading to the Upper Shavlo lake. It is already in the forest zone. We stopped for the night near the lake. We hardly noticed a small fine rain.

August eighteenth. Twelfth day. Lake Upper Shavlo - Lake Shavlo. From the place of spending the night a little above the lake, we approached the place where the river flows into the lake. Here, along the logs, they crossed to the right bank. The trail goes into a blockage of huge boulders and winds along them. This blockage extends along the right bank of the lake to the dam and a little beyond it. You can try to walk along the left bank along the middle scree without a path, and go to the right bank on the dam. Lake Shavlo is about 2 hours away. There are parking places in the middle of the lake near the stream flowing from the Nizhny Shavlinsky pass and in the lower part of the lake. We stopped near a stream for the day. There is little firewood near the shore of the lake, but higher up the slope there is a large amount of dry wood, and a lot of mushrooms. In the evening, traditional gluttony to the accompaniment of traditional rain. Nineteenth August. Thirteenth day. Lake Shavlo is a tributary of the Shabaga River. The trail starts from the lake and runs along the right bank. It passes along the bottom of the gorge, sometimes climbing the slope to bypass swampy areas. Quite often the trail crosses thickets of bushes. Near the confluence of the Shabaga River, the path turns right and begins to climb along its left bank. It was overcast in the morning and raining in the afternoon. They collected all the water from roadside bushes. We stopped for the night near the confluence of two streams in equipped places. For firewood they went far enough. It cleared up in the evening.

August twentieth. Fourteenth day. Shabaga River - Chibit village. The night was the coldest of the whole trip. We got up early, warmed up, ate and continued on our way. We crossed the stream along the logs and began to climb the ridge separating the streams. The slope is steep. At the beginning of the ascent, there were equipped places for overnight stays, and then they were not there until the very exit to the plateau. After leaving the forest zone, the slope became gentler, and soon the trail reached the Eshtyk-Kel plateau. We crossed several dry riverbeds. Traces of livestock and vehicles appeared. Areas of swampy soil began to come across. Soon the even dome of Mount Bissago became visible. The trail came to the edge of the plateau to the left of the mountain. A cattle trail runs along the edge of the plateau, while the pedestrian trail is lost. Here on the rocky ledges we made a halt with a snack. The plateau ends with rather steep slopes of the Oroy river gorge. On the right, at the foot of Mount Bissago, you can see several houses of the Altaians. The descent along the path along the Oroy gorge, as it turned out later, begins even more to the right. Due to inaccuracies in the map, we did not find the path to continue the path. We started the descent straight down with a traverse of the slope to the right. Numerous small trails soon ended, and we stopped for a forced halt. While the Altaians were sorting out the situation, the participants cooked compote from the berries growing around. After the second snack, we continued the descent straight down without a path. The slopes of the gorge in this place are covered with mixed forest with a bed of short grass and moss. The steepness is 30 - 40, descending through such terrain is not difficult, even fallen trees are not a significant obstacle. About half an hour later we found ourselves at the bottom of the Oroi gorge, where we found some kind of structure made of logs (there is on the map). We continued along a well-trodden path. We soon realized how risky it was to go down without a path. The slopes of the gorge from the side of the plateau became steep cliffs. If we had not taken to the right when descending from the plateau, we would have ended up on the edge of the abyss. The Oroi gorge abruptly breaks into the valley of the Chuya River, which flows here in a deep canyon. Continuing the descent along the left steep slope of the Chuya, the path winds strongly up and down, bypassing rocky ledges and streams. These last few kilometers to Chibit seemed the most tiring of the whole trip. And yet, at about 18-00, the walking part of the route ended! We got up for the last night on the banks of the Chuya opposite the village. A hanging bridge leads to the village. We inquired with the local population about the departure: the bus from Aktash passes through Chibit at 8 o'clock in the morning. The only day without rain!

All roads to Gorny Altai go through the city of Biysk, so the description will be from this city. The route looks like this:

The distance from Biysk is approximately 521 km. Of which 30 km will have to be covered on foot.

GPS coordinates: 50.063198, 87.633465

In Biysk, after the bridge over the Biya, we drive straight ahead without turning anywhere. Behind Biysk will begin historical part Chuysky tract. The road is excellent asphalt, and immediately after Biysk there is a 4-lane road. True, not for long, after 20 km it will become an ordinary two-lane, but still of excellent quality. Approximately 150 km after Biysk, there will be a fork in front of the village of Ust-Sema. We leave along the main right along the M-52 highway to Tashanta. We cross the Katun on a new bridge. Climbing up Seminsky pass. Although this is the highest pass on the Chuisky tract, technically it is not difficult, it can be easily overcome by any car at any time of the year. The surface on the pass, as well as on the entire Chuisky tract, is excellent asphalt. After 80 km there will be another pass, one of the most beautiful and more difficult than Seminsky - Chike-Taman pass. However, it can be easily overcome by any car at any time of the year. Beyond the village of Kupchegen, the route runs along the Katun. We pass the village of Inya, behind it is a place

Altai is characterized by a complex system of ridges with spurs of different heights and lengths. The North Chuisky ridge is located in the southern part of the Altai Republic and has a length of about 120 km, its spurs go to the Chuisky tract, which explains its high tourist development.

This is the second highest ridge in the Russian Altai. highest height it has in its central part, where its main glaciation is located. The heights of the mountains here reach up to 4000 m and above (Maashei-Bash, Aktru). This region of glaciation is relatively accessible and is one of the centers of mountaineering and tourism in Altai.

by the most popular place tourists have the Aktru valley, due to the presence of a climbing camp here.

The ridge is fraught with a large number of attractions. The rivers of the ridge are tributaries of the Chuya and Argut, they are all very stormy and rapids, with a large slope.

A large number of lakes is explained by the activity of the glacier in antiquity. The most famous and visited are the Shavlinsky, Karakabaksky, as well as Lake Maashey, which disappeared in 2012.

To the Maashey glacier

Route description

Route type - pedestrian
Duration - 7 days
Length - car 600 km, on foot. 20 km
Number of tourists - from 6 people
Price - 12 000 rub.

Race schedule

June: 5, 12, 19, 26
July: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
August: 7, 14, 21, 28

Route program

1 day Meeting of the group at the airport of the city of Gorno-Altaisk, at the bus and railway stations of the city of Biysk. Transfer to the recreation center in Chemalsky district, Republic of Altai (80 km from Gorno-Altaisk, 170 km from Biysk). Upon arrival at the camp site - breakfast. After that, fees for the route: getting food and equipment, packing backpacks, loading into a car. Transfer to the Chuya River along the famous Chuisky tract. The Chuysky tract is the main transport artery of the Altai Mountains, connecting Russia and Mongolia. Outside the window are constantly changing landscapes. During the day of the journey we will overcome two passes: Seminsky and Chike-taman, we will visit the confluence of the largest mountain rivers Chui and Katun, we will visit archaeological sites: rock carvings of the Kalbaktash tract, Ininsky Deer stones, ancient mounds of the Karakol valley. Upon arrival at the place of lodging for the night, we set up camp, cook dinner on the fire. Overnight in tents at the confluence of the rivers Mazhoi and Chuya.

2 day Rise at 9.00, breakfast. After that, we collect the camp and pack our backpacks. Today is the beginning of the walking part of the route. At the very beginning, a sharp ascent straight from the camp (400m.) Then a smooth ascent along the Maashey (Mazhoy) River, a transition to the mouth of the Karakabak River. On the way 4-5 hours. Hot lunch at the stream in the middle of the way. We set up camp at the confluence of the Mazhoy and Karakabak rivers. Overnight in tents.

3 day Radial access to the Maashey glacier and the basin of the lake of the same name, which broke through its dam in 2012. The group finds itself at an altitude of about 2000 m. Climbing the moraine in order to inspect a small mountain lake and several waterfalls nearby. Riding on carimats on the glacier and tasting alpine ice cream from condensed milk. Hot lunch at the glacier. Return to the camp at the confluence of the Mazhoy and Karakabak rivers (total length of the route is 13 km). Dinner, games by the fire. Overnight in tents.

Day 4 Radial exit to the upper reaches of the Karakabak River. The trail to the lakes winds along the Karakabak River among larches and honeysuckle, higher along the cedar, and then runs out into the zone of high-altitude tundra to thickets of dwarf willow and birch. The five lakes of the Karakabak valley amaze with an unrealistic turquoise color, around the lakes there are meadows of flowering gentian, bathing pools and catchment areas. Hot lunch on the lake. Return to the camp in the evening. Dinner, games by the fire. Overnight in tents.

Day 5 Descent along the already familiar path to the valley of the Chuya River, to the mouth of the Mazhoy River. Overnight stay on the river bank. On the way 6-7 hours.

Day 6 Moving along the Chuisky tract to the camp site in the Chemalsky district. Lunch on the banks of the Ursul River. Accommodation in comfortable double rooms. Bath. Farewell dinner.

Day 7 Breakfast. Release of rooms until 10.00. Departure home.

To the lakes of the Severo-Chuysky ridge

Route description

Route type - pedestrian
Duration - 13 days
Length - Auto 700, walk 100km.
Number of tourists - from 6 to 30 people
Price - 26 000 rub.

Race schedule

June: 5, 12, 19, 26
July: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
August: 7, 14, 21, 28

Route program

1 day Early in the morning, our buses are waiting for the route participants at the airport in Gorno-Altaisk, at the railway and bus station in Biysk. All participants of the route should gather at the tourist center "Korona Katun" in the Maiminsky district, in the village of Barangol by 11.00. After that, accommodation in summer houses, getting equipment, packing backpacks. Dinner. After lunch, an excursion to the Kamyshlinsky waterfall or rafting down the Katun River (optional). An evening of acquaintances under a barbecue by the fire.

2 day 9.00 Breakfast. Immediately after breakfast, the release of the houses, loading into the bus and on the road! We will go towards Mongolia along the Chuysky tract. First stop at the Seminsky pass (1800m.). Around the cedar taiga, meadows with alpine flowers. The next Chike-taman pass (1200m) is an open mountain serpentine. From the pass, a beautiful view of the nearest snowy peaks of the Terektinsky ridge opens up. Having descended from Chiketaman, we have lunch on the banks of the Bolshoi Ilgumen River. The trip continues ahead of Ininsky boma, the confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers, the rock paintings of the Kalbaktash tract. In the village of Chibit, we turn off the Chuisky tract and climb the mountain dirt road up the Chuya River. The place of lodging for the night is the confluence of the Chuya and Mazhoy (Maashey) rivers. This unusual place. The raging streams of two mountain rivers are so noisy that in order to hear each other at a distance of three meters, you need to raise your voice.

3 day Beginning of the walking part of the route. Smooth ascent along the Maashey (Mazhoy) River, crossing to the mouth of the Karakabak River. The Maashey River remains at the bottom left in the canyon, and the peaks of Karagem-Bash, Maashey-Bash, Kurkure are visible ahead. On the way 4-5 hours. Radial exit to the Maashey glacier - one of the largest in Altai, to the place of the basin of Maashey Lake, which disappeared as a result of a natural dam break in 2011. Further access to the Aleninye Lakes. After a tiring ascent to the moraine, your eyes will see an amazing view of a small mountain lake and a row not big waterfalls. On the way 5 hours.

Day 4 A radial exit to the upper reaches of the Karakabak River, where there are five amazingly beautiful mountain lakes. The trail runs up the left bank of the Karakabak River among larches and honeysuckle, then along the cedar and goes into alpine meadows covered with bright flowers of gentian, catchment and bathing. Walking in general lasts 6-7 hours. Lunch on the lake. Dinner at the camp. In the evening games, conversations, songs with a guitar by the fire.

Day 5 We continue the hike. Immediately after breakfast, we collect the camp, pack our backpacks and hit the road. Ascent to the Obo pass, crossing the Eshtykkel plateau, which many tourists call the "wandering swamp". Further transition to the confluence with the river Shavla. On the way 6 - 7 hours. Hot lunch on the banks of the Shabaga River. Overnight on the banks of the Shavla River.

Day 6 Crossing to the Lower Shavlinsky Lake - the group moves to the confluence of the Right and Left Shavla rivers, then goes along the right bank of the Shavla. In the last kilometers, the trail rises steeply, overcoming a powerful stone moraine, which formed the lake. A wonderful sight opens up to the eye: surrounded by high snowy peaks, the turquoise expanse of Shavlinskoye Lake appears. Some parking lots near the lake are decorated with wooden idols. On the way 6-7 hours.

Day 7 Rest on the shore of Shavlinsky lake. Radial exit to the Upper Shavlinsky lake, walk to the glacier. On the way 6-7 hours.

Day 8 Daytime. Walk to the waterfalls in the neighboring gorge.

Day 9 Returning back to the mouth of the Shabaga River along the same path that you followed to the Shavlinsky Lakes. Only it is easier to go, because you are already a close-knit family, a similar group. Everyone feels his comrade and understands perfectly. A week ago, you didn't even know each other.

Day 10 Hike along the Eshtykkel plateau through the Oroi pass to the upper reaches of the Oroi river. On the way 6-7 hours.

Day 11 Descent to the village of Chibit. We go down the familiar path to the mouth of the Mazhoy River. Another pleasant evening to the music of the embrace of two mountain rivers. Camping bathhouse with swimming in the Chuya River.

day 12 Transfer to the recreation center. The way back is always more fun. You have found new friends, you are overwhelmed with the emotions of the completed journey, which exceeded all your expectations!!! Upon arrival at the base, accommodation in summer houses. Bath. Farewell bonfire and dinner.

day 13 Departure home

The domain of the black guard

Route description

Route type - pedestrian
Duration - 8 days
Length - car 800 km, on foot. 40 km
Number of tourists - from 6 to 30 people
Price - 14 000 rub.

Race schedule

June: 5, 12, 19, 26
July: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
August: 7,14, 21, 28

Route program

1 day

2 day Transfer to the mouth of the river Mazhoy. In the morning, having a hearty breakfast and having collected the camp, we set off on the road. We continue to move along the Chuisky tract. In the program of visits: Ininsky boma (the road nestles against sheer cliffs, and on the other side there is a cliff over the Katun; The confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers (an incredible sight!! And the crazy energy of this place!); Rock paintings of the Kalbaktash tract; Mazhoysky cascade of rapids of the Chuya River ( the most extreme rafting competitions are held there.) Overnight in tents in a clearing at the confluence of the Chuya and Katun rivers.

3 day Trek to the confluence of the Mazhoy and Karakabak rivers. After breakfast, we collect the camp. We set off on foot. Immediately from the camp there is a sharp uphill climb to the plateau (400m). Further, the trail is gently sloping over the river Mazha with the left bank up. Lunch midway. We set up a camp not far from the confluence of the Mazhoy and Karakabak rivers. Beautiful clearing overlooking the Maashey glacier. Overnight in tents.

Day 4 Radial exit to Maashey glacier. We are not camping today. Taking some food and cameras with us, we set off to the foot of the Maashey glacier. The path is not easy, often heaps of large stones (kurums) block the path. On the way, sightseeing of not large waterfalls, lakes. Lunch will be prepared directly under the glacier. Return to the camp for dinner. Overnight in tents.

Day 5 Trek to the tract Karakabak. We collect the camp and climb 5 km further into the mountains up the Karakabak River. We set up camp and prepare lunch. After lunch we make a radial exit to the Karakabak lakes. Five unusually turquoise lakes are located in a chain in the moraines of the Karakabak gorge. Lawns near the lakes are covered with bright alpine flowers. Return to the camp for dinner. Overnight in tents.

Day 6 Daytime. Anyone can climb Mount Okhotnik (3200 m.). A serious test of your physical abilities. We leave for the ascent in the early morning. At dawn, having breakfast, we set off for the ascent. The beginning of the ascent along the madder, jumping from stone to stone to the isthmus with a lake, then a steep ascent along the mountain ridge to the top. From the top of the mountain, a dizzying picture of mountains covered with ice and snow opens up. Dry lunch. Return along the same path.

Day 7 Trek to the mouth of the river Mazhoy. Transfer to the tourist center "Korona Katun". Bath, dinner.

Day 8 Departure home.

Karakabak - Aktru

Route description

Route type - autopedestrian
Duration - 8 days
Length - car 700 km, on foot. 45 km
Number of tourists - from 6 to 20 people
Price - 24 000 rub.

Race schedule

June: 5, 12, 19, 26
July: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
August: 7,14, 21, 28

Route program

1 day The meeting of the group should take place no later than 14.00 in the village of Barangol, Maiminsky district of the Altai Republic, on the territory of the Korona Katun camp site. Early in the morning, our buses will be waiting for you at the Gorno-Altai airport, at the bus station and the railway station of the city of Biysk. By prior arrangement, we can meet in Novosibirsk or Barnaul. We all have lunch together on the “Crown of the Katun”, collect backpacks, get food, load everything onto a car and set off on the route. Transfer to the Big Ilgumen river. The path lies along the Chuysky tract. Today in the program: Overcoming the Seminsky pass, with a stop at the top (1800m). The Seminsky pass is covered with a dense cedar forest, and alpine flowers bloom on small lawns; overcoming the Chiketaman pass with a stop at the top. Chiketaman offers a beautiful view of the valley and the snow caps of the peaks of the Terektinsky Range. Overnight in tents on the banks of a small clean river Big Ilgumen

2 day Transfer to the tract Aktru. Along the way, the group visits mounds, rock paintings, waterfalls, examines the famous rapids on the Chuya River - Behemoth and Burevestnik.

3 day Excursion to the Bolshoi Aktru glacier (4087 m.), on Blue Lake. Rise time - 4 hours. During the ascent, we will see the famous rocks with the name "Lamb foreheads", the third highest peak of Altai, Aktru-Bash, 4075 m high. The trail requires serious effort (large stones, a steep climb). Shoes - only boots for mountain trekking. The weather often suddenly worsens (precipitation in the form of cold rain turning into snow).

Day 4 Excursion to the Small Aktru glacier. Rather, to its foot. The trail is no less difficult than yesterday, requiring effort, discipline and attention of the participants.

Day 5 Climbing the "Dome of the Three Lakes" (3540 m) is a real climbing ascent that will require courage, perseverance and display of character. In addition to certain personal qualities, the right equipment is required, so carefully study the tourist memo.

Day 6 Descent to the Chuya river valley. Having passed to the village of Chibit, we go up to the mouth of the Mazhoy River by car, then on foot the group goes to the Karakabak tract. In a clearing in a cedar we break camping. We have lunch. Radial exit to Karakabak lakes. This is one of the most beautiful places Severo-Chuysky ridge in Altai. The Karakabak lakes are located in a chain along the bottom of the picturesque gorge. The glacier squeezed out the moraines in steps, and the melt water filled the formed cavities with turquoise mirrors.

Day 7 Descent to the car along a familiar path. Transfer to the recreation center along the Chuisky tract. Bath. Farewell party.

Day 8 Departure home.

North Chuysky ridge - mountain range Central Altai, located on the interfluve of the Chui River and the Karagem and Chaganuzun rivers. From the west, the ridge is bounded by the Argut valley, from the east - by the Chagan-Uzun valley. The North Chuisky Range can be represented as a continuation of the Katunsky Range, cut by the Argut River. The total length of the ridge is about 120 kilometers. The North Chuisky Range has almost the same average height of about 3500 meters. Along the entire length of the ridge there are peaks with a height of about 4000 meters, the highest of which are Mount Maashei-Bash (4173 meters) in the Bish-Iirdu mountain junction, in which the main glaciation of the ridge is concentrated, and Mount Aktru-Bashi (4075 meters).

The ridge has a pronounced alpine appearance - peaked peaks covered with eternal snows and glaciers, steep, steep slopes cut by river gorges. On the slopes up to a height of 2200-2400 meters there is a larch-cedar taiga, higher - alpine meadows and tundra.

Within the North Chuya Range there are several major centers glaciation. total area glaciation is more than 130 sq. km. There are several glaciers in the Aktru valley, the largest of which are the Left and Right Aktru, Dzhelo, and Small Aktru glaciers. The Bolshoy Maashey glacier, which is one of the largest glaciers in Altai, is located on the slopes of Maashey-Bashi Mountain. Its area is 14 sq. km.

The Severo-Chuysky ridge is of interest primarily to professional climbers who are able to make mountain hikes up to the 4th category of difficulty. The most popular routes pass in the basins of the rivers Aktru, Mashay, Shavla. As a rule, hikes start in Chibit, Aktash, Menakh, Kurai or Aktru camp.