Why I like traveling in the Urals
Among my acquaintances there are many people who prefer to rest far from their native places - in Turkey, Egypt, in Europe ... Where everyone goes. Probably, they believe that everything interesting can be seen only in distant lands and countries. Tourists fly and travel thousands of kilometers, spend a lot of money, while at their side, a few hours away, there are a lot of wonderful opportunities for recreation, and much cheaper, and most importantly - it's their own, dear. Of course, there are a lot of beautiful, interesting and exotic places in the world that you want to visit. But it seems to me that it is absolutely necessary to know and love your land, especially since any foreigner will tell you - there is no more amazing and richer nature, more extensive spaces than in Russia.
And in the Urals, there are no less unique places - there are objects listed in world list natural monuments - for example, the river Chusovaya, Kungurskaya ice cave, there are historical monuments: the Nevyansk "leaning" tower, the burial place of the royal family on Ganina Yama, the fabulous Bazhov places near Sysert and Polevskoy ... There are also completely unexplored lands - for example, in the Northern and Subpolar Urals, where local residents live in the last century where clean rivers and forests full of beasts. It is impossible to list everything. Traveling in the Urals is interesting to me, its nature and history are curious. Therefore, I always try to spend more time of my life in the forest, better time.
The Urals is located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, it stretches from the shores of the Arctic Ocean in the north to the semi-desert regions of Kazakhstan in the south. The elevated plains of the Cis-Urals and Trans-Urals adjoin the stone belt of the Ural Mountains, here are located Perm region, Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Orenburg region, Udmurtia and Bashkortostan, the eastern parts of the Komi Republic and the Arkhangelsk region and the western part of the Tyumen region.
Given that the Urals stretch for 2,500 km, its nature is remarkably diverse - landscapes, climatic features, flora and fauna, so traveling in the Urals always brings new impressions to tourists. In this land there are deserted wild places, And big cities with historical sights, and densely populated areas with many villages. The fact that the Urals is rich in minerals is interesting for the traveler by a large number of quarries, mines, picturesque heaps, heaps, flooded ore mines.
The Ural Mountains consist of low ranges and massifs. The highest of them are located in the Subpolar (Mount Narodnaya - 1895 m), Northern (Mount Telposiz - 1617 m) and Southern (Mount Yamantau - 1640 m) Urals. In the mountains and rocky outcrops, caves and karst failures are often found.
There are many rivers in the Urals and in the Urals, including quite large ones that belong to the basins of the Arctic Ocean (on the western slope - Pechora with Usa, on the eastern slope - Tobol, Iset, Tura, Lozva, Severnaya Sosva, belonging to the Ob system) and the Caspian seas (Kama with Chusovaya and Belaya; the Ural River). A wonderful type of outdoor activity is traveling along the Ural rivers, sometimes rapids and stormy, like mountains, sometimes wide and calm, like flat ones.
The animal world is also very diverse - in the north you can meet the inhabitants of the tundra - reindeer, and in the south - typical inhabitants of the steppes - marmots, shrews, snakes and lizards. The forests are inhabited by predators: brown bears, wolves, wolverines, foxes, sables, ermines, lynxes. Ungulates (moose, deer, roe deer, etc.) and birds of various species are found in them. Muskrat, otter and beaver are found along the river valleys, and pike, grayling, catfish, chebak, bream and many others are found in reservoirs.
Fifty years ago animal world was even more diverse, but deforestation, river pollution and plowing of land completely replaced some species from the Urals. Wild animals became not so easy to see. But, despite this, one day I met a family of elk in the vicinity of Degtyarsk, and when we were traveling along the Sosva River, a small chipmunk ran up to us on the shore and jumped right onto the boat. There are a lot of living creatures on the rivers in general - in our travels we saw beavers, and muskrats, and herons, and ducks with waders, and of course, a bear ... I decided to create this section about these meetings and other interesting moments of traveling in the Urals for active people who love their land. Below are reports on hiking trips and trips around the Urals.
The article provides an overview of 1-4-week hikes in the Urals and Siberia, gives recommendations on choosing trips, tells how to use sources when developing routes on your own, provides a “hit parade” and route threads. Some of the described hikes are in.
Once, on a hike along the Katunsky ridge to (Altai), I met a group of schoolchildren from Kurgan and got into a conversation with their leader. We asked each other where we had been. It turned out that we have approximately the same list of completed trips. This led me to the idea of compiling my "hit parade" of travel routes in the Urals and Siberia, to bring places that you definitely need to visit. And although the routes that have not yet been passed will last for ten years, I already have something to recommend from the twenty expeditions I have passed.
Why the Urals and Siberia? Let's imagine that you are a tourist with the experience of 2-4 day trips with an overnight trip in the classical sense - you like to travel with a backpack, live in a tent, cook food on a fire. You already understand that such a vacation brings the greatest satisfaction. The Earth is full of beautiful places where you can take a bus or fly by helicopter, climb to the top along cable car. And the views will be no less beautiful than if you go up there on foot. Why is there no such satisfaction? Because people have been traveling on foot or on horseback for thousands of years. And we still have the need to sometimes be in the role of a “primitive man”, a pioneer, relying only on the strength of our muscles and true friends. It is the Urals and Siberia with their wild boundless expanses that can give us these feelings. There are also beautiful mountains - the Caucasus and the Tien Shan. But, traveling through them, we understand that we are guests there. That these are the lands of other peoples and you need to know the specifics of relationships with local residents. Traveling in the Urals and Siberia, we get acquainted with ours. Does it make sense to “visit” when we are not yet fully familiar with “our apartment”? That is why in the summer I travel around the Urals, Siberia, and around Lake Baikal. These mountains are what I want to talk about.
There are three incorrect stereotypes about Siberia among residents European Russia, and the Urals too.
1) "Siberia is an endless plain swamp." But if we look at the map, we will see that at least a quarter of the area is occupied by mountains.
2) “There are a lot of blood-sucking insects in summer.” But only two of my 20 trips required a mosquito net. We were severely seized in July in the Northern Urals. After my lecture on Siberian old-timer dialects, the participants from the tent in the morning asked how it was outside - vile or mosquito? In Altai, there are no mosquitoes at all (the larvae do not mature due to sub-zero night temperatures), and there are flies only on horseback routes.
3) "There may not be summer in the Urals and Siberia." As in a joke: a Uralian or a Siberian who came to the Black Sea is asked: “Why are you so white? Didn't you have summer?" - "Why, it was, only I worked that day." Summer in Siberia is short, but real: sunny and hot. If you go on a long enough hike (for three weeks), then you will surely find it. I had only one completely rainy three-week trip - to the Celestial Teeth. The summer travel season lasts from mid-June to the end of August (in the Subpolar Urals and in the north of Baikal - from mid-July, south of Baikal the best time is August, before that it is rainy, monsoon winds blow from Lake Baikal).
In the article, I will focus exclusively on summer hiking and mountain travel although some hikes are best done in winter. For example, it is easier to get to Munka-Sardyk (Eastern Sayan) in winter on skis along frozen rivers than in summer to wade through windbreak and elm. And Baikal is interesting winter travel on skates.
Travel types. First, let's define the terms used. Traveling in mountainous terrain on foot unless climbing and ice climbing equipment is used. Mountain travel, if ropes are used, including for organizing river crossings. mountain tourism from mountaineering in Altai and Siberia differs in goals. A mountain tourist, as a rule, travels through several valleys, passing between them through passes and climbing some peaks along the simplest routes. The climber, on the other hand, “throws” along one valley to the base camp in the simplest way possible (for example, on horseback), then makes acclimatization walks and climbs to the peaks. Moreover, the path of ascent is important for him. He can climb the same peak several times over increasingly difficult routes. Climbing and descent can take up to 24 hours, but the climber will definitely go down to spend the night in the base camp. A mountain tourist, on the other hand, observes the regime of the day more. He will spend the night where it is safe to put up a tent, for example, on a small area on the pass. For a climber, the main thing is the view from the top; for a mountain tourist, lakes, waterfalls, and canyons are also attractions. In general, a climber is more of an athlete, and a mountain hiker is more of an explorer, he learns to live in the territory he walks.
Recently, another term has appeared - trekking. This is a hiking trip along mountain paths, although there may be individual obstacles in the form of a kurum (a Ural-Siberian word meaning scree) and even a simple glacier. As a rule, trekking routes pass through villages and camp sites, so there is no need to carry food and tents. I enjoy traveling as a trekker in the Himalayas, but I hope that in Siberia all this infrastructure will not be developed for a long time. There must be a place left for us where we can rely only on ourselves and our team in order to feel the fullness of life.
So, let's focus on summer autonomous hiking or mountain travel, that is, hiking with a complete separation from civilization. What is the duration of the hike? The classic option is two weeks, which include entering the first valley of the river, setting up the camp, radial trips (light walks) to the sights, a day trip, crossing the pass to the second valley, radial trips in the second valley, spare day, exit. Radials can also represent ascents to peaks. I prefer three-week trips (on average, I get to visit as many valleys as there are weeks on the trip). In three weeks, it is better to get used to the area and thoroughly go around the entire ridge, while in two weeks you can only see the main sights. I consider easy trips lasting two weeks without the use of mountain (rock-climbing or ice-climbing) equipment. A moderate journey lasts two weeks with special equipment or three weeks without special equipment. The hard journey lasts four weeks or three weeks with special equipment. With the current level of technology, only constantly training athletes will be able to carry a lot of weight. Therefore, it is better to break routes for a long time into two or three “rings” with a “bookmark” device, that is, to hide products on the next “rings”. In fact, we are talking about several trips that overlap in terms of time.
Most tourists can only afford one trip per summer. If you are a professional traveler, then it is quite possible to make 2-4. We must not forget about the rest. At least once a week you need to arrange a day, because this is the usual mode of life of a working person. Some leaders recommend doing a day on the fourth day, because the first three days beginners go on enthusiasm, and then the strength ends, and further advancement is the result of calculated forces. If we are talking about "joining" trips, then I advise you to take a rest between parts in as many days as there are parts in a hike. For example, if you combine two ten-day trips together, then rest two days between them, and if three ten-day trips, then rest for three days. If we are talking about several trips over the summer to different areas, then, from my point of view, it is most harmonious after the trip to rest for as many days as the trip lasted. I also traveled in this mode for five years: I made a two-week hike in Altai in the last week of June - the first week of July, then rested for two weeks and spent a three-week hike further across Siberia.
What sources to use when developing a route? We will not consider "aerobatics" when you need to lay a new route, perhaps with first ascents, and when the source is only a map and images from the space of the Google Earth program. We will assume that descriptions can be found on the Internet.
Technical reports about sports trips. They most objectively describe the geography, route route, timing and obstacles passed. If you are going to make a sports "career" in tourism, then such reports are the main source of information. If for you, as for me, certificates, titles and regalia are not the main thing, and you are primarily interested in sights and in order for the trip as a whole to be interesting, then you need to know the following about technical reports:
1) Most likely, reports on hikes of 1-3 categories of difficulty will suit you, hikes of 4 and 5 categories of difficulty will be too difficult. Pay attention to the main obstacles. Passes of the first category of difficulty mean that you can pass them in one day without the use of special equipment (pass 1b means that you may need to hang one rope), passes of the second category will require the use of special equipment and training of participants in the necessary skills, even more difficult obstacles - systematic workouts. There is a method for calculating the category of complexity of the trip as a whole. If we make a rough estimate of travel in the Urals and Siberia, then a hike at a normal pace (20-30 km in the Urals, 15-20 km in Siberia, 10-15 km per day in Altai) and with the passage of passes of the first category will have such a category as the hike lasts for weeks.
2) Reports can be scammed. For example, if the mileage of 40-50 km is given on the last or first day, then you need to think about whether the group really walked or was given a lift. If there are photos of participants on the passes, but there are no photos on some pass (it says that the weather was bad and the photo did not turn out) and this pass is located away from the main route (that is, its passage is not necessary and does not affect the passage of the entire trip ), then you should think, did the group really pass this pass?
3) Sometimes the route contains excessive "winding" of passes to increase the difficulty category of the hike, for example, the route goes around the mountain with the passage of three passes. You need to consider whether you should go through this ring with backpacks for three days, are there really interesting sights around the mountain, or maybe you should set up a camp and do two radials?
Commercial route programs. As a rule, they pass on really beautiful places and described in terms of the beauty of the sights. A well-designed commercial itinerary is designed for people with an average level of experience and is likely to work for you. It should be compared to a sports run report in order to think about how to complete the route in a shorter time than described in the commercial program. As a rule, commercial trips are limited in time to two weeks, so they may not include attractions that are worth seeing. Therefore, you need to carefully look at the sights near the route and think about increasing the duration. For example, the most famous hike in Altai "Kucherla - Karatyurek Pass - Akkem" in commercial programs may include 1-2 radials in the Kucherla valley, although it is worth doing at least 4 radials there. It is not uncommon for commercial firms to offer an unrealistic hike to some “branded” peak, knowing in advance that the group members will abandon the hike when they see what they have to go on the spot. For example, we saw how groups going to highest peak Altai and all Siberia - Belukha, turned around and left before the Delaunay Pass. Therefore, if a commercial program claims a technical ascent or a pass of a high difficulty category, it is worth considering whether the program itself is realistic.
informal descriptions. These are descriptions of the impressions of the hike made by its participants, usually with photographs. From them you can get information about what is worth seeing on the route. When reading the description, you need to pay attention to whether the group is similar to yours. And keep in mind that the narrator's opinion about the area can be very subjective. For example, in the descriptions I read about the terrible swamps near Manaraga, if you go to its foot along the classical route from the Kar-kar pass. In my opinion, these swamps do not represent a serious obstacle. In any case, our speed was at least 4 km/h.
When reading the reports, one should pay attention to the dates of travel and river crossings. Focusing on the peaks and passes, tourists often do not pay attention to the rivers, although in mountain tourism most accidents happen just at the crossings. And if in sports trip tourists crossed the river knee-deep, this is not a guarantee that you will not plunge waist-deep. Commercial routes are good because they simply will not go through risky crossings. Although there are no guarantees either. So, in Altai, from Kucherla, one of the most common radials to Lake Darashkol. Everyone crosses the Kucherlu ford. In 2010, for several days I could not decide to go to Darashkol because of the high water in Kucherla, replacing this walk with other radials. When there was no time left, we made a horse crossing. And they weren't wrong. A tourist who was fording the river died in our presence (he was knocked down and dragged under a blockage of logs).
Hiking geography and strategies for making a long schedule for several years.
The Ural stretches from north to south and in a broad sense includes the mountains of Novaya Zemlya, Pai-Khoi, Polar, Subpolar, Northern, Middle and Southern Urals and Mugodzhary (Kazakh Urals).
The mountainous section of Siberia, interesting from the point of view of travel, begins with Altai (besides the Russian Altai, there is also the Kazakh, Mongolian and Gobi Altai). To the north of Altai - Kuznetsk Alatau, to the east - first the Western Sayan, then the Eastern Sayan. South of the Sayan Mountains of Tuva.
To the east of the Sayan there are mountains around Lake Baikal. To the west and north-west of Bakal is the Baikal Range, to the south is Khamar-daban, on the eastern coast is the Barguzinsky Range. Further to the northeast is the Stanovoye Upland.
Siberia includes still hard-to-reach areas of the Putorana Plateau and the mountains of Yakutia, the number of which is equal to all the previous ones. I think that over the next ten years we will see an increase in tourist interest in these areas. For now, let's focus on the mountains to Transbaikalia for one more reason. The transfer to Yakutia is long and, perhaps, the journey there will be more expensive than, for example, to Iceland.
So, before us is a huge mountainous country. Where to go first, what to leave for later? I suggest three strategies:
1) One 2-3 week expedition per summer
2) Two trips over the summer: two weeks in Altai and three weeks in Siberia
3) 2-4 interconnected trips during the summer.
I will describe the details of travel in the third strategy. When describing the first two, I will only list the ranges.
Strategy #1. Suppose you want to spend 2-3 weeks of summer vacation on one trip to the Urals and Siberia, visiting a different mountainous region every year. This strategy is suitable for most tourists.
I offer five "hit" trips, from the category of "must-see":
1) Subpolar Urals. Natural park Yugyd-va. Mountain Narodnaya, Manaraga
2) Kuznetsk Alatau. Ridge Tigirtish (Celestial Teeth)
3) Altai. Katun Ridge. Rivers Kucherla, Akkem, pass Kara-Turek
4) Western Sayan. Ergaki Ridge
5) Baikal Range. Rivers Kurkula, Molokon, Ptitsa Peak
These hikes introduce you to key areas of different mountain systems. The order for the inhabitants of European Russia is precisely this, as it is associated with a gradual advance to the east. For residents of the Urals (Perm, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Chelyabinsk), it is easier to get to Altai and Kuznetsk Alatau than to the Subpolar Urals. It is easier for Siberians to start hiking from places that are closer to them, as shown in the following table:
Table of mountain systems, cities and stations
| Region | Near mountain system | Railway station or major settlement |
|---|---|---|
| European Russia | Subpolar Urals | Inta |
| Chelyabinsk region, Bashkiria, Orenburg region | Mountains of the Southern Urals | Zlatoust, Yuryuzan, Beloretsk, Magnitogorsk |
| Perm and Sverdlovsk regions | Northern Ural | Ivdel, Severouralsk, Krasnoturinsk, Serov |
| Omsk, Novosibirsk, Tomsk region, Altai region | Altai | Biysk |
| Kemerovo region | Kuznetsk Alatau | Novokuznetsk |
| Khakassia, Krasnoyarsk Territory | Western Sayan, Western Tofalaria (Eastern Sayan) | Abakan, Minusinsk |
| Tuva | Mountains of Tuva | Abakan, then by bus to Kyzyl |
| Irkutsk region, west of Buryatia | Eastern Sayan: Tofalaria Tunkinsky bald mountains and Khamar-Daban | Nizhneudinsk Slyudyanka |
| Buryatia | Baikal region Transbaikalia | Severobaikalsk Barguzin, BAM stations |
You can limit yourself to these trips if you think that the Earth is big, and our country is also big. And you still need to definitely visit the Crimea, the Caucasus, Kola Peninsula, Tien Shan, Yakutia, Kamchatka and Kuril Islands. Another argument in favor of these places is that they need to be visited before they finally go crazy. We, accustomed to the wild expanses of our Motherland, are unlikely to want to see equipped trails, cafes, cable cars, hotels and motels on our route.
Each hike in the vicinity of Lake Baikal can end with a rest on the shore of Lake Baikal. In particular, those traveling by train to Irkutsk or Slyudyanka can arrange a week-long vacation on Olkhon Island.
For residents of European Russia, there may be another beginning of long hikes:
0A) Southern Urals. Taganay natural park, lake Turgoyak or nature Park Zyuratkul, Nurgush and Iremel.
The Southern Urals is close, accessible, there are many cities at the foot of the ridges - an ideal place to start tourism. It makes no sense for the inhabitants of the Urals to spend their vacation on these places, where you can go for a weekend on several routes. But before moving on to Siberia, they should make the following trips before this:
0B) Northern Urals. The main Ural ridge.
And a trip to Manpupuner, which opens the second cycle of travel:
6) Northern Urals. Manpupuner.
I have a travel encyclopedia with photographs of Paris, Easter Island, Kamchatka volcanoes and Manpupuner rocks on the cover. It is very clear where it is worth visiting from the calculation of trips around the Earth.
7) Altai. Ridges Iolgo and Uymensky, Lake Teletskoye. 77 Altai mountain-taiga route. This is the very beginning of Altai with accessible mountains, but sharp peaks with snowfields will beckon you on the horizon, and you will dream of further hikes in Altai.
8) Tuva. Mongun-Taiga. A feature of hiking in Tuva: you need to take into account the criminogenic situation.
9) Eastern Sayan. Tunkinsky goltsy
Third travel cycle:
10) Subpolar Urals. Ridge Saber
11) Altai. North Chuysky ridge. Shavlinsky lakes.
12) Western Sayan. Ridge Aradan.
13) Eastern Sayan. Tofalaria.
14) Transbaikalia. Barguzinsky ridge.
Fourth travel cycle.
15) Altai. South Chuysky ridge.
17) Tuva. Shapshalsky ridge.
18) Eastern Sayan. Valley extinct volcanoes. Topographers Peak
19) South coast Bakala. Khamar-Daban.
Fifth travel cycle.
20) Altai. Plateau Ukok, Mount Tavan-Bogdo-Ula
21) Western Sayan. Abakan Ridge.
22) Transbaikalia. Kodar.
23) Transbaikalia. Severo-Muisky ridge.
Sixth travel cycle.
24) Altai. Katun Ridge. Multinskie lakes
25) Eastern Sayan. Tofalaria. West Side
26) Transbaikalia. South Muya Range.
27) Altai. Terektinsky ridge.
It turns out that it takes 27 years to bypass interesting ranges to Transbaikalia, and then, probably, the same amount to bypass Yakutia and Far East? If you fell in love with the Urals and Siberia, the second strategy will suit you.
Strategy #2
Go on two trips during the summer: one - two weeks in June-July in Altai, the second - three weeks in July-August in Siberia and the Urals. I can say that Altai enchants everyone who has visited it. Many tourists consider Altai to be the most beautiful mountains. I was told that it is more beautiful than the Tien Shan and the Himalayas. I tend to agree with this. Altai is very diverse. During a hiking day, you can change several climatic zones and see many sights. I know tourists who go to Altai every year and they don't need anything else. According to this strategy, the trip plan looks like this:
| Year | Expedition 1 | Expedition 2 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 77 Altai mountain-taiga route (3 weeks) | Northern Ural. Manpupuner (2 weeks) |
| 2 | Kuznetsk Alatau. Celestial Teeth | Altai. Katun Ridge. Kucherla-Akkem |
| 3 | Altai. North Chuysky ridge. Shavlinsky lakes, Maashey | |
| 4 | Western Sayan. Ergaki | Subpolar Urals. Folk and Manaraga |
| 5 | Altai. Yuzhno-Chuysky Ridge | Eastern Sayan. Tunkinsky goltsy |
| 6 | Altai. Ukok, Tavan-Bogdo-Ula | Transbaikalia. Barguzinsky ridge |
| 7 | Western Sayan. Aradan | Eastern Sayan. Tofalaria |
| 8 | Altai. Katun Ridge. Multinskie lakes | Subpolar Urals. Saber |
| 9 | Altai. Terektinsky ridge | Eastern Sayan. Valley of extinct volcanoes |
| 10 | Western Sayan. Abakan Ridge | Tuva. Mongun-Taiga |
| 11 | Altai. The source of the Katun | Southern coast of Baikal. Khamar-Daban |
| 12 | Altai. Katun Ridge. Iedygem, Suluairy | Transbaikalia. Kodar |
| 13 | Tuva. Shapshalsky Ridge | Transbaikalia. North Muya Range |
| 14 | Transbaikalia. South Muya Ridge |
Strategy #3 designed for those who are professionally engaged in tourism or are so passionate about tourism that they are ready to travel all summer. This strategy is suitable for tourist clubs, which can organize three or four trips in nearby areas so that tourists after the end of one expedition can move on to the next. As for the New Nomads tourist club, I can say that we have a lot of tourists who are ready to go on three trips in a row. And if you think about it, this is not fanaticism, but quite. In full accordance with the name of our tourist club (“New Nomads”), some of our tourists go hiking with the onset of summer and return home when it is winter in the mountains. This method of planning requires strategic thinking from the club management and the coordinated work of the hike leaders.
Great trip to the South Urals
The peculiarity of the hike is that there are settlements on the route, so there is no need to carry all the products. The trip includes the following hikes:
1) Taganay Natural Park (1 week). Start in Karabash, finish in Zlatoust.
2) Urenga (3 days). Start in Zlatoust, finish in the village of Zyuratkul.
3) Zyuratkul Natural Park (1 week). Ridges Zyuratkul, Uvan, Nurgush. Start in the village of Zyuratkul, finish in Tyulyuk.
4) Zigalga (4 days). Start in Tyulyuk, finish in Aleksandrovka, return to Tyulyuk.
5) Iremel, Avalyak (4 days). Start in Tyulyuk, finish in Nikolaevka, transition to Verkhnearshinsky.
6) Kumardak, Inzerskiye Zubchatki, Yalangas (1 week). Start in VerkhneArshinsk, finish in Beloretsk.
Great trip to the Northern Urals
The difference from the Southern Urals is that the forest border is much lower, so the mountains seem more impressive at the same height. In July there are a lot of blood-sucking insects. The climate is much cooler. Includes the routes of the most popular hikes in the Northern Urals:
1) Mountains near Konzhakovsky Stone (1 week): Serebryansky, Konzhakovsky, Tylaisky, Kosvinsky Stones, Three Hillocks, Seven Humans, Sukhogorsky (Kazansky) Stones.
2) Chief Ural Ridge, Kvarkush ridge with Zhigalan waterfalls (1 week).
3) To the rocks of Manpupuner and Torreporreiz (3 weeks, if without Torreporreiz, then 2 weeks). Dyatlov Pass - Kholatsyakhl - Otorten with Lake Lunthusaptur and Poritaysori waterfalls - Motevchahl - Yanygkhachechahl - Yanyvondersyakhl - Pecheryatalakhchahl (source of the Pechora) - Manpupuner - Torreporreiz.
Great trip to the Subpolar Urals
This is the very heart of the Urals. Despite the fact that I have been to Baikal, Altai, Sayans, the Himalayas, Kamchatka, the view from the highest peak of the Urals, Mount Narodnaya, I consider the best view in my life. Traditionally, tourists go to the Subpolar Urals for a week from the Zhelannaya geological base with an ascent to Narodnaya and Manaraga (some then raft from Manaraga along the Kosyu River).
I led the group on a three-week hike, which was a ring: Zhelannaya - the foot of Narodnaya, climbing Narodnaya - the Kar-kar pass - the foot of Manaraga, climbing the Small Tooth of Manaraga - the foot of the Bell Tower, climbing the Bell Tower - the Reindeer Breeders Plateau, climbing the Protection and Peak Komsomol - Olenevodov pass - Khobe-western pass - pass Blue Lakes– ascent to Karpinsky Peak – Zhelannaya base. Planned ascents to Blucher, Mansiner and Ugra did not take place due to bad weather. I think that the trip went well, as we visited five peaks in good weather, which is often rainy in the Subpolar Urals. Since there are white nights in July, it is possible to “catch” good weather during the day and start the journey at least at 2 am.
The great trip I propose to the Subpolar Urals consists of the following parts:
1) Auxiliary part - the transfer of products from the Zhelannaya base through the Kar-Kar pass to the Manaraga river valley. In good weather - climbing Narodnaya.
2) The ring around the mountains Narodnaya, Blucher, Yugra, Mansiner, Protection with entry to the Parnuk plateau to collect amethysts. If you do not spend the auxiliary part, then return to the Desired base for groceries for the next part. Will take about 2 weeks.
3) Crossing the Kar-kar to the Manaraga valley. Climbing Narodnaya and Manaraga, going to the Belfry and climbing it. Transition to Saber and ascent to Saber, exit. Duration - 3 weeks.
A great journey through the Kuznetsk Alatau and the Western Sayan
Sayan is an endless sea of taiga with round caps of loaches rising above it. There are also ridges in the west of Siberia that rise above the taiga with pointed peaks. And they have the appropriate names: Tigirtish (Heavenly teeth) and Ergaki (fingers) with the Aradan ridge adjacent to it, which is included (together with Ergaki) in the natural park of the same name. Mountain rivers flow into blue lakes (there are especially many of them in the Golden Valley of the Celestial Teeth). There are graceful waterfalls. There are small glaciers on the Kuznetsk Alatau.
The hike consists of three parts:
1) Aradan (two weeks). Nistaforovka river - Rovny stream - Valley of nine lakes - radially to the Minusinsk tourists pass and Aradansky peak - Prokhodnoy pass - Emerald guitar lake - Vodopadny stream - radially to Politekhnichesky pass - Unexpected pass - Grebnevoy pass - Mirror lake - lake 1627 - Maralii stream - river Lower Small Kazyr-Sug - Osypnoy pass - Aradan lakes - Bear pass - Lake plateau - Prapor Yunosti pass - Red lake - Baklanikha pass - Podnebesnoye lake - Tushkanchik camp site. This most common route runs along the eastern part of the Aradan Range. The ridge itself is much longer and includes the still little visited central and western parts with the same sharp peaks and lakes.
2) Ergaki (two weeks). Ring through Ergak passes with radials. Camp site "Jerboa" - Marble Lake - Western Cadets Pass - Artists Lake, radial to Mountain Spirits Lake and Star Pass - Malachite Bath Lake - Arrow camp, radial to Tsvetnye Lakes and Pikantny Pass, radial to Ice Lake - Taigishonok River - Lake Eight - Misty-1 pass - Skazka lake, radial to Bogatyr and Gratsiya waterfalls, radial to Stone Castle - Skazka pass - Lazurnoye lake, radial to Mat Sayan peak - Taigish-1 pass - Maloye Buibinskoe lake - Tarmazakovskiy bridge. From the arrow you can go to Lake Bolshoe Buibinskoe and climb the Metugul-Taiga ridge. Also of interest are the lakes south of Ergak: Big and Small Bezrybnoe, Zolotarnoe and Svetloye. In this case, it takes 3 weeks to complete the route.
3) Kuznetsk Alatau (two weeks). Route " big ring along the Celestial Teeth ": Luzhba - Glukhariny shelter - Amzas - Marukh pass (900m) - Podnebesny stream, viewing waterfalls, swimming in a radon "bath", Radialka to Graduates Lake, climbing Big Tooth (2046m) - Belsu sources - Khodovaya pass ( 1110m) - Turalyg River Valley - Goat Gate Pass (1806m) - Kharatas Lake. From the pass, walking light to the mountains old fortress(2211m) and Upper Tooth (2178m). A light walk along the Golden Valley, sightseeing of lakes and waterfalls, climbing Silver Peak (2063m). lake Kharatas - lake. Hunuhuzuh (Golden Valley) - trans. Karatash - r. Small Kazyr - the mouth of the Vysokogorny stream. Radial to the valley of Vysokogorny and Vodopadny streams. Climbing #2 Big Tooth or Small Tooth. Kupriyanovskaya glade - lane. Kazyrsky - Algui - Amzas - Luzhba. From Belsu Sources, you can make an optional week-long hike through the Rocky Mountains.
Big trip around Tuva
The journey through Tuva is a continuation of the journey through the Kuznetsk Alatau and the Western Sayan and can be completed with it in one year. Unfortunately, the criminogenic situation greatly limits the tourist opportunities of this beautiful land. Recently, ecotourism has begun to develop in Tuva. It is worth visiting yurts with ethnic concerts (throat singing) and the only shamanic clinic in the world in Kyzyl.
Hiking routes in Tuva:
1) Shapshalsky Ridge (two-week trip). Bai-Tal - r. Khemchik - the mouth of Chinge-Khem - r. Chinge-Khem - the mouth of the river from Ak-Oyuk - Mt. Ak-Oyuk (3613 m. radially) - a pass to the Chon-Khem valley - Wild Lakes, per. Rocky (radially) - Pyramiden (3477 m.) - r. Ak-Oyuk - the confluence of Ak-Oyuk and Shuya - per. Shapshal, city 3349 m. (radial) - r. Shui - pos. Shui.
2) Mongun-Taiga - the highest peak of Tuva (3976m.) - a two-week trip. Climbing to the summit is easy, but since the summit is covered by a glacier, climbing requires walking in ropes and crampons. During the trip, you can visit the valleys of the Tolaity River with waterfalls, Uzun-Khol and Khindiktig-Khol lakes.
Great Altai Journey
Altai is probably the most colorful mountain system. From almost any glade on the route, you can admire all the colors of nature: a green forest, a blue lake or a waterfall, multi-colored scree, white snowfields and glaciers. This is one of the reasons why you can visit Altai every year.
Hiking in Altai: 1) Fragments of the legendary route 77: Lake Teletskoye, Iolgo ridge and Karakol lakes, Uymensky ridge (2-3 weeks). This Northern part Russian Altai. Here the mountains are low and accessible for climbing, but from the tops you already have a view of the pointed snow-capped peaks.
2) Katunsky ridge, valleys of the Kucherla and Akkem rivers, Kara-Turek pass, possibly climbing Belukha (2-3 weeks). Start and finish in Tungur and Kucherla. This is the very heart of Altai. The highest peak of Altai - Belukha - is climbed by commercial firms, but it must be borne in mind that the mountain is insidious, according to weather conditions half of the ascents are cancelled. Climbing requires endurance and climbing skills. But from the Kara-Turek pass, a fabulous view of Belukha and other Altai mountains opens up.
3) North-Chuysky ridge (2-3 weeks). Start and finish in front of Chibit. Valleys of the rivers Shavla, Maashey, Aktru. Nizhneshavlinsky pass. Shavlinsky lakes, surrounded by walls with snow-white peaks, are one of the best views in Altai.
4) South Chuisky ridge (2-3 weeks). Start and finish in Beltir village. Valleys of the rivers Elangash, Karaoyuk, Taldura. Rublevsky, Udachny, Leningradsky passes. Climbing the highest peak - Irbistu Peak (3967m, 2A) - requires mountaineering training. This is an unusual ridge, on which there is little forest, but peaks are visible from everywhere. Local residents breed yaks, which can be found in almost any part of the range, and camels near Lake Karakol.
5) Ukok Plateau (2 weeks). Start and finish in Jazator. This is the most South part Russian Altai. Steppe with Scythian mounds and lakes and pointed peaks. Climbing sacred mountain Tavan-Bogdo-Ula requires the use of climbing equipment.
6) Terektinsky ridge (2 weeks). Rarely visited, but promising in terms of tourism range. Commercial firms offer there for the most part horse trips.
Journey along the Katunsky ridge in Altai
I singled out the trip along the Katunsky ridge as an expedition separate from the Great Altai trip, because if you visit all the valleys of this ridge, it will take almost the entire summer season and there may not be enough time for other ridges of Altai. And the Katun Ridge really deserves to be walked all summer long! Diverse valleys with lakes and waterfalls on tributary streams and sparkling snow-capped peaks will not leave anyone indifferent. Among esotericists, at the suggestion of Roerich, this place is considered Shambhala. A typical two-week route looks like entry along one river, parking on the lake, radials, crossing the pass of the 1st category of complexity into the second valley, radials from there, going down the river to the village. If you combine three or more valleys, then it is logical to bring food on horseback to the valleys in the middle of the hike. I cite only the rivers flowing from the northern slopes of the ridge, with the exception of the Katun. There is also the Kazakh river Berel and the southern rivers flowing on the Ukok plateau (it is logical to combine trips there with trips to Ukok).
1) The source of the Katun. Tikhoe and Talmen lakes. Start and finish in the village of Kaytanak. Through the Krepkiy pass to the Multinsky lakes, through Khazinikhinsky - to the Kuragan valley.
2) Multi. Cast from the Multinsky maral. Radials along the Travel Mult, Krepkaya, Mult, Kuyguk. Through the Kuiguk pass you can go to the Akchan valley and climb the sacred mountain Kolban, which has steep slopes and does not require special equipment. Routes include visiting the most beautiful lakes. Through the Strong Pass you can go to the Tikhaya River, and from there to Talmen Lake and to the sources of the Katun. From Akchan - transition to Lake Kyrgyz and to the valley of Kuragan.
3) Kuragan, Yoldo. Transfer from the village of Katanda ( ferry crossing through Katun). Through Lake Kyrgyz, access to the Kuyguk valley, then to the Multinsky lakes, through the Khazinikhinsky pass - access to Lake Talmen and the sources of the Katun.
4) Kucherla. Start in the villages of Tungur and Kucherla. Radials to Tsvetnoe lakes, Kuldur-Oyuk, Darashkol, Mushtuairy, Konyairy. In my opinion, this is central Altai lake, on which you can safely stand for a week and make radials that do not bother. Camps on other Altai lakes are limited to 2-3 radial camps. Through Darashkol and the passes of Ioldoairy Western and Ioldo we pass to the valley of Kuragan. Through the Kara-Turek pass to the Akkema valley.
5) Akkem. Start in the villages of Tungur and Kucherla. Radials to the valleys of Ak-oyuk, Yarlu, to the lake of Spirits, Tomsk sites on the Rodzevich (Akkem) glacier. From the Tomsk sites, the route of climbing to the highest peak of Altai and all of Siberia - Belukha (requires the use of climbing equipment) begins. Through the Kara-Turek pass, exit to the Kucherly valley, through the Sarybel pass to the Tekel valley, then through the Tekel pass to the Suluaira valley.
6) Valleys of the Suluairy, Mensu, Yedygem, Kulagash rivers. Exit to the village of Jazator on the Ukok plateau. These valleys are mainly horseback tours.
Great trip to the Eastern Sayan
The Eastern Sayan is less familiar to tourists than the Western Sayan or the mountains around Lake Baikal. However, there is something to see. This high mountains, including extinct volcanoes, wild mountain lakes, hot and mineral springs, deep gorges.
Hiking in the Eastern Sayan:
1) Tunkinsky loaches. Best time for travel - August, at this time the least amount of precipitation. The routes require two weeks to pass, but it is better to allocate three weeks to stand at the Shumak mineral springs for a week and do radials. Among esotericists, this area is another candidate for the role of Shambhala. There are warm radon baths and about 150 exits. mineral water from a variety of diseases. In the Tunkinskaya valley at the foot of the Tunkinskiye bald mountains there are resort villages with mineral springs - Nilova Pustyn and Arshan. There are three popular routes on Shumak:
1a) Nilova Pustyn village - Shumak pass - Shumak valley - Kitoy river - Arshansky pass - Arshan village. This is the easiest route to take in case of bad weather.
1b) Nilova Pustyn village - Shumak pass - Shumak valley - Narin-gol river - Yaman-gol river - Ara-Khubyty river - Khubytinsky pass - Nilova Pustyn village. I recommend this route in case of stable good weather and low water in the rivers. It includes the passage of the gorges of the Narin-gol and Yaman-gol rivers, on which it is required to make about 40 crossings and in some places go straight along the river. This is a unique place in Siberia where you can admire the sheer cliffs of gorges and waterfalls. The hike is compatible with a trip to Khamar-Daban, since you need to get to the same station - Slyudyanka.
1c) Nilova Pustyn village - Shumak pass - Shumak valley - Windy pass - Bilyuty river - Bepkan pass - Dinosaur pass - Arshan village. The route is recommended when high water makes option 1b impassable, but at the same time, precipitation does not lead to the formation of snow cover on the passes.
2) Valley of extinct volcanoes, Topographers peak (climbing requires experience and ice equipment), hot springs of Khoyto-gol and mineral springs of Zholgan (3 weeks). The route introduces the participants to the various forms of relief of the Eastern Sayan. The nearest settlement is Orlik, it requires off-road vehicles.
3) Tofalaria. mountain country with wildlife in the Eastern Sayan - the country of tofs. It is quite possible to make three trips lasting 2-3 weeks along it: from the west from Krasnoyarsk Territory to Grandiose Peak, from the northeast from the lakes Agulskoye and Medvezhye to Grandiose Peak, from the east to the peaks of Triangulators, Zaoblachnoye and Podnebesny.
Great trip to Baikal
Baikal - unique place for outdoor activities. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, it allows you to combine hiking in the mountains with relaxing on the sea (as Baikal is called by all the locals), to visit the birthplace of shamanism - the island of Olkhon. There are also hot springs on Lake Baikal - Khakusy and springs on the Goryachaya River.
Hiking around Lake Baikal: 1) The Baikal Range (2 weeks) is located on the western shore of Lake Baikal. You need to get to Severobaikalsk. Visiting the valleys of the Kurkula and Molokon rivers, viewing the waterfalls on Molokon, the glacier at the foot of Mount Chersky, climbing the Bird Peak (The bird is a spur of the largest peak of the ridge - Mount Chersky. Climbing Chersky requires the use of climbing equipment).
2) Khamar-Daban (3 weeks). The best time to travel is August, when the clouds from Baikal almost do not come. Smooth mesas in the west give way to sharp peaks in the east. The hike is long, designed for hardy tourists (about 20 km are required per day with a total climb of 1200 m). Start in Slyudyanka, finish in Vydrino. Route: Slyudyanka - Chersky Peak (climbing, viewing Chertova Lake and Heart Lake and waterfalls on Podkomarnaya) - Bosan - Margasanskaya Sopka - Margasan - Tumbusun Dulga - Utulikskaya Horseshoe - Perevalnoe, Patovoe, Galichie - Khan-Ula - Nukhen-Daban and Langutai Gates - Taltsinsky Peak - Tepliye Lakes - Sobolinoye Lake - Vydrino. Shortening the route will require mounted crossings over turbulent rivers. An alternative form of hiking is to enter from any railway station, radials, then moving to another station, etc.
3) The Barguzinsky Ridge is the most powerful of the ranges surrounding Baikal with many sharp peaks and alpine lakes. On it it is quite possible to organize several trips lasting 2-4 weeks. Routes can start from the Barguzin valley (the eastern foot of the ridge) and go through the passes to the eastern shore of Baikal or start and end on the shore of Baikal at the mouth of different rivers. Often routes pass through the hot springs of Khakusy, lakes Frolikha and Ukoinda and in the upper reaches of the Thompuda River.
4) Olkhon Island. It is logical to finish the trip around Baikal with a rest on the island. You can stay in large settlement islands - Khuzhir, from where it is easy to order transport for trips around the island, a boat, or in the Nyurgan Bay - a bay with sandy beach in a larch forest (from there it is convenient to make hiking on the northern part of the island). A week's rest on the island is enough to visit all its sights: the birthplace of shamanism - Shamanka rock, the northern tip of the island - Cape Khoboy and the Uzura valley, bays east coast Hatkhu, Idiba and Tashkinei, lake with healing mud Shara-Nur, the highest peak of the island - Zhima, south-eastern bays and lakes Khonkhoi, Muku-Nur, Nurskoe, archaeological site- Kurykan wall.
4b) An alternative to the camp on Olkhon can be a camp on the Svyatoy Nos peninsula with a visit to the Khakusy hot springs and a boat trip to the Ushkany Islands.
Great trip to Transbaikalia
I have separated these hikes into a journey separate from Great trip on Baikal, because in one summer it is not possible to carry out all these trips. Various combinations of trips from a trip to Baikal and Transbaikal are possible, ending with a rest on Lake Baikal.
I have not yet been on hikes in Transbaikalia and have not worked out these routes, so I will make descriptions of these hikes in the future:
1) Kodar with the Chara Sands desert
2) North Muya Range
3) South Muya Range
4) Upper Angara Range
Conclusion
In a review article on the routes of the Urals and Siberia, I wanted to say that we have a huge mountainous country, which is quite enough for a summer holiday for many years. Commercial tours can be found along many routes, but they only allow you to look inside these ridges. A full-fledged trip is possible in a well-coordinated and developing team of hiking friends. Systematic, from year to year, bypassing the ridges of Siberia requires the organization of a tourist club. And this is quite justified: you will grow up together with your hiking friends, your team will develop, and the Urals and Siberia will give you ever new beautiful views, becoming your homeland. In the tourist club "New Nomads" there is a project "
No need to fly to Jupiter for the most amazing discoveries. They are closer than it might seem, they are in the land of our ancestors - in the Urals. Hospitality in these parts has been famous for a long time, the majestic beauty of the mountains, the coniferous air, the clear waters of the lakes are the wonders of the Urals.
To see how the area lives, you can go to road trip by car in the Urals. Unity with nature is the main task of this kind of travel. Be sure to take it with you mobile phone, first aid kit, spare wheel and tools so that nothing could overshadow your holiday.
So, our journey begins with the acquaintance of the Vetlan rocks, which is located on the banks of the Vishera. You can get to this place on foot, climbing 700 steps. Vetlan is a sheer system of rocky cliffs, which reaches a height of 100 meters, its length along the river is 1750 meters. From this height, all the greatness of the Urals will open. A particularly fascinating sight will be the taiga in the daytime, which is framed by mountains.
It is in sunny weather that the colors are most clear and bright. In addition, from the top you can see another handsome man - the Poljud stone, it is located on the opposite bank of the river. Above sea level, this stone rises to 527 meters and is the highest point of Polyudov Ridge.
Further, a journey through the southern Urals by car leads us to the Stone Town, which has moved away from Krasnovishersk. It is also called. Nature, which randomly scattered huge stones, made this place very similar to a city, with its streets, passages, arches, labyrinths and bridges. Wind and water also made their own adjustments. So on the stones you can see simply unique patterns that were formed under the influence of natural elements. Many relics even got their names, for example, there is a Turtle stone here. 
It is unique in its kind ice fountain located in Siberia. It was formed by a man back in 1976, when iron ore was searched for in this place. But as it turned out, here you can only find underground river. Then the hole was plugged, but a powerful stream knocked out the plug. It was decided to install a metal plug with holes.
Thanks to this design, the fountain appeared. In winter, the fountain is especially beautiful, the water, freezing, becomes a figure, in some years its height could reach 16 meters. Every year the shape of the frozen fountain is different, it all depends on the air temperature and wind direction. The fountain looks especially amazing and amazing at night.
Traveling by car in the Urals gives you the opportunity to see numerous caves. For example, tourists love to visit the Kungur cave, which is located near the city of Kungur. A feature of these places is that during the inspection of underground lakes and grottoes, you can see ice-covered areas, and in summer too.
Warm clothing is essential for hiking in the caves. It is also worth remembering that there are places in the caves where absolute darkness reigns. Take a flashlight with you to avoid confusion.
In the South Urals there are also karst cave, which contains more than 30 wall paintings. The name of her age is her approximately one million years. This cave is the only one of its kind where you can see paintings from the Stone Age. Its length is more than 2 km. The river Shulgan flows inside the cave. You can enter the cave through an arch reaching a height of 40 m.
To date, only one and a half kilometers of the cave have been studied, the rest of the area remains a mystery. In addition, traces of human presence were found at the entrance to the cave. So, charcoal, ash, which is already more than 15-17 thousand years old, household and labor tools, and ocher were found here.
We are going to Yekaterinburg. This place is famous for the monument of the border between Asia and Europe. Tourists are attracted to these places due to the opportunity to visit both Europe and Asia at the same time, to stand with different feet on the lands of different continents. The opening of the monument was in 2008. Getting to this place by car is not a problem. Around the monument is a very beautiful and ennobled area, here you can see flower beds, gazebos.
Often, newlyweds come to the monument, who decided to unite their destinies by marriage. In Yekaterinburg, you can also see the legendary factory dam, which is made of larch. This place is called the place of meetings and partings. Everything that deserves attention happens in this place.
First dates, marriage proposals take place here, students come here. And all the guests are “watched” by Tatishchev and Genin, who were the founders of Yekaterinburg. It was these people who gave the order to build the dam in 1723. And it was from that moment that the construction of the city itself began.
Further, our journey by car along the Urals runs towards Chelyabinsk to the village Paris. This name was given to the village at the request of the inhabitants of the Nagaybaks, who at one time showed courage in the war against Napoleon. Here are proposed sights of a military theme, which can also be seen in Magnitogorsk. Interesting in this city is the “Sword to the Front”, a monument depicting a blacksmith handing over a sword to a warrior.
The same sword in Volgograd raises the monument "Motherland". In 2005, a solemn opening of a cell communication tower took place in the village, which exactly repeated the outlines of eiffel tower, only in a reduced version. Also in the village of Paris you can visit the museum of local lore, which is located in the center of the village. It brings together the whole history of the origin of the village, from foundation to collectivization. All information is placed on the stands. 
Auto trip in the Urals ends on ski resort Abzakovo, where, having climbed the cable car to the very top, tourists will see a unique view that is simply breathtaking. 
In a 17-minute drive you can see the snow-covered mountain slopes the majestic mountains of Bikembet and Halmaurdy, look at the routes of the tracks, see how experienced and beginner skiers overcome ski slopes and also do gorgeous photos, which will replenish your album from the rest.
There are many interesting places in the Urals that are worth seeing. We have described only a small part of what the Urals has.
You can take a child and go there with your family for the whole weekend: there are places for tents, you can rent a house.
The park is full interesting routes for every taste. It is located in the lower reaches of the Serga River. In the park you can find 6 rocks: "Kissing", "Light", "Pisanitsa", "Frog", "Karst Bridge", "Perforated Stone". Cave lovers will also rejoice at their abundance: "Friendship", "Big Failure", "Bolshaya Arakaevskaya", "Parking of an ancient man".
At the entrance, each visitor is given a route map, also, there will be signs and pavilions for relaxation along the way.
A variety of landscapes, historical sites, beautiful views from the rocks.
How to get there:
On the highway Ekaterinburg - Perm to the turn to Nizhniye Sergi, Arti. Turn onto the highway in the direction of these settlements. Approximately 15 km after Nizhniye Seryoga, shortly after the village of Polovinka, there will be a left turn following the sign to the Oleni Ruchi park. There is a car park on site.
For the thrill
Didino tunnel - popular place among lovers of the abandoned. The length of the railway tunnel is 1123 meters, the height is 6.1. It is located near the village of Didino and the railway station of the same name. Abandoned since 1995.
The entrance arch to the tunnel is decorated with decorative elements in the form of fortress towers with loopholes and battlements, thanks to which it looks like the entrance to a castle. This is what attracts most tourists. Inside there are two mines and technical rooms.
Now the tunnel is already in such a bad state that even experienced urban tourists should be extremely careful there. Rubber boots and special clothing are required to visit, it is cold in the tunnel even in the warm season.
How to get there:
Along the Novomoskovsky tract towards Perm, then turn left onto the dirt road between Revda and the village of Pervomaisky. It is 5 km from here to the tunnel, but it will be possible to drive only in dry weather, so in autumn there is an option to leave the car and take a walk.
Closer to the sky
Kourovskaya astronomical observatory- the only one in the Urals. And it is located near the village of Sloboda, on the banks of the famous Chusovaya River.
The observatory belongs to the Institute of Natural Sciences of the Ural Federal University. It works in three directions: observations of the Sun, stars and near-Earth satellites.
How to get there:
Along the Moscow highway to Pervouralsk. Pass through the whole city, cross the dam, pass Bilimbay and go towards Shali until the turn to the village of Sloboda. Turn into Sloboda. The observatory is located behind the Chusovaya camp site.
In the footsteps of cinema
Beautiful views of the Urals often flashed in Soviet cinema. But in the 21st century, interest in our places has grown largely thanks to Alexei Ivanov and the film, which was shot based on his book of the same name, The Geographer Drank His Globe Away. One of the places where the main character took his class and generally liked to spend time there: the backwater in Zakamsk.
This place is especially beautiful in winter, but in autumn it will be interesting to look at a large collection of assorted ships. Here are collected both efficient ships, most of which were launched and are actively operating in the summer, as well as decommissioned and rusted ones.
You can get on the ships themselves by agreeing well with the guards, but here everything is at their discretion and your persuasiveness. There has been a backwater since the 19th century. In 1931, the Kama shipbuilding plant was founded there, and after the restructuring in the 90s, the Kama Shipping Company fell into decay.
The Southern Urals is rich in tourist hiking routes.
The peaks of Taganay, the ridges of Zyuratkul, the rocky remains of Mount Arakul - there is where to roam! Vacation time is coming. And we decided to make a map of the most interesting hiking trails in the South Urals. We are helped by experienced travelers, organizers of hikes Evgeny Konovalov and Alexander Pshenichny, who know that even on well-known routes you can find unexplored paths.
1. Shemakha Cave*
It is located near the village of Skaz, Nyazepetrovsky district. In summer the cave is filled with water, which freezes in winter, turning the grotto into a fabulous ice city. Tourists can walk along the purest transparent ice floor, take pictures with long icicles. By the way, the second cave is located not far from the first one, but descending into it is possible only with special equipment and with certain preparation. In the second cave, those who manage to move in a plastunsky way will like it. Almost the entire length of the dungeon will have to crawl.When traveling to the caves, you can focus on the village of Shemakha, having reached it, ask local residents how to get to the village of Skaz, from where there is one road to the cave.
2. Sugomak*
Some of the most famous and easily accessible sights in the north of the region are Mount Sugomak and the Sugomak cave, located in the vicinity of Kyshtym. The place is good because within a radius of a couple of kilometers you can visit several objects - a mountain, a lake and a cave. The cave is the only one in the Urals formed by water in marble rock.
Climbing Mount Sugomak takes no more than an hour, the trail is accessible to children and pensioners. Stunning views of the numerous lakes of our region open from the top, from this peak you can even see Uvildy.
Mount Egoza rises to the north of Sugomak. These are the peaks of the same ridge, they are very similar to each other.
By the way, on the way to Sugomak you can stop by one more amazing place- kaolin quarry. Tourists call this place Russian Bali. The quarry was dug in 1945 for the extraction of kaolin - special kind white clay. An artificial reservoir with unusual blue water and snow-white shores is a favorite backdrop for photographs. Usually the whole thing ends with photographing. It is believed that swimming in the quarry is unsafe due to hazardous chemical compounds found in the water. So it turns out that not every white clay is good for the body!
The quarry is located near the village of Kaolinovy near Kyshtym.
3. Sheehan** and Allaki*
Kasli district is rich in mysterious places. So, many people know the stone remains on Shikhan near Lake Arakul. Shihan was formed by huge granite slabs and blocks, as if washed with water. The origin of the remains is unknown, some individual researchers even suggest that they appeared after the Flood. On the stones there are bizarre recesses - bowls.
In the same area there is another mystical place where excursion groups go less often. These are "stone tents" on the shore of Bolshie Allaki Lake. On a small hill, blocks of stone are pressed against each other, and around there is not a single rock or mountain - a continuous plain. Archaeologists believe that the "stone town" served as a sanctuary.
To get to the bizarre stones, you need to follow the Chelyabinsk - Yekaterinburg highway, before reaching Tyubuk, turn left. You can focus on the village of Krasny partisan. To climb the remnants of Shikhan, you can get to the village of Vishnevogorsk, or to Silach. From these settlements follow on foot.
4. Urenga and Mont Blanc***
The longest ridge Chelyabinsk region Urenga originates directly from the city of Zlatoust. The highest point of the ridge is the Second Sopka (Naked Mountain), the height of which reaches 1,198 m. It is from it that a magnificent view of the entire Taganay National Park opens.
To climb to the top, you need to get to the village of Veselovka, from there a dirt road leads to the top.
By the way, the Chelyabinsk region has not only its own Paris, but also its own piece of the Alps. The Taganay peak of the same name with the French mountain Mont Blanc is the place where not every tourist gets. The reason is that Mont Blanc is located away from the main tourist trails. However, it's worth going there! From the mountain you can see all the main peaks of Taganay. But the easiest and most popular route of Taganay is the Black Rock, climbing will not be difficult even for those who first got out of a cozy apartment.
5. Big Nurgush***
In another national park - "Zyuratkul" - is located the most high point Chelyabinsk region - 1,406 meters. Geographically, this is the Satka district. The hike to the summit will be a landmark event, the route is good for those who want to test their strength before steeper peaks. One way trip will be 14 km. Tourists start the path early in the morning from the shelter "At the Three Peaks", this is the last place to rest before climbing, more tourists will not meet a warm corner on the way. Here it is better to leave heavy things to go light. Experienced travelers are advised to go to Big Nurgush in the summer or winter time, late autumn is also good. In the off-season, when everything in the city has melted, in the mountains there is still the very water, falling through the snow, you can get your foot into the stream. So during this period you need to take spare clothes and shoes.
6. Prytes on the Ai River*
Rich in natural attractions, the shores of the purest mountain rivers Sim and Ai.In the Katav-Ivanovsky district, seven kilometers from the village of Serpievka, on the right bank of the Sim River, there is one of the most famous caves Chelyabinsk region - Ignatievskaya. Unique rock paintings were discovered here, which, according to scientists, were drawn from six to eight thousand years ago.
On the banks of the Ai River on the border with Bashkiria, a real cave city is the Sikiyaz-Tamak cave complex, which has 42 separate grottoes.
We also recommend visiting the Big Stone Pits located along the Ai River. This is a high and long rock wall, up to 100 meters high, and at the same time natural observation deck from where you can enjoy wonderful views of local beauties.
7. Sights of Miass*
A beautiful view of the pearl of the Urals - Lake Turgoyak - opens from Bald Mountain. Lake Inyshko is also clearly visible from here. You should set off on the path to the mountain directly from Inyshko Lake itself.A few kilometers from Bald Mountain there is another interesting peak to visit - the Zaozerny Range (Falcon Rocks).
8. Korkinsky section*
An unusual route can be a visit to the Korkinsky section. Despite the fact that the residents of Chelyabinsk and nearby settlements are sometimes blamed for all environmental troubles, this is an amazing place. The Korkinsky open pit is the second largest coal mine in the world. Its depth is more than 500 meters, and the diameter of the funnel is one and a half kilometers. It is better to see all the power and greatness of the quarry in calm weather. Otherwise, it will be difficult to see anything due to the accumulation of coal dust in the section. Located near the village of Rosa.
9. Arkaim**
Few people have not heard of the ancient city of Arkaim. However, there are some surprises here too. Surprisingly, not all travelers, coming to Arkaim, visit the settlement itself. Many, reaching campground and hills, they believe that they have visited a place of power. But to the settlement itself, where the reconstruction of the dwellings of the Arkaimians is now presented, and earlier the houses themselves were located, you need to walk several kilometers on foot (the total round-trip route is 5 km), an excursion can be booked at a travel agency near the tent camp.They also bypass several peaks far from the camp. As a rule, tourists climb Shamanka, Mount of Love, Mount of Repentance, located near the tents. A rare tourist gets to Mount Reason, which settled 16 km from the camp. It is believed that this mountain gives clarity of mind, and the path to true knowledge is never easy! Many here begin to feel dizzy, their health worsens - some researchers argue that the mountain is a source of radiation of the most powerful energy flows.
Seven kilometers from the camp is the Mount of Seven Seals, which is considered a place where the “third eye” can open. Routes in different sides from the camp can turn into interesting hikes as part of a visit to Arkaim.
By the way, the river Bolshaya Karaganka, which goes around the ancient settlement of Arkaim, is considered sacred by esotericists, and is called the sister of the Ganges. There is a local belief that in order to look younger by one year, you need to go down into it as many times as a person is old.
Designations of difficulty levels of routes:
* - easy
** - middle
*** - heavy
Families are made on trips
The guys from Chelyabinsk have been professionally organizing trips for a couple of years. The personal travel experience of Yevgeny Konovalov and Alexander Pshenichny is much longer than this period. At some point, I wanted to attract outdoor activities surrounding. This is how the Everest company was created, organizing hikes, rafting and other events, both in the South Urals and in interesting places Russia.
Our region has something to brag about, Evgeny says with knowledge. In his opinion, the Southern Urals is rich in natural attractions, few will yield in their number.
– There are many places with beautiful nature in Russia. But there are more objects for tourism in our region than in other regions of the country. These are all kinds of caves, lakes, of which we have more than three thousand, etc., - says Evgeny Konovalov.
Guests from other regions went hiking with the guys more than once. Tourists from Moscow, Yoshkar-Ola, Arkhangelsk, St. Petersburg came to the Southern Urals especially to see local sights.
The main tourists traveling with Everest are young people under the age of 30, and for the most part they are those who prefer to travel around Russia, bypassing exotic countries.
– Our tourists joke that Everest connects hearts. Young people look at each other during hikes, then create couples, families, - Yevgeny Konovalov smiles. - Pensioners also go with us, of course, five people gathered on one trip, so they all became friends with each other. Friendly hangouts are formed on hikes, everyone communicates with pleasure. Bad people don't go hiking!
Expert
Alexander Pshenichny, the organizer of tours, told how attractive it is to rest with a backpack on your shoulders:
- We need to take a break from civilization more often, go to the forest, mountains for several days, a week, in order to rest in the full sense of the word. After all, what is a traditional vacation with lying on the beach near the sea? People simply change one apartment for another, only a “pond of water” is added nearby. This does not allow you to completely relax the mind, calm down, stop. In the campaign, the tasks are simple - make a fire, find food, this is what helps to get away from the anxieties of city everyday life.
When you climb mountains, these are indescribable emotions, overcoming yourself. Hiking forms a personality in me, it is not only hardening of the body, but also of the spirit, with each trip I exceed my own limit, and I grow as a person, a person, a man.
What could be better than a crackling fire on a dark night or swimming in Turgoyak on a hot summer day? And in the evening you lie in a hammock and look at the stars. This real vacation.
In addition, on hikes you can always find like-minded people and hear wise advice. In the routes we often communicate with completely different people, they are living sources of information who share their life experience. So sometimes you go camping with a problem and come back with a solution.
How to dress for a hike?
In the cold period, the order is as follows: first, thermal underwear, then a jacket or sweatshirt made of fleece. We complete the toilet with a ski suit. These three layers of clothing guarantee that the tourist will not freeze or get wet. An expensive item of expenditure is shoes, it is better if it is a special hiking one. Typically, these boots are sold in sports stores, they cost about 7-8 thousand rubles, but during sales, prices are significantly reduced.
In summer, you need two types of shoes - sneakers and slates. Mostly cotton clothing - trousers, T-shirt. For the evening - a warm fleece jacket. Since it is often windy in the mountains, you may need a windbreaker. In the hot season, you can not do without panama and sunglasses.
What to put in a backpack?
The collection of a backpack also differs from what time the hike is organized, as well as from its duration. If you have to spend the night in nature, the number of things increases dramatically.
You will always need a drink (a thermos with tea in winter, one and a half to two liters of water in summer), a snack, matches, spare clothes (socks, mittens in winter), and in some hikes, shoes, a raincoat in the off-season and in summer.
If the hike drags on for several days, then a tent, a sleeping bag, foam (a reliable heat insulator, used to protect tourists from the cold of the earth on a hike), an awning from rain (in summer), an ax, a bowler hat and utensils for cooking and, of course, a guitarist with an instrument for fun.
In addition to the usual flashlight (a headlamp is convenient), in winter you can’t do without “flashlights” on your feet. These are personal equipment that protect the lower limbs from getting stones, sand, snow and water into the shoes. They look like covers, they are worn over boots and the bottom of trousers.
By the way! Going on a hike is better with a phone that has maps and GPS, or with an experienced hiker. The latter is preferable and safer.
