Kuraisky ridge where you can enter by car. Along the untouched Kurai ridge of Altai
- total - 10 days.
- active part - 8 days.
Location
Route idea
The last few years, as a rule, autumn sporadic events took place in the well-groomed areas of Altai, which is caused by severe time and financial constraints. In preparation for the summer 5ke, Anton Shcherbakov organized a trip to the Kuraisky ridge, in which I was a participant. The Kuraisky Range is a low-climbed area of Altai, located in the north of the village of Kurai and, accordingly, the Kurai Valley. On the other side of the valley is the Severo-Chuisky ridge, in which the well-known mountain and a / l Aktru are located. Despite the very high popularity of Aktru, the Kurai ridge turns out to be completely untouched. A small number of known passes and almost complete absence of any description of them. I liked the area for its accessibility, low maintenance and compactness. This gave rise to the idea of bringing the autumn unit to these places. One of the goals was to get as many photographs as possible to organize the further development of the area. And, probably, the most important goal is to reduce the trip so that people have an interest not only in terms of the trip, as an event, but also a little in the research plan.
The thread of the route
“In preparation for the trip, I read many reports and descriptions of the passes. But surprisingly, not one of them contains a word about the fact that this area is old, badly destroyed mountains. What is special about this area is the kurumnik. When describing the passes, there is no word about the nature of the slopes. And this is all the same kurumnik. But for some reason no one drew attention to this. There was as much kurumnik in this hike as there was not in all my mountain experience combined. And the low speed of movement is largely due to the difficulty of moving around the barrow, especially on the snow-covered barrow. "
Photos
"... And they went as the sun of the palima ..."
The trees from which the ribbons hang are "shaman trees" (or "wish trees"). It is believed that spirits live on them. The ribbons are called dyalama, jalama or hadag, are the most common and simple sacrifice to the spirits of earth and water, a symbol of good intentions.
Top view of the Kubadru river valley
View of the night Aktru
Remains of the hunter's hut
Evening tales around the campfire
The bridge over the Kurkurek stream
Crossing the thin ice
Valley of the Pravaya Kubadru River
Valley of the Pravaya Kubadru River
Stars above Icy Lake
Pass Tajilu 3150, view from the north.
Video
You can also look at on Vimeo
.
Director of photography, cameraman - Dmitry Mitchenko,
Editing director, sound engineer, music editor - Evgeny Kozlov.
"Let's drink to those who filmed"
Short report
"Here on an uncharted path,
Intricate plots await. "
Brief description of the hiking area
Kuraisky ridge, a sparsely-walked region of Altai, located north of the village of Kurai and, accordingly, the Kurai steppe. The ridge stretches for 30 km from the south-east to the north-west. Highest point Kuraisky ridge, the top of the Upper Ortolyk (1B-2A, 3446), is often visited on weekend hikes, due to its availability. Arriving at the Kuraisky ridge is no problem: from the village of Kurai you can take a UAZ car or walk. On the other side of the steppe is the Severo-Chuisky ridge, on which the notorious peak and the Aktru mountain range are located. Despite the very high popularity of Aktru, the Kurai ridge turns out to be rarely visited. The small number of known passes and poor description of them arouse interest in this area. Accessibility provides an additional degree of safety along the route and allows the area to be rated as well suited for short training hikes. The dominance of the ridge over the Kuraiskaya steppe and the opening views of the Severo-Chuisky ridge make it possible to arouse the interest and further desire of the participants in the hikes to participate in mountain sports events.
Description of the passes, hike diary
All "left" and "right", unless otherwise noted, are considered orographically. Everywhere in the pictures, where it is not indicated otherwise, the red dotted line corresponds to the traversed path, pink to the assumed one. The time is indicated everywhere in Novosibirsk in winter, which differs from Moscow by +3 hours. Daylight hours at this time of the year: from 7.00 to 16.00. The average duration of one trip is 35 minutes. The wake-up call was usually at 4.30 in the morning, the group left at 7.10. Lunch, as a rule, we started from 12.00 to 13.00, its duration was about 1.5 hours.
The departure of the group was scheduled for 21.00, but at about 16 o'clock the head of another group of our section called me, which was going on a route, approximately in the same direction. She said that the owner of the cars that were supposed to drop their group and ours provided us with a car that was not suitable for a long-term drop-off; this meant that it was necessary to look for new transport... The leader of the second group helped to find a new car. The search for the car took 1.5 hours. Check out took place at 22:20.
In the village of Kurai we arrived at about 10 o'clock and started the route at 11 (Fig. 4, 5). The weather was sunny, in 2 trips along a dirt road we reached the gorge of the Kuraika River (Fig. 6). After another 2 trips, there was lunch. The group was in excellent condition. There was no snow cover during the first half of the running day. In the evening we approached the area where the snow lay. The amount of snow did not cause problems with movement (Fig. 7). We got up for the night when it was getting dark, near the crossing over the Kuraika river. They lit a fire.
The wake-up call was at 4:30. We left the camp at 7:10. On the very first run, Sveta began to lag behind. As it turned out, a pinched nerve or overexertion of the leg muscles prevented her from taking wide strides. They unloaded them, gave them trekking sticks, and during the day my condition improved. The path went along the right side of the valley (Fig. 8), along the proposed path indicated on the map in Fig. 1. The snow cover increased, went along the hills, above the lakes Fig. 9. This made it possible to walk without the use of snowshoes. At about 13:00, at the turn to the river. Right Kubadru got up for lunch, lunch took 1.5 hours. We went further towards the lakes, in the direction of the Pamyati Bima pass, fig. 10. The amount of snow increased, at some point I had to walk on a snow-covered barrow, put on snowshoes. Several pictures of the neighboring gorge were made near the lakes, Fig. 11, Fig. 12, where, presumably, there may be a pass 1A-1B of a category of complexity, allowing you to cross the main ridge. We got up for the night at about 5 pm, not having reached the first stop before the take-off pass.
The rise was at the usual time. During the first trip, stretching out strongly, we approached the pass (Fig. 13). The pass was a rocky talus slope slightly covered with snow Fig. 14. We began to climb the pass at about 8 am, at first we walked in two groups, gradually stretching out. There was no rock fall, but we walked in helmets. Problems with her legs did not allow Sveta to go quickly, and it was decided to take her backpack and take her upstairs with a shuttle. The first participant was at the pass for about 10 hours, Fig. 15. They removed a note from our section (SGT NSU), left in May this year. At about 12, they began to move down. We tried to go in twos, in a combination of experienced / inexperienced. However, on the descent, on the barrow, Sasha Shakirova stumbled and fell, said that she had hit her head. I was wearing a helmet, no visible or tangible injuries were found, later I felt well. The speed of the group slowed down even more, and only by 15 o'clock did the last participants descend to a flat place, where they had dinner, Fig. 16. At about 16:30, having made 2 more trips, we went down to the lake and set up a camp. There was a time reserve of 1 day for a radial exit, but due to the low speed of movement of the group on rock-talus slopes, it was decided to abandon the radial exits to the upper reaches of the Ortolyk Upper and Polezny lane. It was decided to lay the rest of the day for a detour along the valleys of the Prav and Lev Kubadru rivers on the assumption that the exit to it could take a considerable time. Also in 1 day, according to the weather forecast, the weather should have started to deteriorate and snowfall.
It was decided to go along the lakes in order to bypass the kurumnik and thereby increase the speed of movement of the group and reduce the risk of injury (Fig. 17). The thickness of the ice on the lakes was at least 30-40 cm. Assuming the presence of a hole, we walked keeping a distance, having previously arranged the available ropes “in close access”. No decrease in ice thickness was observed as we moved across the lakes. An ascent to the Polezhniy pass was seen, Fig. 18. After 3 trips we reached the slope of the Prav.Kubadru river valley, where we met another group that came from the valley into which we were heading, fig. 19, fig. 20. We were informed that there is a lot of snow in that valley and we will need snowshoes, as well as that we will have 5 fords of rivers. Roughly described the places where the rivers cross. On this day, we reached the confluence of the rivers of rights. and a lion. Kubadra, passing a total of 3 fords, Fig. 21 (twice through the right Kubadra and through the left Kubadra). On the last two fords, a rope was used, crossing over ice bridges. We got up for the night at about 16 o'clock. In the morning, the ascent was scheduled for 5. They burned a fire, warmed up, and rested. During the trip that day, the Tajilu pass was seen fig. 22.
We left an hour later than usual, at 8 am. The weather was cloudy. We walked along the path, fords passed over the icy bridges. The first ford was passed with a safety rope fig. 23, on the second no safety was required. After the second ford, we put on snowshoes. In the evening we approached the beginning of the ascent to the lake 2535. To the right of the river channel along the ridge we climbed under the lake. We got up for the night a little later than 5 pm, on a good level ground, a little below the lake.
During the walk we reached the lake. On the frozen ice we walked to the entrance to the circus of the Tajilu pass. The location of the lake in a lowland, in a rocky circus, made it possible to be confident in the thickness of the ice. We walked along the lake, fig. 24. The ascent from the lake to the exit to the circus of the pass was steep, passed through a hard layer of snow, it was necessary to cut steps in the snow, first with snowshoes, then without them Fig. 25. The further way to the pass passed along a kurumnik covered with a layer of fresh snow. At about 12:30 we came to the pass. One of the participants said that he was not well, he might get sick the next day and that it would be desirable to pass the pass today. On the previous trip, there was a hearty snack, so it was decided to dine at the pass. The pass was covered with snow and there were fears about an avalanche hazard on the rise, described in the reports of Markov and Luchko, Fig. 26. It was decided to walk along the rocks on the left, this would greatly increase the ascent height, as it would have to climb to the height of the summit 3284, but would make the path safer Fig. 27. We walked in bundles. After 70 meters of ascent, the thickness of the snow greatly decreased and it became obvious that you could reach the pass without entering the summit. We went to the pass at about 15 o'clock, took a note t / k / Equator, fig. 28. We continued along the left slope, where the path is marked on the map. We came under a sharp rock-talus slope, going down, reconnaissance of the slope from the lateral gendarme showed that the slope reaches the bottom without rock faults, Fig. 29. By this time it was about 4 pm and it was not possible to complete the descent in the daytime, moreover, the group was tired. It was decided to spend the night at the pass, despite the poor health of one of the participants, and at the same time make a radial ascent to the summit the next day, provided the group is in an acceptable state. Beeline cellular communication works at the pass, and also offers views of the Severo-Chuisky, Katunsky ridges, Belukha is visible, Fig. 30.
The rise was at 5:30. Because everyone was feeling good, it was decided to go to the top. Let's go to the top: Selyutin, Mitchenko, Romanova, Komarovskikh. The ascent took place on small stones and was not difficult. After 40 minutes, the group reached summit 3284, Fig. 31. The ridge is wide enough, with inflations, but without cornices; it was decided to take a walk on it, fig. 32. Descent is possible to the other side of the spur. After 30 minutes, we began to descend to the camp. We reached the camp in 20 minutes. From the top there was a view of the Polezny pass (Fig. 33). At 9.00 we began to descend from the pass, walked in a dense group because of the possible rockfall hazard. By 10 we went out onto a flat area, Fig. 34. Inspection of the slope showed that there is a simpler descent path, which is not obvious from the pass and goes along the line of the water fall, between the rocks Fig. 35. Further descent into the valley took place along a snow-covered barrow in snowshoes, along the left slope. We got up for the night at 5 pm. It was estimated that it was less than 4 hours to go to the village of Kurai along the road. The next day it was supposed to have a half-day.
The rise was late, got up at 9 am. After breakfast, we walked around the neighborhood. After lunch, at 15 o'clock we went to the village of Kurai fig. 36. In the village of Kurai we were at about 18:30, at the same time a driver with a bus arrived and at 7 in the evening we left for Novosibirsk.
At 5:00 in the morning we arrived in Novosibirsk.
Our group has passed a sports and tourist route of the 1st category of difficulty in the region of the Kuraisky ridge. The area is not very well-traveled, notable for its accessibility. Two through passes 1A and one radial exit were passed. The low speed of movement did not allow passing the intended radial exits, but the main route was completed. The group gained experience of moving on the relief of mountainous terrain and staying in conditions of low temperature. I would like to note the small number of known passes in the area, while its compactness and accessibility, which makes it attractive for further exploration. The supposed Polezhniy pass is recommended to be classified as 1B, with the defining side in the valley of the Levyi Kubadru river, the slope of the other side is not defining. Particular attention should be paid to the choice of the path for the passage of the Tajilu pass from the side of the Kurai steppe.
Kuraisky ridge. May, 2013.
Photo description.
Preparing a technical report and passports probstacles, I saw that all kinds of arrows, signatures, numbers, lineswhich are used to explain our movement,interfere with viewing the landscapes of the Kuraisky ridge, distract from "looking"this interesting area;imposed conditionalnaki establish control over the attention of the person looking at the photo, as a result of which some characteristic properties, the own features of the area are washed out in favor of the dry fixation of "how we went".
Outraged at this, I decidedpost on the Internet photos prepared for the report and passports, but withoutall kinds of conventional wagonsand giving very short comments under the photo. I also minimally supplemented the set of photographs with details of our camping life.
At the beginning of the photo description, I placeda map on which you can see how we walked. Technical details of the passage can be foundin the relevant passports.
Pass: Southern spur. (1B, 2906 m.) + 2929 m. (Radially):
http: //site/l/luchko_m_i/yuotrog.shtml Traverse: R. Yarlyamry - lake. Mountain spirits - lane. Cliff (3125 m.) - traverse of 3284 m. + Rad. exit to the city of 3299 m. - saddle 3123 m. (Vysoky pass) - r. Left Kubadru (general category - 1B) :
http: //site/l/luchko_m_i/obryw3125.shtml
Passport: PassSeven winds (2A, 3018):
http: //site/l/luchko_m_i/7wetrov.shtml Traverse of the Peak Ortolyk peak. (Ortolyk River - southern ridge of the summit - Mount Ortolyk - eastern ridge - Ortolyk river). General category of traverse 2A :
http: //site/l/luchko_m_i/traversortolyka.shtml
When preparing for hiking along the Kuraisky ridge, I did not find nearly no information about obstacles,
and we gave our names to the passes and ver tires. Although the area was clearly visited and we saw traces of the presence of a person. Esl and someone will read this photoop tooand passports and will understand that he passed through the describedpasses and peaks, then he will write to me, I will gladly bringhis name to the correspondingpassport or I will indicatea link to the reports of the last one.
Photo 0... Map of our journey. Tresquares are places for spending the night. The blue line indicates thenavigation of the pass "Southern spur".
The red line is a loop, during which the traverse of 3284 m was passed (R. Yarlyamry - Lake Gornykh spirits - Obryv lane (3125 m) - traverse of 3284 m + rad.exit to 3299 m - saddle 3123 m. (Vysoky pass) - Levaya Kubadru river) and Seven Vetrov pass. The green line marks the transition from the camp to the river. Yarlyamry to the camp on the river. Ortolyk. The lilac line marks the passage of the traverse of Ortolyk (Ortolyk River - southern ridge of the summit - Mount Ortolyk - eastern ridge - Ortolyk river).
Second day
Photo
1
.
At the tail of the spur in the center of the photo, we set up a camp, from where we went to pass the Southern spur pass. Saddle on the left side of the panoramawe are the Seven Winds pass
Photo
2
.
Mainly cloudy
We set up a camp, then ran to scout. One group went under the pass, which was later called the "Seven Winds", the other (whichl I) went to the passage of the spur,
pass in which they called the "Southern spur". This panorama from
done when approaching the pass
Photo
3
.
In the center is the saddle lane. Southern spur.
P
awkwardly
Photo
4
.
View
from the South spur pass to the west
Photo
5
.
We climb a hill, north of the saddle of the South Spur pass. Summit in the center - m. 29
29 m., Where we also climbed
Photo
6
.
Photo from the hill. Left vi
bottom saddle lane. Seven Winds
Photo
7
.
Pass Seven Winds approached by the forces of optics. Somewhere out there, under the pass, br
Audit is our second intelligence group
Day three
Photo
8
.
Putting up the camp
against the backdrop of the Severo-Chuisky ridge
Photo
9
.
Moving towards the pass
Cliff, beholder
whether the panorama of Severo-Chuysky
Photo
10
.
Moving to the Obra pass
in, came to the steep bank of the stream
Photo
11
.
This is the gorge where the Southern spur pass is located.
We entered it on the previous - cloudy - day. With pleasure we contemplate it in good weather
Photo
12
.
We are moving to the cliff pass
Photo
13
.
Spirit Lake
(TO
I do not know what it is actually called. In some description, I met such a name for this reservoir. In general, in Altai, every lake, tbut certainly - "the lake of Spirits". I can
declare responsibly: we have not seen any spirits! Which, however, does not at all cancel them
possible
presence...)
Photo
14
.
This is Nikolai.
He has bare legs and a puff with a helmet
Photo
15
.
View from the Obryv pass. M
we hoped to come down
to the north, but there was a cliff
Photo
16
.
Group at the cliff of the Obryv pass
Photo
17
.
Since the complexity of the
ska from the "Obryv" pass exceeded
possible for our group, we had to go according to a backup option - a traverse of 3284 m.
Actually, in the background -
this mountain
... And the crest leading to her
Photo
18
.
From 3284 m. We quickly ran to 3299 m.
north-facing and south-facing views
yu (see next photo 19)
Photo
19
.
South view from 3299 m.
Photo
20
... View from 3299 m. To the Kubadru pass, where we have to descend
Photo
21
.
Anatoly at 3299 m.
Photo
22
.
View from 3299 m. To the western side. Below us is the valley through which we climbed.
The saddle of the Obryv pass is visible
Photo
23
.
We leave from 3299 m. The main group is visible at 3284 m.
Photo
24
.
View from the city of 3284 m. To the north
Photo
25
.
Descent of the group to the lane. Kubadru
Photo
26
.
Second bundle spu
forgives with the lane. Kubadru north
Photo
27
.
Came to big lake
(marked on the map 2535.5 m.)
and here we ran into an obstacle. Part of the group walked along the edge of the lake without any problems, but part of the group for some reason began to fail. The next two photos (28,29) show how to helpwho solved this problem
Photo
28
.
Kneeling from standing upright on all fours and lifting from knees
on the lake 2535.5 m.
Photo
29
.
Crawling along the lake 2535.5 m.
Day four
Photo
30
.
Morning. View from
northern edge
lakes
2535,5
on the river
A lion. Kubadru
Photo
31
.
Photo
32
.
View from the northern edge of the lake 2535.5 on the lane. Cliff and city 3284
m. You can see our camp
Photo
33
.
View from the northern edge of the lake 2535.5 on the lane. Cliff and city 3284
m. You can see our camp
Photo
34
.
Exploration into the valley under the Seven Winds pass. In the background, sobs
specifically, the Seven Winds pass itself
Day five
Photo
35
.
In the morning from the place but
chews. Below is a lake 2535.5 m.
Photo
36
.
V
going south from the Seven Winds pass
Photo
37
.
View from the Seven Winds pass to the north
ep. You can see our footprints in the snow
Photo
38
.
Second exit
Bundles to the Seven Winds Pass
Photo
39
.
On the pass of Seven Winds
Photo
40
.
Watching
path of descent from the lane. Seven Winds
Photo
41
.
Descent of the group from the lane. Seven Winds
Photo
42
.
The southern slope of the lane. Behold
from the Winds. The second ligament is visible
Photo
43
.
We go from under the lane. Seven Winds
Photo
44
.
We go from under the p
digested the Seven Winds
Photo
45
.
Walking down
Photo
46
.
Get off the pass and get ready
msya to have a bite. Katya is preparing lunch
Photo
47
... Day five. It is Kat, being a specialist in the art of cooking, giving a lecture to the amazed audience about the benefits of sausage, cheese, pate and other products.
Photo
48
.
This is Kat being a pova specialist
renowned art, lovingly examines a piece of bacon, along the way telling what dishes can be prepared from it
Seventh day
Photo
49
.
sky ridge to the eastern edge
Photo
50
.
We wander from the western edge of Kurai
sky ridge
to the east edge
Photo
51
.
We wander from the western edge of the Kuraisky ridge to the eastern edge. Left - Kuraisky ridge, right - Kuraisk
I steppe and the North-Chuisky ridge
Photo
52
.
Seventh day.
Against the background of the Severo-Chuisky ridge, we are marching important
Photo
53
.
Kuraiskaya steppe from the upper reaches.
Object visible
of our
desires, the goal of food (and some other) aspirations is the village of Kurai
Photo
54
.
Ozertsa
Day eight
Photo
55
... We approach the tail of the southern ridge of Mount Ortolyk
Photo
56
... View of the Severo-Chuisky
Photo
57
.
At the tail of the south
foot ridge of the Summit Ortolyk
Photo
58
.
Severo-Chuisky ridge when ascending to the south
ridge of the Summit Ortolyk
Photo
59
.
Group while climbing the southern ridge of the Summit Ortolyk
Photo
60
... The group climbs south
Nom spur of Mount Ortolyk
Photo
61
... Ridge rest
Photo
62
... The gorge to the east of the ridge along which we climb. We will descend along this gorge
Photo
63
... When passing the ridge, we reached a conglomerate slope. Re
they sewed on it to hang a railing
Photo
64
... That's why I rowed
nude we have to go
Photo
65
... We spent the night on the ridge. From the place of a warm, cozy night, I opened
I am a view of the Severo-Chuisky ridge
Photo
66
... Have
cozy warm night on the ridge
Dayninth.
Photo
67
... After but
the comb has become narrower and steeper
Photo
68
... We go around the gendarmes
Photo
69
.
The ridge becomes wider and narrower
Photo
70
... Slopes, gendarmes
Photo
71
... Ligaments are moving
Photo
72
... Large and small rocky outcrops
Photo
73
... On the ridge it is narrow, then wide
Photo
74
... Crest. Almost reached the top
Photo
75
... Rowing
yen. Almost reached the top
Photo
76
... Final section. The second and third ligaments are visible
Photo
77
... We are at the top of Ortolyk. East side view
Photo
78
... We are at the top of Ortolyk. Visible
and the second and third ligaments
Photo
79
... We are at the top of Ortolyk. West side view. Part of the Spiral pass is visible, which we
passed the next (2014) year
Photo
80
... Previous photo in close-up
... Pass Seven Winds visible
Photo
81
... Team at the top
Photo
82
... Eastern
nd comb. We will go down there
Photo
83
... Ortolyk Summit Traverse
a The second and third ligaments are visible
Photo
84
... View from the lintel to the north-east
Photo
85
... Group on the ridge. In the background - the top of Ortolyk
Photo
86
.
We went down this slope
Photo
87
... Descent slope.
The second bundle descends
I am. The third is out on the ridge
Photo
88
... Descended from t
ravers. View of the Severo-Chuisky
Day eleven
Photo
89
... Morning. In the background in the fog is the Kurai Range. We spent the night near the village of Kurai and are moving towards the highway, where the bus is supposed to pick us up.
The original report with uncut photos on the author's website
http://limatroads.blogspot.com/2011/08/2011_28.html#more
This day turned out to be just a gift! A gift in every way. First, the sun was shining brightly in the morning. Secondly, small white clouds were crawling across the sky. These two factors are already a landscape photographer's dream! Thirdly, it was warm - something about 26 degrees. And fourthly ... As I already wrote in the post "Altai 2011. Kuraiskaya Steppe", on the previous day a huge gray cloud got stuck over the North-Chuky ridge. So, to our delight, at night this cloud decorated the ridge with a blanket of snow. The SCHH shone with fresh colors and pristine purity. Well, in fact, you will see everything for yourself soon!
Our path lay to the nameless alpine lake, hidden among the numerous rocky and lifeless peaks of the Kurai Range. As Igor, the organizer of this route, said, the lake is called "Lake of Mountain Spirits". He also referred to the story of Ivan Efremov and Choros-Gurkin and the mercury mine near the lake. Well, what can you imagine to lure tourists! I did not begin to dispel his legend, one "Lake of mountain spirits" more, one less. After all, there are already quite a few of them in Russia. On the map, this lake has no name, just an unnamed lake. But it is so picturesque !!!
Our companions today (and tomorrow too) are the same as we are lovers of autotravels from Novosibirsk, Alexander and Natasha and their four-legged friend with a strange name Hryunya. The organizer of the route, as well as part-time guide and driver of the UAZ, on which we moved to the lake, was the aforementioned Igor. You could, of course, try to get to the lake yourself, but this is only if you know the way. Naturally, we didn’t know the road, so we trusted Igor, a native Aktash resident, who had worked for many years at the Aktash mine and naturally knew the surrounding mountains well.
The way to the lake, or rather the automobile part of it, lay through the currently idle Aktash mercury mine. The road to the mine, I must say, is getting much worse every year. After the development was closed, there was no one to follow her. The spring streams washed deep ditches and huge boulders appeared on the surface. I would not recommend going there in a car, although at the mine we saw an old Volga. We passed the bridge over the Yarlyamry stream, along which the road runs, and almost in front of the waste heaps left from the mercury mining we turned to the left up the hill. After a kilometer, we made the first stop overlooking the Aigulak ridge, cooled the UAZ engine a little, had a smoke and drove on. After another kilometer at one of the forks we turned to the right. And soon, after one of the many rises, we saw the MFR in all its glory. How has he changed over the past night !!! The morning sun clearly cast shadows on the slopes of the ridge. Freshly fallen snow added contrast. The blue sky and fresh greenery of the nearby slopes only intensified the effect.
Severo-Chuisky ridge from the side of the Aktash mine.
The height of the shooting location is 2370 meters. The mine is in front, 200 meters below us.
Panorama of the Severo-Chuisky ridge
The mine, or rather the main buildings, were now out of sight. They disappeared below, behind the gentle slope of the mountain on which we were. From the opposite side, behind our backs, a view of the top crowned with a RRL mast at an altitude of 3000 meters opened up. A road with a small serpentine leads to the RRL on the side of the mountain. They say that climbing this serpentine adds to the blood of adrenaline just as much as driving along Katu-Yaryk.
RRL mast at an altitude of 3000 meters. If you look closely, you can see the road leading to the mast on the right side of the mountainside.
We admired a little more midrange frequency response, then it should have been even more interesting. We went down from the pass again down to the Yarlyamry river and crawled up along it along the right bank. A small stream flows into Yarlyamry, we ferried across it. A little more uphill and the road was cut off. Then the walking part of the route began. By the way, I want to say that the route is like a horseshoe - we were not supposed to return to the starting point. We must pay tribute to Igor, the circular route is much more interesting. And besides, Igor cheated a little, having prepared a couple of pleasant bonuses for us, which he did not mention right away.
We crawled to the first ascent, it was hard to get used to. We caught our breath a little on the edge of the scree from which the beautiful view to the Yarlyamry valley.
View from the scree in front of the kurumnik. Below the thin ribbon of Yarlyamry is twisted
Here the trail ended, further it was necessary to pass over a huge barrow. Looking ahead, I will say that for most of us this part of the route turned out to be the most difficult, there were further ups and downs, but now along a soft grassy slope, along which it is much more pleasant to walk than to climb over rocks. After all, I really want to look around, and on the barrow without the risk of breaking my leg it was not possible to raise my head even for a second. The four-legged friend with the cool name Khryunya had to be dragged in his arms, his short paws were not at all suitable for movement over rough terrain.
A trail theoretically runs somewhere here.
Remains of the "ancient lizard"
On the way, we stumbled upon the remains of an ancient lizard,))), bleached by the sun and scattered over the stones. By the way, it was not in vain that I remembered about the ancient lizard. The unnaturally brightly painted rocks around, the Yarlyamry ribbon winding down the green valley below, the snow-white peaks of a distant ridge in the distance and the complete absence of any traces of human activity within sight reminded us of the footage from the cartoon "Earth before the beginning of time" (we watched with our daughter when she was small ). The landscape was too unreal for our urban consciousness.
On the descent from the kurumnik
On the left is a stone slope, on the right is luscious greenery - the contrasts of the Kurai ridge.
We went down from the kurumnnik to the Yarlyamry river, the border between the stone and the lush greenery. The water in the stream is crystal clear. Refreshed a little. Despite the sunny day, a rather cool breeze was blowing here at the height and I didn't want to take off my windbreakers.
By the brook
Clean, cool water Yarlyamry
Smoke break
Then there was a long climb along a slope covered with dwarf birch, dense grass and a thick layer of moss. The height began to increase. Approximately 2500 meters, my daughter had a headache, or rather, dizziness appeared. All the same, it is the first time at such a height, adaptation has begun. I had to stop often.
Approximately there, to the ridge between two rocks, we walked.
Tired! Height adaptation.
Kurumnik, through which we passed from above, seemed to be a heap of rubble
And here it finally seemed! Lake! First, a little edge, then more and more ... Strength immediately increased, either from the fact that we finally reached, or from the view of the lake ... Its color! And who said it was Lake of the Dead Spirits. Personally, I would call this lake Emerald. Well, maybe someone will not agree!
Come on!
Moreover, what is the Lake of the Dead Spirits, when such beautiful LIVING flowers grow on its shores. I really don't understand them, but it's still beautiful!
Yellow poppies in August.
These are so cute, and even on a red background
Another bunch!
It's easier for me to convey the beauty of the lake with photographs than with words, so just take a look.
Paints!
If you move further ...
And so, if you bend very low to the water.
Just for memory ...
... and for the soul)))
The lake is located in a small depression between colored stone peaks and there is practically no wind around it, there are only slight ripples on the water. By the way, the water is relatively warm, despite the fact that the lake is located at an altitude of 2652 meters above sea level. It exists, most likely due to the melting of snow accumulating in winter - no streams that do not flow into the lake are seen and the water level in spring should be slightly higher than at the end of summer. You can't see any living creatures in the lake - in winter, given the shallow depth, it freezes completely.
You could sit on the shore and admire the views endlessly, but you had to move on the way back. And here Igor presented us with the first surprise. At the beginning of the campaign, he swore an oath that immediately after the lake there would be a descent down to the Yarlyamry valley. Now he was "glad" that he would have to climb one more height on the way back. I had to go.))) The conductor knows better! We climbed the next climb.
Higher and higher!
Somewhere at an altitude of 2715 meters, we found ourselves on a small pass, or on the ridge of a mountain, from which a new view opened up. In front of us, far below, lay the entire Kuraiskaya steppe, the Severo-Chuisky ridge, we could even see the Chikhachev ridge in the distance, also covered with freshly fallen snow. The MFR did not seem so high now as you see it from the steppe. They say that on other days, when the air is especially transparent, you can see Belukha from here. I really have a hard time believing it! But in order to check, it is advisable to have at least binoculars with you, or a compass for determining the azimuth to Belukha.
Emerald lake from the pass
MFC has become "slightly lower"
We went a little further along the ridge. Height according to the navigator is 2733 meters. There was no where to go higher - it was dangerous, there was no further vegetation and the slopes were steep rocky taluses.
Panorama from a height of 2733 meters
Below is the Kuraiskaya steppe. It is good how from the plane you can see the village of Kurai and Kyzyl-Tash.
On high!
View of the RRL mast, which is now slightly higher than us.
Kurumnik now seems like a heap of sand)))
The descent back lay to the right of the kurumnik (photo above). Well, there was another bonus from Igor waiting for us. If you take a closer look at the photo, you can see a scallop below the barn. Hid there small waterfall all on the same river Yarlyamry already known to us. You can see it only when you come close to twenty or thirty meters.
Descending was of course much easier.))) The legs themselves carried forward. True, there was no trail here, as well as on the rest of the route. The gorgeous "Mesozoic" landscape from "Earth before the beginning of time" has opened again, now from the opposite slope.
On the descent
Valley of Yarlyamry. Land before the beginning of time.
Alpine poppy
Somewhere there is the source of Yarlyamra. The dark blue sky in the photo is the result of the work of the polarizing filter. Interesting effects are sometimes obtained.
Sprinkle under the curd. To the right of the talus, a waterfall is hidden among the brown rocks.
To see the waterfall, one had to first go down to the river, and then walk two hundred meters along it up under the rocks. I had to climb over sharp stones, risking cutting my shoes and hands on them. The tired part of the group went to the camp, but I still could not resist and after ten minutes I saw a waterfall!
Waterfall on Yarlyamry
The waterfall is really not great, only seven to ten meters at first sight, but quite picturesque among the rocks surrounding it. The photo does not convey the scale. After taking a few pictures, I ran to catch up with the others, who had gone far ahead along the green valley. Igor, who had left us a little earlier, had already managed to boil the water and soon we were drinking tea from the leaves of the insanely smelling mountain currant collected along the road on the bank of the stream flowing into Yarlyamry.
Then there was an hour descent to the base and that was the end of our journey to the lake. The next day, the Beltyr, the ships of the desert, and the epicenter of the 2003 earthquake were scheduled.
Copper slopes of the Kuraisky ridge. October. Evening.
For the Kuraisky ridge, most of it is treeless. If the western part of the ridge has forests in the river valleys and, then the eastern part is characterized by a complete absence of forest cover. The predominant tree species on the ridge are and.
Kuraisky ridge in March
Kuraisky ridge in October
Most of the ridge's peaks do not have official names. The most high peak the ridge is the Upper Ortolyk (3446 meters). Of those who have official name one can also highlight the mountains: Upper (2951 m), Ildugemsky (3208 m), Tydtugem (3193 m), Kuyuktanar (3260 m) and a number of others.
Kurai ridge in Ulagan region
About the Kurai ridge in travel world little is known. This is the "terra incognita" of Altai. Being in the "shadow of glory" of the Chuyskiy proteins, the Kuraisky ridge remains little-visited by tourists. In the summer of 2008, an expedition was carried out to explore the tourist route in this region. A lot of interesting things were discovered here - picturesque waterfalls, high passes, beautiful lakes... Tourist opportunities in the region are great. It may be interesting to those who have already walked a lot in Altai and wants to get new impressions.
The highest peak of the ridge - Upper Ortolyk
Current weather forecast in the region of the Kuraisky ridge:
