Турклуб «Вестра»

Hello,

Im looking for people who were travelling in Western Caucasus - Arhyz, Teberda, Dombaj. I have some questions about hiking in this region. Would it be possible if I get an email adresses to any of You who were there? I found that people: Leonteva, Zaharov, Chukanov, Paramanov, Polyakov, Gromov, Belov were there as "rukovoditiels". May I get adresses to some of them or any other?

I would be really really grateful - in Poland not so many people hike in this great region so it's quite difficult to find information about it.

Ania from Poland

www.skompek.prv.pl
our mountain club - www.skg.prv.pl

Hi!

I'm Paramonov Vadim, my email: pvadim[et]westra.ru

Hi again,

This year Im planning to go to Western Caucasus and becausse apart from maps I don't have any information about this region (Arhyz, Teberda, Dombai), I hope You can help me. I have following questions:

1. Formalities

Is there any obligation to have any permits for the border zone? Are there any problems with Militsya or other services for tourists (especially foreign and especially polish ones:) ) as regards hiking near the border with Georgia? if yes, what documents should we have and where should we register to go for a trkking? When we have a zone permit, how close to the border with Georgia can we hike? Can we reach the passes which are exactly on the border or some areas area closed for tourists?

2. Mountains

We are just hikers, not alpinists - we do not use ropes (verovki) and ice-hammers (ledoruby), sometimes we use crampones (koshki) but only on these glaciers which are easy to walk through. From the other side we like big mountains. In this situation which parts do You recommend us to hike in? As I saw on the map, the parts on the north from Arhyz and Dombai are rather not too high ( i mean more green areas than the rocks and glaciers)and the areas near the border are really good, but on the maps there are not so many paths (tropa). We want to hike for around 10 days. We will be gratefull for any recommendations.

3. Tourists

How do You assess this region as regards tourists? Are there many of them? We are looking for regions which are wild and we are afraid that in Arhyz/Dombaj - because in all valleys there are good roads (is it true?are they for cars?), in Dombai there is a ski-center, in Alibek there is a "Hotel" - we will not feel like "we and nature" but we will meet all the time the other people. Or mabye it is only my false imagination? Are there paths were not so many tourists go, and is it possible to make the trip, on which we will not see any hotels, ski-resorts, cars and so on?

We were in Altai - Shavlinskie Ozera and Cevernyj i Centralnyj Tien-shan and the "level of tourists" was ok. Is it easy to find it in Arhyz region?

Sorry, if my questions seem to be a little strange - I'm not sure if I found the best words to express what I mean. I hope you understand and can help. I would be really gratefull.

Paka!

Ania from Poland

Jesli kto by hatel otvetit, moi adres eto: skompska@gmail.com

And do you know any tourist companies that can make the permits (propuski) for a border zone with Georgia? I heard it is possible to do this only in Cherkessk but I don’t know any contacts. What kind of formal documents do we need for this zone – only pagranichnyj propusk or something else?

And another question. When I look on the map I see it is possible to do this kind of route (or a part of this): Maruha valley – Kizgych valley – Sofia Valley – Psych vally – Amanauz valley – Bolshaya Laba valley. I mean going along the border (along the main ridge) and crossing the subsequent hrebets. But I don’t see on the map any tropa (routs) and perevals where we can cross these hrebets. Is it possible to go from one valley to another, near the main ridge – I mean in higher parts on mountains - and take any route that is not marked on the map (but route for hikers not alpinists)? Where would it be and through what passes should we go?

And is it possible to on the passes like: Magana or Cargehulir (they are on the border) or is it forbidden and we can pay fine for it, even if we have pogranicnyj propusk?

Hi Anna,

What I personally can say

You definitely need the permits to the border zone of Karachaevo-Cherkessia. I would recommend you to contact KavkazSkiTour company (http://www.kavkazskitur.com/, ex-Elbrustourservice). The last two years we've worked with they and found their work quite good. They can help you with the permits and transfer in the region.

What about the mountains, you have to keep in mind that all the passes of Main Caucasus Ridge are dangerous for one of the following reasons:

1. Some of they are quite difficult, so if you don't have any ropes and are not familiar enough with that rope techniques, to climb there is not a good idea at all.
2. The rest, easy ones are dangerous because people form Georgian region called Svanetia, are not too frendly to tourists. From this point of view walking and especially camping near the easy passes of Main Caucasus Ridge is not safe as well.

Here is a link to the site with some useful info about the Western Caucasus: maps, descriptions, etc. If you can read in Russian...

Thank You fo advices,

I have a question concerning these people from Georgia. In what way are they dangerous? I though about going through easy passes (1A), but not situated on the border. Are the easy passes not on the border, such us: Brakonerov, Ajulju, Kara-dzash, Orlenok, Zayaci Ushki, Bugoy-chat also dangerous? Are these Georgian also there?