AXL3. Mount Belukha Climb
Mt. Belukha (4506 m) is the summit of Altai and the whole Siberia. It is available only for experienced trekkers but the foothills - spurs of the Katunsky Ridge may be explored by many tourists with reasonable fitness. The area is famous with fantastic sceneries. Taiga and alpine meadows, lakes and waterfalls, glaciers and snowcapped peaks always remain in memory of travelers.
The route takes 10 days of moderate to strenuous trekking and climbing up to the top. The trekkers carry all their personal belongings plus 4-5 kg of communal equipment (tents, cooking pots, gas) and food for 4-5 days. It is possible to take porters and horses for luggage transportation.
Type: Extreme
Tour duration: 12 days
Months of Operation: July - September
Group Size: up to 10
Mode of Travel: bus, on foot
Itinerary
Day 1. Arrival in Barnaul. Travel by bus (750 km, 10 hours) to Tiungur. Accommodation at the Vysotnik tourist center. This tourist base is located at 850 m above s.l. Welcome dinner. (D)
Day 2. We start our trek passing by bridge through Kucherla river. This is the last populated area on the way to the mountains. We will follow a path through the forest and observe plenty of mushrooms, berries, various kinds of trees and grasses, and may even spot a hare or a deer. Today we have to overcome the Kuzuyak pass (1513 m). The pass isn't high but the walking is pretty hard - it is a test of our stamina and good first step of getting of acclimatization. We our camp on a nice Three birches night place. The daily route takes 4-5 hours, 17 km. Overnight is in the tents. Camp site altitude is 1100 m. Food is cooked on the fire. (B, L, D)
Day 3. Three birches - base camp Ak-kem (1950 m). The trail we are following goes along the river. The place where we can see Belukha first time calls Panorama. The base camp Ak-kem is situated on the bank of the Ak-kem River. There is a canteen, a sauna and a traditional Altai building - ail (some kind of wooden yurta). 7-8 h, 22 km. (B, L, D)
Day 4. Trekking the base camp Ak-kem - the Ak-kem glacier - Tomskie Nochevki. We walk in the forest along the Ak-kem River and then along the waterlogged flood-lands of the Ak-kem Lake. We proceed further and reach the moraine and then the glacier. Overnight in tents at the place named Tomskie Nochevki. The two mountain tops - Eastern Belukha (4506 m) and Western Belukha (4400 m) serve as the reference-points. (3000 m). 7-8 hours, 17 km.
Day 5. Preparations and ice training on the Arbuz glacier. If the weather is favorable we will have return ascent to the Delone pass saddle (3400 m). Return to tent camp. (B, L, D).
Day 6. Early start. Ascent. Tomskie Nochevki - crossing over Delone pass (3400 m) - the Mensu glacier - crossing Berelskoye Saddle mountain pass (3520 m) - the plateau (3800 m). Mountain pass Delone represents a snow-ice wall 35o - 45o steep with the length of 300 m (5-6 fixed ropes). Descent to the Mensu glacier and further ascent to the plateau over the Berelskoye Saddle mountain pass. Overnight in tents on the glacier. Camp (3800 m). 7-8 h, 7 km. (B, L, D)
Day 7. Summit attempt. Mount Belukha (4506 m) is undoubtedly the most beautiful and interesting mountain top of the Altai range. There are impressive two-crest body, abundance of snow, severity and steepness of ice and snow walls etc. The start is at 6 in the morning. We fix 6 ropes to the Belukhinsky pass (3A) and climb the pass (40o - 45o), then passing 250 metres along the ridge after 10-15 min we are at the summit. The way back is the same with fixed ropes. 7-9 hours, 12 km. (3800 m). (B, L, D)
Day 8. Backup day in case of bad weather. Tents. (B, L, D)
Day 9. Descend the plateau - Mensu glacier - Tomskie Nochevki - the base camp Ak-kem. Rope parties of 2-3 pax the Delone pass using at . Session of Russian banya. (3000 m). 7-9 hours, 17 km. Rest at the base camp.
Day 10-11. Trek to the base camp Vysotnik, from that point we were started our trekking (possible to do it for a day depending on your fit). Sauna (Russian banja). 5-6 h in each day, 39 km. (B, L, D)
Day 12. Drive by bus (750 km, 10 hours) to Barnaul. (B)
Tour Highlights
- Mt.Belukha - the summit of Siberia
- Great views of taiga and alpine meadows, lakes and waterfalls, glaciers and snowcapped peaks of Katunsky Ridge
- Wild flora and fauna of Gorny Altai
Fixed departures - 2012:
| 30.06-11.07.2012 |
04.08-15.08.2012 |
| 10.07-21.07.2012 |
19.08-30.08.2012 |
| 20.07-31.07.2012 |
03.09-14.09.2012 |
Guaranteed departures with English speaking guides
Note: For additional acclimatization it is possible to arrive 2 -3 days earlier than the date of departure.
Costs 2012:
905 EUR per person for joining in a fixed group 6-10 PAX
Included:
Not included:
- meals during transfers Barnaul - Tyungur - Barnaul (please allow 15-25 EUR)
Supplements:
- airfare Moscow - Barnaul - Moscow from 496 EUR per person
- SGL accommodation in hotel Barnaul +58 EUR per person, TWN accommodation in hotel Barnaul +40 EUR per person
- one way transfer airport-hotel in Barnaul +22 EUR per car (1-2 persons)
- Big sauna at Vysotnic +38 EUR per group of 1-10 persons per hour (to pay on spot)
- Small sauna at Vysotnic +28 EUR per group of 1-5 persons per hour (to pay on spot)
- Sauna at Ak-Kem +38 EUR per group of 1-6 persons per hour (to pay on spot)
- rent horses for luggage transportation 22 EUR per horse per day (to pay on spot)
- rafting along the Katun River to the mouth of Akkem River (18 km, 2 h) 138 EUR per group up to 10 persons (to pay on spot)
- cabins in Vysotnik tourist center from 14 EUR per person
Notes and recommendations
1. MEALS. Participants are provided with 3 meals a day per program. At the base camps meals are getting at a cafe. On the trek food is cooked on the open fire, during ascent - on the gas stove(s).
2. PROVIDED EQUIPMENT: tents, cooking pots, ropes, ice screws, carbines, gas, gas stoves.
3. ITEMS TO BRING WITH YOU:
foam sleeping mat, '3 seasons' sleeping bag, down jacket, hat, good lightweight boots, waterproofs, backpack. For the ascent - helmet, plastic boots, harness & self belay, crampons, ice-axe, jammer, 2 ice-screws per pax, 3 carbines per pax, sun glasses and sun-protection cream. Personal medicine (if needed according with your physician recommendations)