Beluha mountain climbing (Mountaineering tour)
- a 16-days alpine expedition to the Altai Mountains
- the mountaineering (you?ll need climbing equipment)
- ideal holidays for adventure-lovers and climbers
From 2 participants ? in any time!
Participants should send their applications beforehand (10 days before the tour).
Timing: from the middle of June to the middle of September.
Beluha Mountain is the highest peak of Siberia. An experienced mountaineer can find this ascent quite easy. Anyway, tour guides will teach the participants the basic rules of alpine mountain climbing if it is necessary. However, mountain climbing requires a good physical form and strong will. Besides, you should take into consideration a mountain sickness. Its? symptoms are very individual. The first symptoms can appear at 2500 metres. But the participants will have enough time for acclimatization during the tour.
Beluha often demonstrates its wild temper. Here the success of your climbing much depends on good weather. In 1996 Reinhold Messner visited this place, but he could not reach the highest peak of Siberia because of bad weather. Luckily, changeable weather is the only disadvantage of the route. Good physical fitness, iron nerves and rational behaviour will help the climbers to succeed. You?ll gain unforgettable experience during this tour.
The number of participants: from 2 to 8 persons.
Services:
- 12 days in high mountains
- mountain climbing and hiking according to the schedule
- the hikers are accompanied by experienced guides
- pack horses
- transfers: the airport - Barnaul - Tyungur (the Altai Republic) and back
- full board
- accommodation at the hotel on the way back
- insurance (in case of an accident helicopter fare is included).
Price (EURO): 460 - 6-8 pers; 660 - 3-5 pers; 890 - 2 pers; 1600 - 1 pers;
Note:
Alcoholic and soft drinks are not included.
Requirements:
The participants should have some mountaineering experience and climbing skills, but it is not a must. The guides will teach the participants the basic rules of mountain climbing if it is necessary. Physical fitness and persistence are required. During the 6-days-hike (to Beluha Mountain and back) the participants carry their equipment. Help in putting up tents is very welcomed. The tourists should consult a doctor before the tour. Be ready to the lack of comfort.
An important note:
Choosing the adventure tours about Siberia and / or Mountainous Altai you should realize that the infrastructure of the region (hotels, campings, roads) does not always meet the European standards.
Equipment:
The approximate list of mountain gear: warm, waterproof boots for climbing, a sleeping-bag designed for low temperatures (below 12?C), a warm coat with a hood, a vest, a waterproof wind-breaker with a hood, warm waterproof trousers, a sweater, mittens, a knitted woolen hat; a 90-110 liters rucksack, a rucksack for climbing, a special mat (for sitting on cold surfaces). Vitamins are recommendable. The clients can take their own mountaineering equipment but it can be provided by the agency also.
Day 1.
Arrive in Barnaul. Transfer to the travel agency office. Breakfast. A brief discussion about the tour. The unnecessary luggage can be left in the office. A 6-hours bus ride to the tourists center Seminsky Range (1800 m). The accommodation at wooden cottages (double apartments, a shower/toilet). The cottages are surrounded by cedar forest.
Day 2.
Breakfast. 8-hours trip to the Vysotnic camping in Tyungur village. Accommodation in tents (850 m). Dinner. Camp-fire. During the trek meals are prepared on the open fire by the guides.
Days 3-4.
Breakfast. Food is shared and packed on horses. The participants carry their items in their rucksacks. The acclimatization takes 2 days. The short trekking trip across the Kuzuyak Range (1340 m) and along the Ak-kem River to the camping on the shore of Ak-kem Lake (2150 m).
Day 5.
The rest in the camp near Ak-kem Lake. You"ll enjoy the magnificent view. If the weather is fine you"ll see Beluha mountain (eastern and western peaks, the famous southern wall). Acclimatization. Training. Ice and rock climbing. Walking trips. Preparation for mountaineering.
Day 6.
Training. Climbing up the neighbouring peaks. There are 2 possible variants (the choice depends on weather):
- Ak-Kayuk mountain climbing (3670 m). The climbing trip starts at 6 a.m. (the 2-nd category). The path goes along the rock ridge. The ascent takes about 5 - 8 hours. From the mountain top, you?ll enjoy the magnificent view of the 7 Lakes Valley. European mountaineers compare the valley with Norwegian landscapes.
- Bronislava mountain climbing (3290 m). The route leads from the 7 Lakes Valley across the mountain range with the same name to the peak. You"ll climb the ridge covered with ice and snow (the 2-nd category). The climbing takes 8 hours.
Day 7.
Preparation for Beluha mountain climbing. Lunch. The hiking trip to the alpine camp on the Ak-kem glacier. It takes 5 hours.
Day 8.
The climbing trip starts at 5 a.m. A 3-5 - hours climb to the Delone Range (3400 m). Then a 6-hours hike across the Mensu glacier snow field to the Berrel saddle (3520 m). Camping out. It is cold at night (night temperature in summer is -10oC, in winter - 15oC).
Day 9.
The climbing trip starts at 4 a.m. After a 5-hours climb the participants reach the highest peak of Siberia. If the weather is fine you?ll have a 30-minutes rest on the top. Climb-down. Rest in the camp on the Ak-kem glacier.
Day 10.
Climb-down. Rest in the camp near Ak-kem Lake. Visiting Russian banya. Free time.
Days 11-13.
Climb-down. You can engage in mountain skiing and snowboarding. The route goes along the Ak-kem River through different climatic zones (mountains, forests, steppes), across the Kuzuyak Range (1340 m) to Tyungur village.
Day 14.
Moving to the Vysotnic camping in Tyungur village. Rest. Visiting Russian banya (bath-house). Farewell c amp-fire. Accommodation in tents.
Day 15.
Coming back to the tourist-sport camp at the Seminsky Range (1800 m).
Day 16.
Arrive in Barnaul. Transfer to the hotel Barnaul (double apartments, a shower / toilet, a TV-set, a cafe). Last dinner.
Day 17.
Transfer to the Barnaul airport. A flight to Moscow at 08:50 (local time).
