9-day Central Caucasus ski touring program

Join Konstantin, an aspirant guide, on this 9-day Central Caucasus ski touring program. And enjoy some of the best slopes on this mountain range!

Caucasus

9 Days

Feb - May

Intermediate

Description

This 9-day Central Caucasus ski touring program will take you to the best skiing spots you can imagine!

The Central Caucasus is considered to be one of the geographical borders between Asia and Europe. This incredible region has more than 200 peaks higher than 4000 m and seven over 5000 m. If Mont Blanc (4807 m) is the highest mountain in western Europe, this area has 15 peaks that exceed it.

And I'll guide you through 2 valleys that could be the best to ski in the whole Caucasus ridge. We'll go from Adyrsu valley to Adylsu Valley. During the expedition we'll go over different passes and even reach the summit of Gumachi peak (3850 m).

One of the best features of the expedition is the amazing view of Mount Elbrus (5642 m), the highest mountain in Europe, from Adylsu Valley. And we'll also have the pleasure of staying in warm and comfortable mountain huts, with amazing food.

This 9-day Central Caucasus ski touring program is a great way to discover this beautiful and remote area. Contact me now and we’ll start organizing your trip!

And if you want to check other ski touring adventures please take a look of my 10-day ski tour in the Khibiny Mountains (Russian Arctic Circle) and my 9-day ski tour from Arhyz to Dombay in Russia.

Price includes

Accommodation included
Guiding fee
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Transport during the trip
Permit and entrance fees

Meeting point

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer

Arrival to Mineralnie Vody airport. 30 km transfer to Piatigorsk. Night at Intourist hotel

Day 2: Transfer to Adyrsu valley

Transfer to Adyrsu valley. We’ll stay at Ullutau (2350 m). If there is time we’ll do a short ski tour.

Day 3: Ski day

Ski tour to Garvash pass (3450 m). We’ll go across Cheget bivouac meadow, at the foot of Ullutau peak North Face. Descent to Ullutau hut.

Day 4: Ski day

Ski tour to Chotchat shoulder (3400 m). We’ll continue to reach Chotchat peak (3860 m). Descent to Ullutau hut.

Day 5: Ski day

Ski tour to Donkin pass (4073 m). We’ll ski under Dzha peak -the highest peak of the Adyrsu ridge-. Descent to Ullutau hut.

Day 6: Ski day

Ski tour to Granovskogo pass (3759 m). We’ll enjoy a very long and beautiful descent along the Adyrsu valley. Descent to Ullutau hut.

Day 7: Climb and ski day

Ski tour over Gumachi pass (3600 m). We’ll climb to Gimachi peak (3850 m) and descent through Adylsu valley to Elbrus Mountaineering Camp (2050 m).

Day 8: Ski day

Ski tour options:

1. Kashkatash glacier then to Turiy lake (3000 m).

2. Foot of Ullukara peak (4308 m).

3. Woolley peak (4058 m).

4. Foot Bzhedukhs peak (4271 m), in front of the North Face of Shkheldy-tau (4368 m) and Ushba icefall. (shorter option)

Day 9: Departure

Transfer to the Mineralnie Vody airport. Departure flight.

Details

More info

The price will depend on the group size.
Important: For border permits we need to get your passport data not later than 2 months before your arrival.

About the guide

Konstantin

Mountain Guide

Originally I'm from Altai, a little-known Siberian mountain region. I grew up and developed as a sportsmen and guide in Altai and the Tian-Shan mountains. Since 2010, I live in St. Petersburg and work a lot in the Caucasus region.

Since 2011 I am learning in the Russian Mountain Guides Association (RMGA), under auspices of the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). In 2015 I passed the Apprentice Ski Guide exam.

My main work destinations are Russian and CIS mountain regions as Altai, Khibiny, Tian-Shan, Kamchatka and all Caucasus. I specialize in ski tour and climbing projects in uncommon mountain regions of Russia and CIS.

Languages

Russian | English

What people are saying about Explore-Share

Man

Climbing with guide Guillaume was absolutely a highlight of my 2-week Europe vacation. Originally, we were planning on climbing in the Calanques, but the park was closed due to wind and fire danger. Guillaume chose another amazing location (Pic de Bretagne) based on my climbing abilities and preferences and kindly offered train station pick-up and hotel drop off, which I appreciated very much. The multi-pitch route we did was not only fun but also the right amount of challenge, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The communication from the team (Gauthier) was prompt and clear—highly recommend!

Maxine

Luis Silva was a great climbing guide and belayer! He taught me how to do moves that were difficult and encouraged me to try routes that were challenging for me! Because of his encouragement, I managed to complete these routes! I really enjoyed the climbs and completed 8 routes in the Sesimbra/Azoia area. The weather was perfect, no direct sun and cool enough to enjoy the climbs. Explore-Share made booking an outdoor climbing experience in Lisbon extremely easy. Luis, our guide, was fantastic, and the platform’s organization was flawless.

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4.8