The valley boasts two cableways. One is on Elbrus, two runs of cable cars and a chairlift above, up to 3,750m. The lower station is on the Azau Glade (2,250m), the intermediate one is Stary Krugozor (3000m) and Mir Station at 3,500m. The second cableway is a couple of chair-lifts (single and double seats) on the Cheget Glade (2,000m) bringing you to a shoulder (3,050m) on the eastern ridge of Chegetkarabashi peak (3,461m).

        

The Baksan Valley has quite a number of branch valleys, joining it from the north and south. The interesting side-valleys are described briefly:

Adyr-Su river streams down from the Main Caucasian Range in parallel to Adyl-Su in the next lateral valley to the East and flows into Baksan river near Upper Baksan village. Further to the west, 20km up from Tyrnyauz. It has a 12km long jeep road, leading to two large mountaineering bases and has any more climbers, walkers and in winter skiers. When you emerge from its lower, narrow and woody part after a long and sweaty walk up the road and see the shining north face of Ullutau across the vast space of its head. At altitude approximately 2300-2400 m two mountaineering camps, "Ullu-Tau" and "Dzhaylyk", are situated. The valleys Adyl-Su and Adyr-Su are separated by long Northern Ridge stretching to the North from peak Gumachi (3805 m) on the Main Caucasian Range. Peaks Chot-Chat (3780 m), VIA-Tau, Koi-Avgan-Bashi (3877 m) (from the South to the North) standing in that Ridge. Massif Ullu-Tau (4207 m), standing on the Main Caucasian Range, closes the valley on the South, peaks Dzhailyk (4533 m) and Tiu-Tiu-Bashi (4460 m) tower above next to the East lateral ridge between Adyr-Su and Tiu-Tiu-Su valleys.

         

There are many good places for camping, but the best one is on the left bank, in the pine grove, in Ullutau Alpine Camp (2,360m). There is no easy access to the valley because there is a canyon at the Adyrsu river.s mouth (1600m) and no motorable way up. To get on the road in the valley you have use a car-lift. Two passes connect the valley with its neighbours: Mestiysky, leads across the Main Range to the Lekzyr glacier and Upper Svanetia (Georgia), and Koyavganauch to the Adylsu Valley. The nearest village is Upper Baksan in the Baksan Valley, opposite the mouth. The valleys Adyl-Su and Adyr-Su are separated by long Northern Ridge stretching to the North from peak Gumachi (3805 m) on the Main Caucasian Range. Peaks Chot-Chat (3780 m), VIA-Tau, Koi-Avgan-Bashi (3877 m) (from the South to the North) stand in that Ridge.

         

Adyl-Su river streams down from the Main Caucasian Range between two its lateral ridges in WNW direction and flows into Baksan river near Elbrus village. At the Adyl-Su upper reaches, at 2600 m altitude a large, grass-covered in summer, meadow named "Green Hotel" is situated. Neighbouring to a glacier lake, it represents a comfortable bivouac site. The head of the main valley cannot boast scenery like Adyrsu, but the upper parts of its three left side branch valleys, Shkhelda, Kashkatash and Bashkara, are well worth visiting and taking in the views. In turn, Shkhelda valley with the river of the same name is left, south tributary of Adyl-Su. At the confluence, two mountaineering camps, "Shkhelda" and "Elbrus", and rescue service station are situated. From the Shkhelda glacier, climbing routes take beginning to famous mountains: massif Sckhelda, Shchurovsky peak, Mt. Ushba North (4694 m) and South (4710 m) via Ushbinsky pass (4100 m), massif Chatyn (4368 m) via South Chatyn pass. Well known bivouac place - "Nemetskie nochiovki" (German bivouac, 3260 m) - is placed on the elevated, orographically right side of the Shkhelda glacier just opposite the Ushbinsky pass.

         

The cirque of the Bashkara glacier is a rare exception for rather a long stretch of the Main Range. It is a mountain cul-de-sac with no passes on its abrupt ridges, linking Ullukara (4,300m), Bashkara (4,240m) and Djantugan (3,990m) peaks. There are mountaineering bases and summer camps in the valley. The Rescue Service of the Elbrus area is located in the Shkhelda (1,900m) base. Another camp, Djantugan (2,130m), is at the end of the jeep-road, climbing the right side of the main valley. The best place for camping is located on a green meadow at the head of the valley, near the right bank moraine of the Bashkara glacier (2-2,5 hours walk from Djantugan camp), this place called "the Green Hotel" (2,600m). A good easy climb and a good viewpoint is Gumachy peak (3,805m), in the left corner of the upper basin of the Djankuat glacier. The Koyavganauch Pass is the way to the Adyrsu Valley across the Adylsu Range. The nearest village is Tegenekly, in the Baksan Valley, 1,5km from the mouth, upstream.

         

The road into the Donguzorun Valley branches off from the main road in the Baksan, 2km down from the town of Terskol, goes over a bridge across the Baksan river and comes to the Cheget Glade (2,000m) with many hotels, guest houses, cafes, souvenir shops, woollies bazaar and the two lower stations of single and double chair-lifts. The first lift to "Café Ai" station (2,750m) takes 15 minutes. There is one more lift to a shoulder on the ridge (3,050m), it is good view point for Mt Elbrus across the deep and green Baksan Valley. A wide path goes up through the Donguzorun Valley in view of the formidable north walls of Donguzorun (4,457m) and Nakratau (4,277m) peaks, past a large turquoise lake under the former, up to the foot of the Donguzorun Pass to Upper Svanetia (Georgia).

         

CET Neva agency offers to take part in mountain ski travels in Elbrus Region of the Central Caucasus. The region spreads over the Baksan river valley and valleys of its tributaries. At the upper reaches of the river, double-headed extinct volcano Mt. Elbrus, the Europe tallest mountain (5642 and 5621 m), towers in the North and two standing in the Main Caucasian Ridge 4-thousanders, Donguz-Orun (4454 m) and Nakra-Tau (4225 m), rises in the South.

         

Downstream, 13 km from the upper end of the valley, Baksan accepts Adyl-su, right tributary, flowing down from the Main Ridge and still farther, at 12 km from that confluence . another right tributary, Adyr-su. All these compose area of our ski tour routes. Two tour programs are presented below. The 8-day one offers ascent of Elbrus after a high altitude adaptation on Mt. Cheget, local ski center, and on Elbrus slopes. Elbrus summiting by ski and following 25 km descending with 2500 m level difference are main attraction of the program. The 11-day program includes besides travels in the lateral valleys Adyl-su and Adyr-su. In the course of the tours the participants are accommodated in comfortable hotels in Terskol village at the upper reaches of the Baksan valley and in mountain huts.

Participation in ski tours implies an experience in use of special equipment for ski touring, randonneé equipment. It includes light skis of special profile, bindings with possibility to fix/unfix the heel, boots allowing the ankle-joint to be flexible. Randonneé skis allow for your heel to be free for climbing and fixed for downhill. They are the best type skis for those who normally ski alpine style. Also skins are necessary to allow for traction while climbing.

PROGRAM OF 8-DAY TOUR

Day 1: Arrival to Mineralnye Vody (Mineral Waters) airport. 4-hour bus transfer to Terskol village in the Baksan valley (about 2100 m above the sea). Accomodation in a hotel for two nights. 

Day 2: Skiing on Mt. Kogutay (3850m), climbing by ski is desirable for training. Shopping in the local "Woollens market". Night in the hotel. 

Day 3: 10-min bus transfer up to the Azau glade (2300 m) and then lifting up to Gara-bashi station (3720 m) at upper end of the Elbrus aerial cableway (two spans . cabin lift, 3rd, upper span . chair lift). Accomodation in "Barrels" hotel at the station or in other mountain huts in the vicinity of former Priyut of the 11 ("Shelter of the Eleven", 4020 m) destroyed by fire in 1998. A ski touring up to altitudes of 4200-4300 m.

Day 4: Climbing by ski up to Pastukhov rocks (4650 m, about 3 hours) and possibly higher, up to 5000 m, and then downhill back. 

Day 5: Ski ascent of West (5642 m) or East (5621 m) summits of Elbrus, return back, down to the night lodging (totally about 10-12 hours). 

Day 6: Reserve day for bad weather. 

Day 7: Descent to Azau by the cable lift and further, down to Terskol. Overnight in the hotel.

Day 8: Bus transfer to Mineralnye Vody (Mineral Waters) airport, flight home. 

Price per person for groups  2012 

number of participants        4       5-6      7-8 

price per person, EUR        805    725     665 

PROGRAM OF 11-DAY TOUR 

Day 1:  Arrival to Mineralnye Vody (Mineral Waters) airport. 4.5-hour bus transfer to mountain camp Ullu-tau (2360 m above the sea) in the Adyr-su valley. Accomodation in the camp. 

Day 2: Ski climbing to Chot-chat pass (4-5 h.), 1-hour ascent of Peak Chot-chat (3780 m), downhill to the Ullu-tau camp. 

Day 3: Ski climbing to Chegetsky bivouac before Garvash pass (3710 m, 4-5 h. totally) or ascent on Mt. Treugol.nik (3928 m), downhill to the Ullu-tau camp (2 h.) 

Day 4: 6-hour ski climbing to Granovski pass (3764 m) and skiing down to the Ullu-tau camp (2.5 hours). 

Day 5: Ascent to and passage through Gumachy col (3540 m) by ski (5-6 h.) and skiing down into Adyl-su valley (2-2.5 h.). Bus transfer to Terskol village (about 2100 m above the sea). Accommodation and overnight in hotel. 

Day 6: Bus transfer to Azau, lower station of the Elbrus aerial cableway. Lifting up to Gara-bashi station (3720 m) at upper end of the cableway. Accomodation in "Barrels" hotel at the station. A ski touring up to altitudes of 4200-4300 m. 

Day 7: Climbing by ski up to Pastukhov rocks (4650 m, about 3 hours) and possibly higher, up to 5000 m, and then downhill back. 

Day 8: Ski ascent of West (5642 m) or East (5621 m) summits of Elbrus, return back, down to the night lodging (totally about 10-12 hours). 

Day 9: Reserve day for bad weather. 

Day 10: Descent to Azau by the cable lift and further, down to Terskol. Overnight in the hotel. 

Day 11: Bus transfer to Mineralnye Vody (Mineral Waters) airport, flight home. 

Price per person for groups  2012

number of participants          4      5-6    7-8 

price per person, EUR         975   875    795 

Best period - April to May. 

The programs can be varied depending on the weather and slope condition. Reaching tops of the peaks is dependent on slope condition and not always can be realized. 

The price includes:

invitation; 

lodging in hotels according to the programs; 

lodging in "Barrels" hotel or in mountain huts according to the programs; 

full board during stay in the Elbrus region; 

all transfers in the Elbus region according to the programs;

1 CET Neva guide-organizator; 

cook in "Barrels" or in mountain hut; 

Elbrus cable lifts; 

necessary permits and registration;

administrative fees in Kabardino-Balkaria. 

The price does not include: 

insurance;

internal regular flights to Min. Vody airport and back;

luggage air transportation;

unexpected premature evacuation;

cost of Russian visa; 

porters; 

use of "snowcats"; 

rent of mountaineering equipment; 

drinks and personal expenses; 

extra pay due to change of the appointed departure time.

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