77th all-union route

1 DAY. Meeting of tourists in Barnaul (Biysk, Gorno-Altaisk) at the airport and at railway stations. We gather with the whole group and calmly go to the base camp Amadou, located near the village of Edigan Chemal district (150-420 km). Steppes of the Altai Territory at the entrance to the Altai Republic give way to mountain landscapes. The road takes us south, winding along the right bank of Katun. At the request of the group, you can visit the museum of Altai culture in the village of Chemal. The base camp is located near the village of Edigan, on the bank of the river of the same name, at an altitude of about 600 meters above sea level. We are surrounded by mountains on all sides. We don't have mosquitoes - beauty! Stay overnight, rest, prepare for the hike.

2 DAY. Breakfast at the campground. After distribution of things on backpacks and control weighing, we go on the way. Extra things can be left at the base, then they will be taken to the end point of the route. The first 6 km will not climb, but then we will have a long climb. The climb is uncool, but almost constant (height gain 1100 m). The road goes from the village of Edigan in the Terbiyan tract, then even higher, in the Kyzyl-Gak tract. The slopes are first covered with mixed, and above - cedar forest. The country road is becoming more and more abandoned, and now we are on a well-packed forest path. Behind the back, a panorama of the mountains located on the other side of Katun opens ever further. Suddenly, the forest parted, opening a fluctuating sea of herbs and flowers. For the night we stay in the Kyzyl-Gak tract. The huge alpine meadow under the Taman Ajou Pass is always in bloom; in early July it burns with many orange lights, which will then replace blue catchments. (planned crossing 19km)

3 DAY. A rocky path between knotted cedars, resisting constant winds, serpentine rises into the zone of high-mountain tundra. In all directions, as far as the eye can see, a mountainous country opens. We climb the Tamanel Pass (height 2090 m), under the feet solid stone placers painted with green and red lichens. At the Tamanel Pass, each traveler, according to local custom, attaches his stone to the pyramid - "bo", laid out in honor of the spirit-master of the pass.
We descend from the pass down, through the thickets of dwarf birch, to the sources of the Chemal River. To our right is the first mountain lake on the way. We cross the stones (or ford) through the narrow and shallow Chemal River (already 50 km on it is the Chemal HPP) and go to the Toguskol River. Toguskol Valley gets its name from the nine lakes in which we can, if desired, swim (the water in them is warmer than in other places). Around are rich pastures, free of gnats and midges. Ahead rises the domed top of Mount Temir-Kaya. In Soviet times, numerous cattle (cows, horses, sheep, goats) fed fat here, shepherds and herdsmen lived in the parking lots. In our time, the mountains can be said to rest. Good pastures attract here all summer only semi-wild herds of horses and groups of tourists.
Near the river Toguskol traditional tourist parking. You'll have to wade across the river. (planned crossing 12km)

4 DAY. Ascent to the Soygonosh pass (height 2200 m), which offers a picturesque view of the valley of the Mal.Sumulta river, the Soygonosh tract. From the top of the trail you can see one of the high points of the Sumultinsky ridge - Mount Albagan (2618 m). In the saddle of the pass until the middle of summer there is snow. In early summer or closer to autumn in these places it is quite possible to meet a carefree, content with free life bear. The descent from the pass is steep, among the stones and rocky exits, in rainy weather it is necessary to go especially carefully. Cascading waterfalls make noise next to the trail, under which you can swim in good weather. In sunny weather, small rainbows hang over the waterfalls. After descent from the pass - the transition through a wide valley with high meadow grasses, through a mass of small fords of many tributaries of Soygonosh, to the confluence of the rivers Izhem and Turdem. Together, the three mountain rivers form one of the most beautiful rivers of Altai - Small Sumulta. Today our camp will stand at the confluence of these rivers. (planned crossing 15km)

5 DAY. Exit to the Thurdem tract. Again, streams, streams, rivers. An infinite number of fords, which end only when the trail leads to the dividing saddle - Thurdem Pass (1915m). Descent along a wide lagoon, overgrown with grass almost in human growth, will lead us to the valley of the Konoi River. The slope is clay, and after the rain is quite slippery. Descent along the river to the merger with the Karasu River, there will also be a camp (planned crossing 15 km).

6 DAY. Turn to the left, and go along the Karasu river, to the pass Nameless (1950m). This is a zone of alpine meadows surrounded by mighty cedars. The grass here is so thick and high that people can not be seen. After a steep short climb to the pass, tourists approach the tributary of the Aksaazkan River and climb the valley to its sources. The path is cedar forest, then alpine meadows. Today, the camp will be broken up on the Blue Lake - this is a small lake a little away from the trail, you just need to cross the ford through Aksaazkan. (planned crossing 15km)

7 DAY. By the origins of Aksaazkan, the valley is expanding. The trail enters the woodland, and then turns to the right and along the rocky slope serpentine rises to the Uymensky pass. This is the main node of the mountain system of the North-Eastern Altai. A steep descent among the rocks and rocks next to the falling water leads to one of the most beautiful corners of the Altai Mountains - Lake Uymen. Here we are thoroughly camping, because tomorrow is a day. (planned crossing 12km)

8 DAY. A day at Lake Uymen. Small-sized lake with clear cold water is surrounded by wild rocks, which resemble the shape of giant feathers stuck with a sweep into the ground. The rocks were cedarized. There is a lot of grayfish in the lake, and catching fish by following the instructor’s advice is not so difficult.

9 DAY. From Lake Uymen flows a river with the same name. It has several tributaries. On the first right tributary, we climb to the Karasaazkan pass (2200 m). We descend from the pass to a small tributary of the Karasaazkan River for an overnight stay. It's called "Before the Stativ." (planned 16km crossing)

10 DAYS. We climb to the highest pass on the route - Stativ (2400 m). The name itself speaks of the steepness of the slopes. In order not to stumble on the path, you need to walk very carefully. More than one hour will have to climb stone cornices and stone rashes, on which stones roll down from under the feet with rustling. From the pass opens a majestic panorama of the Altai mountains. In clear weather in a south-west direction in the ridge of the Katun ridge you can see Beluha. From the stacked tour on the pass, we move to the valley of the right tributary of the Uykaratash River. Descent from the pass is also difficult and tiring. However, we are not the first day on the road, accustomed to physical exertion and will overcome all obstacles! After descending a little tedious walk through the valley of Uykaratash and, having passed a few fords on small streams, we begin to climb up, leaving the bottom of the wetland valley. The serpentine trail goes down the slope into the forest, and, rising higher and higher, goes between the cedars standing close to each other. There is no flat place for a tent on these hills, but suddenly a cozy, cedar-encircled platform specially equipped for the camp opens up in front. A comfortable descent to the creek, made by your predecessors in the form of a staircase at the roots of the cedar, will lead to a dam similar to a hot tub with cold water. (planned crossing 19km)

11 DAY. This day is the longest in the whole route - the goal is close, you need to hurry. We continue our climb up the mountain to Sonyrlu Pass. Around cedars and bushes in the form of undergrowth. Closer to the top, the cedars become less and less tall, with a one-sided crown, knotted by the cold winter winds. Even higher there are only dwarf birches, very small, but among them grow beautiful and appetizing subberezoviki. The Sonyrlu Pass is located on the watershed of the Sonyrlu River. Having risen to the second hump of the pass, we will finally open a panorama of distant mountains that form the bowl of Teletskoye Lake. Descent from the gentle pass, the height difference is small, almost all the time it is alpine meadows. The camp is set up on one of the tributaries of the river by a lonely tree. (planned crossing 24km)

12 DAY. We cross the ford and begin the ascent to the pass Kyzyltash 2203m. Since we almost did not lose heights the previous day, the climb to the pass will not be steep and not very long. Around the mountainous meadows and pastures, the proximity of villages is already felt. The Kyzyltas pass is almost naked, without trees. Descent from it, unlike the ascent, will be steep, along the path in the form of a serpentine, framed by cedars of small height, like an alley. Before climbing to the next small pass, we camp on the clearing for the night. Nearby are ails, hunting lodges of local hunters from Balykcha. (planned crossing 18km)

13 DAY. Having climbed a small pass under which we stood, and having overcome the last pass of Tanys, on which there is a shaman-tree, the trail leads down to the Achelman River, crosses it twice and sharply goes down to the wide valley of the Chulyshman River. From above we have a stunning view of the Teletskoye Lake. Surrounded on all sides by ridges ranging in height from 2000-2500m, as it descends, it seems more and more. And finally, the descent to the village of Balykcha. Prepare your knees, we will have to overcome 2 kilometers of almost sheer serpentine descent. The trail leads among tall ancient cedars, between their large winding roots, which encircled huge blocks of rock, a fabulous place. At the end of the descent, a small stop in the village, you can run to the shops, buy apples and cherries from the locals, drink milk, and then go on the way. The last 7 km to the Kyrsai camp go along a country flat road. We sleep next to the campground in tents, who want to go to the bath. (planned crossing 17km)

14 DAY. We get into a motor boat and drive along the entire Teletskoye Lake (which is almost 80 km) from the southern edge to the north. The lake has an extremely elongated, curved shape. It used to be called Altan-Kol, the Golden Lake. When the sun’s rays sparkle on the vast surface of the water, it really appears golden. On the way we visit the most interesting waterfalls (Korbu, Ayu-kechpes, Kishte, Chedor, 40 sins, Maiden tears). Departure in the evening from Artybash to Barnaul, Biysk, Gorno-Altaisk.