Chemal. Active week

1 DAY (Monday, Thursday or Saturday). Meeting of tourists at the airport and train stations. We gather with the whole group and calmly go to the base camp (420 km from Barnaul or 150 km from Gorno-Altaisk). 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. Along the way, there are some decent places to have breakfast or lunch. At the request of the group, you can stop at the source of Arzhan-Suu (a well-known spring with water rich in silver), at the local souvenir market to see (buy) products of local craftsmen, 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. The water in the river is very clean, there are fish here, but not everyone can catch it. We take the time to explore the surrounding area. Now we are at an altitude of about 600 meters above sea level. We are surrounded by mountains on all sides. We don't have mosquitoes - beauty! We stay overnight (in tents or pre-ordered houses), relax, prepare for the hike.

2 Day (resurrection). Instruction on safety and mountain bike management. A minimum of things and products that will come in handy for us during the day, put in shoulder backpacks, get on bicycles and leave the camp. We leave the camp and drive towards Katun, turn down the river. Here you can slightly climb the abandoned road to the gentle slope of the Teldekmen tract to see the panorama of the Katun River valley in both directions. We go down and cross the Oroktoi Bridge. Under the bridge boils, clamped in the rocks, Katun, forming the threshold of Teldekpen-1. We drive along the left bank of Katun to the north. There is no transport here, along the old country road, often close to the river, it is a pleasure to drive. Near the mouth, a small river Kaspa formed several waterfalls hidden in the thickets. We'll have lunch next to them and we'll head back to base camp. It was a short walk, but many were tired. Day crossing 35km. There's dinner and a bath at the base.

3 DAY (Monday). We move along an abandoned country road down the Edigan River. The narrow valley of the river is clamped by mountains on all sides, we drive along local hayfields and pastures. When we reach the mouth of the river, we turn left. The whole road is sandy, does not erod even after heavy rains, without sharp ascents and descents, it is quite easy to drive along it. The landscape here is more severe and deserted, only rare trees were able to withstand the harsh winter winds that constantly blow along Katun. Huge boulder stones scattered across the valley remind us of the movement of glaciers thousands of years ago. The land here is not suitable for agriculture, the local population is mainly engaged in cattle breeding. We pass the village of Kuyus, zero kilometer column and after about 7 km we will reach the mouth of the Beltertyuk River. This small river, falling into Katun, forms a cascading waterfall. On the way, inspect the petroglyphs of the Kuyus Grotto - ancient rock paintings depicting hunting scenes, wild animals. We dine at the waterfall and move back to our campground. On the way, you can go to the local beekeeper for a tour and for honey. Day move 45km. In the camp, we are again waiting for a bath and a delicious dinner. Here you can prepare for the next, horse-drawn part of the route.

4 DAY (Tuesday). We put personal belongings, sleeping bags and food in saddle bags. We leave extra things in our backpacks for storage. Get to know the horses, get the harness. Repeat the basics of safety and horse management rules. We load things on a horse and begin a horse crossing up the river Edichta. The trail winds along the country road, bypassing the village of Edigan, and gradually leads us up into the mountains. Lower pastures are replaced by haymaking and then pass into the real cedar taiga. Horses constantly have to go up (daily elevation difference of about 1100 m), so we move slowly. And behind the back, a panorama of the mountains located on the other side of Katun opens ever further. For the night we stay in the Kyzyl-Gak tract. The huge alpine meadow under the Taman Azu Pass is always in bloom. The rocky, bare peaks of the surrounding mountains do not clear snow until mid-June. The clouds are very low, as if floating in the valley. Now there is a traditional tourist parking. Almost all travelers stop here before a long road. Day crossing 20km.

5 DAY (Wednesday). We're going through Taman Ajou Pass today. The climb is steep and rocky. In rainy weather, horses are a bit heavy here. There may be fog or snow at the pass itself. But in clear weather, a magnificent mountain panorama opens to all sides of the world. At the highest point of the pass is a pyramid of stones. Here they stop and descend from the horses to thank the spirit of the pass. Over the pass on the right, the first mountain lake meets us. Then we cross the Kara-Irbak canyon, ford the upper reaches of the Chemal River, and turn right towards the alpine meadows of Aksas. The trail will pass next to the highest mountain in these places - Kabarga. On the left is hidden from view the quiet lake Manas. We will come to him to look at him (and those who want to bathe). For the night we will stop under the Ales Pass, in the Loga Skin. Day crossing 20km

6 DAY (Thursday). We go down the forest path, crossing into the old forest road. On the way, we will meet a maralka, in which local deer are grown - marals. Typically, several animals walk in plain sight and can be photographed. We go down the country road to the camp. Cedars are replaced by birches and shrubs. Archemaks are almost empty, and the horses, feeling the house, go faster and faster. Day crossing 20km. We'll have lunch at camp. In the evening, you can go to the bath, make kebabs, if you ordered meat in advance.

7 DAY (Friday). We pack things that we take for alloy, in drives. We're loading cars and driving up Katun. A little before reaching the village of Kuyus, we unload on the shore of Katun. We put the court on alert, we tie things up. By the way, if you want to take a camera with you, we recommend bringing a special sealed bag or waterproof case for it. Instruction on safety on water. First, it's just the Shivers. We will take the time to coordinate our team. After the mouth of the Edigan River, we will go to the rapids of Teldekpen-1 and -2 (from the Altai "Rised Mountain") (III c.s.). The river cut its way into the rocks, forming a two-kilometer canyon with steep walls. The powerful turbulence of the flow with a chaotic pile of jets, funnels and water fungi is very impressive. Near the mouth of the Biyka River we will pass the Biykinsky threshold, after a few kilometers - the Yelandinsky threshold (III c.s.). Beyond the threshold begins the village of Jelanda. Here they were going to build a dam Katunskaya HPP, in the middle of the river stands, bristling with reinforcement, unfinished bridge. After 15 kilometers, having met several more spiky rapids, we will stop on the left bank of Katun, away from settlements.

8 DAY (Saturday). Keep rafting. Opposite the village of Chemal, we will go the spiky threshold "Chemal trumpet", bubbling between the Gate of Sartakpay. On the right for a moment, the turbines of the Chemal HPP will show, attracting everyone’s attention with the rumble of falling water, and a little further, on the island of Patmos in the middle of Katun, we will see the newly rebuilt chapel. Today there will still be rapids "Elikmanarsky" and "Askatinsky", "Iradash". Our route ends near the village of Cheposh or Ust-Sema. Here we will be met by a car and taken back to the camp, where a bath and dinner are waiting. Last night together, it's time to exchange photos and addresses. Today, new tourists will come to the camp - you can safely share your experience with beginners and tell your stories.

9 Days (Tuesday, Friday or Sunday). Departure to Barnaul, Biysk, Gorno-Altaisk. It is possible to leave by bus immediately to Novosibirsk (for a fee).