Mountain camp in Besengi Gorge

Our trip takes place on the territory of Kabardino-Balkaria, near Elbrus. It is here that the Besengi Gorge is located - one of the pearls of the Caucasus!
The main Caucasian ridge here is not just close, you can touch it with your hand! Arriving here, immediately attracts the attention of the huge, snow-white Besengiyskaya wall - this is a 12-kilometer mountain range, the highest section of the Main Caucasus Range. Of the eight "five thousand" of the Caucasus, six are located in the Besengi gorge!
These places are decorated with waterfalls, mountain lakes and sparkling glaciers. In July, the eye will be pleased with bright flowers, in August and September the gorge will treat us to ripe raspberries and blueberries.
And, of course, the highlight of Bezengi is its night sky, decorated with thousands of bright stars!

Travel area: Russia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Bezengi gorge.
Type of rest: accommodation in tents, walking lightly, without backpacks.
Cost: 19300 rubles.

Travel dates for 2020 (7 days):

June
June 14-20
June 21-27
28 June-04 July

July
12-18 July
July 19-25
July 26-01 August

August
02-08 August
09-15 August
August 16-22
August 23-29

SEPTEMBER
06-12 September
13-19 September

To pass along the tourist routes of this region, all tourists need a pass to the border zone.
For Russian citizens, the instructor issues a pass on the first day of the route.
For citizens of foreign countries (Ukraine, Belarus, Israel), registration of the pass takes 30 working days (43 calendar days). After submitting an application for participation in the campaign, we ask each citizen of a foreign country for a copy of the passport for registration of the pass.

Route thread: Mineral Waters • Bezengi Gorge, Zhiginji Falls, Ecotropa • Dumala River Gorge, Ukyu Falls • Gidan Waterfall, Mijirga Glacier, Northern Wall • Rock climbing on the Ayutash Rock spur • Bezengi Glacier, Barankos Lake • Blue Lake, Aushiger thermal springs - Mineral Waters.

Day 1

11:00-11:30 - group gathering at the airport and at the railway station of Mineralnye Vody (near the main entrance to the station from the city side).
Transfer by bus to Bezengi alplager (about 5-6 hours). In the village of Bezengi, the usual asphalt ends and the dirt road begins. Next, we will check the documents at the border guard post.

Bezengi Gorge.
We're finally in the mountains! Against the background of snow-capped peaks flaunts the mecca of climbers - the high-mountain camp "Bezengi". On its territory we will set up our tent camp.
Today we will make a sightseeing tour of the alpine territory and climb to the observation deck. From here we will see the gorges of the Mizhirgi rivers, Bezengi and part of the famous Besengi Wall.
The Bezengi Alplager is a separate, stunning world. On its territory there are buildings for living, own dining room, shower, souvenir shop and even a kindergarten! Going on climbs, climbers can always leave their children under supervision here. Tourists love to gather in the local cafe, where there is a large, embossed layout of the Besengi district, which we will also see today.

Day 2

Bezengi Gorge, Zhiginji Falls. Ecotrope.
Besengi Gorge is a real land of waterfalls! Today we are going to one of them – the waterfall Zhigindzhi. At the very top of the Kargashil Range is a glacier that gives rise to the Zhigindzhi River. And the river, in turn, gives us a beautiful, snow-white waterfall.
The water jumps up the mountain steps and forms several picturesque cascades. You can approach the waterfall very close and take luxurious photos of water splashes against the background of the mountains! In July, our photos will also be decorated with flowering orange poppies – rare flowers, a highlight of these places.

Let's go down the route! Ahead we have an ecotrope to the Besengi glacier. Along the trail grow small trees, shrubs, please the eye bright flowers. Walking along the trail is very easy, because it is specially designed for tourists, there are even benches. Throughout the route there are information stands describing the local flora and fauna.
With each step, we are getting closer and closer to our goal – the stunning Besengi glacier. It is considered one of the largest glaciers of the Caucasus. The length of the glacier ranges from 13 to 20 kilometers, and the thickness of the ice reaches 180 meters! Can you imagine that? This is incredible!
We’ll be here tonight and enjoy the beauty :
The active part of the route: 5.5 km, the height difference of 2140-2040-2200 m, the duration of the route is 5-6 hours.

Day 3

The Doumala River Gorge.
Early in the morning we go to the valley of the river Dumala.
Although we left our usual parking lot very close, but the landscape has changed a lot. Of course, our favorite mountains are around, but today we will walk through the forest for the most part! The gorge of the river Dumala is very green, it always gives us mushrooms, in July it pleases strawberries, and in August and September it spoils raspberries and blueberries!
Our path smoothly rises through the meadows, higher and higher along the beautiful river Dumala. On the wooden bridge we will cross the river. Stop on the bridge for a few seconds and you immediately feel the power of a fast, noisy mountain river!
Soon we will go to a huge green clearing, where we will have lunch. But it'll be a little later. In the meantime, let's go see the Wukyu Falls! The narrow gorge tightly squeezes the river in its stone embrace and gives us a waterfall. Ukyu Falls are tall, foamy, snow-white! You'll like =)
The active part of the route: 9.6 km, the height difference of 1590-2070 m, the duration of the route is 6-7 hours.

Day 4

Gidan Falls, Mijirga Glacier, North Wall.
Today is going to be an incredibly bright day! We will come very close to the North Wall, an amazing creation of nature.
Any climber with a faint heart will tell you that the Northern Massif is a huge mountain wall. 15 kilometers of pure snow and ice, 4 five thousand!! The wall curves, which is why it is often called a snow horseshoe.
On a sunny day, against a blue-blue sky, the North Wall sparkles with its ideal glaciers, and snow-white clouds swirl over its peaks. You just can’t take your eyes off it, it’s so good and spectacular!
At the foot of the wall proudly stretches the Mizhirga glacier. It is so amazing to walk along the glacier when blue forget-me-nots or chamomiles bloom nearby. But this is exactly what is happening in the Besengi Gorge!
On the way back we will admire the solar waterfall Gidan. It is in the afternoon that the sun shines perfectly! Gidan is a cascading waterfall that flows down from Mount Gidan-tau in rapid streams. We take pictures and go down to the alpine camp.
The active part of the passage along the route: 13.2 km, the height difference of 2140-2820 m, the duration of the route is 7 hours.

Day 5

Climbing lessons.
You and I have been living in Bezengi Alpine camp all week. Around us are dozens of happy climbers who came to conquer the local peaks. Today we will get closer to these people and feel what it is like to climb the rocks!
On the rock spur of Ayutash to improve the skills of climbers, places for rock classes are equipped. This place is called the Rock Laboratory.
You will be instructed and trained in the basics of climbing under the guidance of experienced instructors. And then we go to the climbing trails for beginners! First we try the simplest routes, and who wants – then move to longer and more difficult routes. The routes here have the most unusual names: “Black Tooth”, “Road to the Clouds”, “Smell of the Wind” “Seasons”.
Climbing is a wonderful workout, after which you have a pleasant fatigue and a winning feeling of climbing heights!
Duration of the event: 4 hours.

Day 6

Bezengi Glacier. Lake Barankos.
We leave the camp early and climb the Besengi glacier. We will walk on a rocky slope, walk on moraine and leave our footprints on a real glacier!
With each step, we will come closer and closer to the magnificent, snow-white Besengi Wall. The wall is 13 kilometers of snow and ice, there are two five-thousanders: Jangitau (5085 m) and Shhara (5193 m). On the way we will admire the magnificent mountain Gestola, which rests on the sky with its sharp, snow-white peak!

The route to the Besengi Wall always causes awe and delight of tourists. It is here that you immediately feel the power and power of the high mountains!
Even further along the route, in the side pocket of the moraine, is Lake Barankos. Its calm waters perfectly reflect the snowy peaks of the Besengi Wall!
! The instructor decides to visit Lake Barankos based on the physical fitness of the group.
The active part of the passage along the route "Bezengi Glacier": 6.3 km, the elevation difference of 2140-2550 m, the route duration is 5-6 hours.
The active part of the route "Bezengi Glacier and Lake Barankos": 17.4 km, elevation difference 2140-2750 m, route duration 9-10 hours.

Day 7

Blue Lake "Cherek-Köl", thermal springs Aushiger.
In the morning we gather camp and leave the hospitable Besengi Gorge. On the way, we will stop at Blue Lake and thermal springs.

Blue Lake Cherek-Köl.
Blue Lake is the second deepest karst spring in the world, its maximum depth is 279 meters! The water is emerald-blue in color, visibility here is almost independent of the weather and reaches 20-40 meters.

Aushiger Thermal Springs.
In these places in the 1950s, they searched for oil and accidentally discovered thermal springs. Now there are equipped swimming pools in the open air, where you can swim in the healing thermal water. The water temperature reaches 50C and comes to the surface from a depth of about 4000 meters. The water is very rich in potassium, calcium, sodium and bromine. It cleanses the human body, relieves stress, rejuvenates and gives a charge of energy.

18:00 - Arrival in Mineralnye Vody, departure home.

Depending on the weather conditions, the physical condition of the participants and other factors, the route of the hike may be changed.

• Road crossings along the route
• Registration of a pass to the border zone
• Accommodation in a paid tourist parking lot.
• Three meals a day.
• Rental of group equipment (bonfire equipment, boilers, gas burners, awning, group first aid kit)
• Conductor-instructor services

The price does not include:

• Transportation costs to the beginning of the route and back (Mineralnye Vody).
• Personal equipment (tent, backpack, sleeping bag, karemat). If necessary, our club will provide rental tourist equipment.
• Insurance (optional)