Hiking to Bolshoy Thach, Adygea

Climb a dirt road through a gorgeous deciduous forest to Firs glade.

Our first overnight stay will be here, among the rowan trees under the huge stars.

If we are lucky, we will see the majestic Elbrus on the horizon.

The daily length of the route is 5.74 km.
The daily climb is 614 m.
The route's starting point is 780 m.
The mark of the end of the route is 1394 m.

Early rise.

We climb the Big Thacha ridge along the trail.

Below us on the right are the sheer cliffs of the Thacha wall, on the left are the endless expanses of the foothills of Adygea.

The trail traverses the slopes of Bolshoy Thach.

Our goal is the top of Bolshoy Thach (2368m).

We will climb it light, without backpacks.

From the top there is a magnificent view of the Devil's Gate, Maly Thach, the Lago-Naki plateau, and the peaks of the Main Caucasian Ridge.

We will follow the trail down from the Bolshoy Thach ridge to the bridge between the peaks.

The Great Thacha massif will open to our view in all its splendor: sheer cliffs, relict pines.

Here we have lunch and continue on our way.

Skirting the crown of Maly Thach, we are heading to a meeting with the mysterious world of the North Caucasian Biosphere Reserve.

We make a stop near the spring.

Those who wish can climb to the top of Maly Thacha (2238m).

Here, endless expanses of protected forests will open before our eyes.

Maybe we'll see a bear, or maybe a red deer.

We return to the trail and descend from the crown of the Little Thacha.

Three kilometers from the Devil's Gate, we make a stop near a full-flowing stream.

The daily length of the route is 13.85 km.
The daily climb is 1252.3 m.
The route's starting point is 1394 m.
The mark of the end of the route is 2040 m.

Radial exit to the town of Chertovy Vorota.

The ascent to the main peak is 2,486 m.

The daily length of the route is 7.89 km.
The daily climb is 446 m.
The route start point is 2040 m.
The mark of the end of the route is 2000 m.

We are returning to the village of Novoprokhladny.

We pass under the crown of the Small Thacha, go out to the Locksmith ridge.

Here we say goodbye to the Big Thatch.

Its array is especially beautiful in the rays of the setting sun.

The Kolokolnaya Rock is particularly notable.

Today we need to come to the Jubilee booth, a cozy place among the century—old pine trees.

This is our last overnight stay.

The daily length of the route is 18.52 km.
The daily climb is 100 m.
The route start point is 2000 m.
The mark of the end of the route is 1619.8 m.

We descend the ridge along a wide path, cross the Kuna River and enter the village of Novoprokhladny.

A car is waiting for us here to take us to Krasnodar.

Accommodation in a hotel in Krasnodar on soft feather beds.

The daily length of the route is 14.82 km.
♦ Daytime climb — 0 m
The route start point is 1619.8 m.
The mark of the end of the route is 540 m.

Breakfast.

Departure.