The archipelago of the Rocky Islands. Hiking in the Caucasus

The first day of the tour is quite easy, warm-up. It runs along the relatively smooth gentle slopes of the two southern peaks of Kavminvod.

Yutsa (Jutsa 1st) 973 m, the start of the ascent from the paradrome: 43.973653, 43.031590.

We leave the hotel at 8:30 and arrive at the southeastern group of mountains at 9:30. The car takes the group through the village of Yutsa to the airfield, where paragliding athletes are based, train and fly from.

From here, the hike to the top of Mount Yutsa begins — about 200 meters vertically. We go down to the cars and after 40 minutes we arrive at Mount Jutsa, the second highest peak of Kavminvod.

Jutsa 1190 m, the start of the ascent on the eastern slope: 43.925417, 42.988009. We climb to the top — about 400 meters vertically — along paths or grassy slopes.

The ascent takes 1.5–2 hours.

From the top there is a stunning view of Elbrus, the Main Caucasian and Djinal ranges.

The descent to the cars takes no more than 30 minutes.

Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch on the route.

Mashuk is the most popular peak of Kavminvod, sung by great Russian poets. It is located within the city of Pyatigorsk, the quarters of which frame the mountain from the south, west and north.

Mashuk 993 m, the start of the ascent from the monuments above the Aeolian Harp: 44.041102, 43.087405.

We leave the hotel at 8:30. By 9:00 we arrive at the Spartak Rocks climbing wall.

After the instruction on the use of special equipment, you can go through the simplest rock routes from 3 to 10 meters high. This training practice will be needed when overcoming certain sections of the route — when climbing peaks such as Ostroya and Medovaya.

After the rock tour, you will have a 20-minute walk to the Pyatigorsk Sinkhole. Then a 1.5-kilometer walk to the Aeolian Harp and climb the Bernardazzi trail towards the top of Mount Mashuk.

The distance from the Aeolian Harp to the top of the mountain is about 1.5 km, the elevation difference on the route reaches 400 m.

From the monument there are one hundred steps up to the top station of the cable car and the TV tower. After bypassing the territory of the TV tower, we descend the steps, and then follow the path of the western slope, which leads to the "Glade of Songs".

The journey of about 1.8 km takes 30-40 minutes.

Then a 10-minute descent along an asphalt footpath from the lower part of the Clearing to the place of the duel of M. Y. Lermontov, where we get into the car and return to the hotel.

Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch on the route.

Mangy 874 m, the start of the ascent from the parking lot of the residential complex on the northern slope of the mountain: 44.097913, 42.973941.

We leave the hotel at 8.30 am and arrive at the western group of the Kavminvod mountains by 9:30 am. We leave the cars in the parking lot of the residential complex at the entrance to the city of Lermontov. We climb the well-visible trail of the northern slope in the direction of the peak of Mount Cheludivaya.

The ascent from the cars to the top of about 250 meters vertically takes no more than an hour.

From the top there is a great view of Mount Beshtau, the highest peak of Kavminvod and the Zheleznovodsk group of mountains. We go down to the cars and after 30 minutes we drive up to the western slopes of Mount Ostroya (Ostrogorka).

Acute 872 m, the start of the ascent from the glade of the southern ridge: 44.115558, 42.994228.

We climb to the top along the southwest ridge using simple safety systems. The height difference from the road is about 150 meters. We descend from the top on the way up.

Bypassing the Ostrogorki massif from the north side, we exit with a slight rise to the saddle of the ridge. After a short descent — about 50 m vertically — along a forest path we approach the slope of another peak in the region — Kabanka or Tupaya.

Kabanka 767 m, the start of the ascent from the bridge from Ostrogorka: 44.120571, 42.998912.

A simple 100-meter climb to the top, overgrown with shrubs and small trees, completes the ascents of this day. We go down the climbing path, get into the cars and return to the hotel.

Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch on the route.

The fork is 926 m, the start of the ascent from the parking lot next to the sign "Permafrost Cave": 44.159922, 43.031259. One of the most interesting natural attractions of Kavminvod.

We leave the hotel at 8:30 and drive up to the parking lot of the Forester's Hut restaurant in the vicinity of the city of Zheleznovodsk.

The walking part of the route starts from the northwest side of Razvalka Mountain and runs along its western slope.

We walk for 20 minutes along an old dirt road, sometimes turning into a wide path, in the direction of the "Permafrost Cave" — a horizontal tunnel of geological excavation.

After walking about 200 meters more, we begin the ascent along the scree and grassy slopes. After 1.5–2 hours, we reach a wide pre-summit ridge, from which we climb to the peak along a pronounced trail.

We descend to the old Terrencourt trail, along which we climb 2 km to the top of Zheleznaya Mountain.

Zheleznaya 853 m, the start of the ascent is 100 meters from the Pushkin Gallery: 44.135912, 43.032788. We climb 2.5 km along a wide trail with an average steepness of about 20 degrees. The trail smoothly bypasses the mountain and leads to the highest point of the peak.

We descend from the top along the Terrencourt trail to the Pushkin Gallery and cross the territory of the Zheleznovodsk resort Park to the cars.

The journey takes about 40 minutes.

We get into the cars and return to the hotel.

Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch on the route.

Lysaya 739 m, the start of the ascent from the eastern outskirts of the village of Nizhnepodkumsky: 08.44.0114, 43.217143.

We leave the hotel at 8:30 a.m. and 40 minutes later we arrive at the northeastern outskirts of the village of Nizhnepodkumsky. The steepest section is the 100—meter exit to the dome of the peak.

The ascent takes 1.5–2 hours, the descent to the cars takes about an hour.

Golden Mound 884 m, the start of the ascent is one kilometer from the western outskirts of the village of Tambukan, at the intersection of roads on the northwestern slope: 43.935236, 43.134568, 43.944960, 43.105659.

An hour on the way, and we are at the foot of the Golden Kurgan Mountain. It has the shape of an asymmetrical dome with a cone-shaped peak crowning a slightly hilly plateau with a height of 600-700 m. The cars come as close as possible to the domed top.

The vertical hike of about 150 meters takes only 30-40 minutes.

After descending from the Golden Mound, we return to the hotel.

Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch on the route.

A free day to spend relaxing. Take a walk through the historical sites, which are very rich in the city of Pyatigorsk.

You can book an additional tour to explore the local attractions, or even travel to a neighboring republic for new impressions and photos.

Meals: breakfast at the hotel.

Medovaya 725 m, the start of the ascent from the turn of the road along Chapaev Street, Zheleznovodsk: 44.138801, 43.010589.

Climbing to the top of Medovaya is technically the most difficult among the laccolith mountains of the region. The ascent begins on the northern slope. The approaches to the beginning of the route take place along forest paths that lead to the eastern, most gentle ridge of the mountain.

Safety equipment and protective helmets (helmets) are required to ensure safety during climbing.

We begin the ascent along a wide, gentle ridge. After 20 meters, the ridge turns into a 35-meter 45-degree rocky slope (we go with insurance). Then about 50 meters further along the trail, with two small (1.5 meters) 60-degree walls.

The trail leads to a 3-meter rock formation (insurance), after overcoming which, we walk about 80 meters along the trail without climbing and reach the highest point of Mount Medovaya.

The peak is a good panoramic point with views of 9 surrounding peaks and several settlements. We go down the climbing path with mandatory insurance.

For a group of 4-6 people, the ascent and descent take 5-6 hours.

Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch on the route.

Beshtau 1400 m, the start of the ascent from the junction of the road to the ring road: 44.084358, 43.031513.

We are going to have the hardest day of all passed during the tour program.

We leave the hotel at 8:30 a.m., an hour later we arrive at the ring road (826 m above sea level), which runs around Mount Beshtau, the highest point of Kavminvod with a drop of about 700 meters from the paved road.

The pedestrian part of the ascent. We are following the trail prepared at the beginning of the twentieth century by activists of the Caucasian Mountain Society. We reach the pass between the Main peak of Beshtau and the Goat Rocks. Next, we climb the path bypassing (on the left in the direction of travel) the Yeseninsky rock.

The ascent from the pass to the exit to the eastern ridge of the Main Peak takes about 1.5 hours.

At the exit point is the "Temple of the Sun", a popular tourist attraction. We walk another 15-20 minutes to the west and reach the technological fence at the top.

Beshtau peak is the best panoramic point of the KMV. Cozy Zheleznovodsk and the town of Mineralnye Vody are clearly visible from the northeastern slopes of the peak.

From the top of Beshtau we descend along a well-trodden path. First, a 20-minute descent to the saddle in the direction of the Maly Tau peak. From the saddle, we climb about 150 meters to the top.

We are approaching the well-visible rock massif "Eagle Rocks". From the lower edge of the cliffs we exit through the ring road to the cars that are waiting in the parking lot of the guest house "Eagle Rocks" in the city of Lermontov.

Or we make a 2-kilometer trek along a dirt road to the parking lot next to the Assumption of the Second Athos Beshtaugorsky Monastery.

Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch on the route.

Camel (Camel) 885 m, the start of the ascent from the intersection of the trail to the saddle and the ring road: 44.195016, 42.878319.

We leave the hotel at 8:30 a.m., drive through the village of Novobrazdarnoye to the base of Mount Camel— the westernmost peak of Kavminvod.

It takes 30-40 minutes to climb from the cars to the saddle between the Eastern and Western peaks of the mountain. First along a dirt road, then along a well—visible trail.

From the saddle, we walk for another 30 minutes along a steep path, bypassing rocky ledges, and reach the highest point of the Western Peak. After viewing the panoramas, we descend to the saddle and return to the cars along the trail. According to the condition and desire of the group, it is possible to climb from the saddle to the second peak of the Camel.

The ascent and descent will take about an hour.

Bull (Bullhead) 817 m, the start of the ascent from the spring on the outskirts of the village: 44.177557, 42.952992. Bull Mountain is located 4 km east of Camel Mountain, half a kilometer east of the village of Bykogorka.

The mountain has the shape of a dome with a jagged ridge consisting of three peaks — the Northern Hill (760 m), the Main Peak (817 m) and the Datolith Hill (680 m). Due to this structure, the mountain looks like a hunchbacked bull with its head down from the side.

We rise from the fork of the paved roads on the eastern outskirts of the village. First we go along a dirt road, then along a well-visible path that passes through a small forest and leads towards the highest point of the mountain.

The last 10-meter "take—off" to the top requires attention and, depending on the group's training, basic insurance.

The ascent from the cars takes from 1.5–2 hours, the descent takes about an hour.

Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch on the route.

Kokurtly406 m, the start of the ascent from the gates of the Kumagor hospital: 44.278770, 43.038445.

We leave the hotel at 8:30 a.m. and drive up to the northeastern group of mountains an hour later. Cars stop at the entrance to the territory of the Kumagor hospital.

We move along a dirt road, then along a path and a grassy slope. We come to a small hill, which is difficult to distinguish from the neighboring hills. This is the peak of Kokurtla— the lowest mountain of Kavminvod.

The ascent from the cars takes 30-40 minutes with a climb of about 70 meters.

We return to the cars, or we move in a westerly direction towards the clearly visible slopes of Mount Dagger. Then there is a small 2-kilometer entrance or approach to the Mount Dagger massif.

Dagger 506 m, start of the ascent along the dirt road above the Lukoil gas station, check-in from Kokurtli: 44.270399, 43.012058.

We climb the grassy or crumbly slopes to the inner quarry in the center of the massif. We follow well-visible trails or remnants of old roads to the top of Mount Dagger.

The height difference from the cars is no more than 200 meters, the ascent time is about an hour, and the descent to the cars is about 30 minutes.

Meals: breakfast at the hotel, lunch on the route.

Snake 994 m, 44.173423, 43.079569. The mountain is located 3.5 km southwest of the Mineralnye Vody station and covers an area of about 20 square kilometers.

We leave the hotel at 8:30. We drive for about an hour through the villages of Novotersky and Privolny, then about 3 km along a dirt road.

We climb the ruined north-western ridge, covered with trees and shrubs. The trail gets lost in the undergrowth in places, but the main direction is well tracked along the ridge.

The ascent to the highest point of the Snake Mountain from the cars takes about 2.5 hours.

From the top there are excellent views of the Zheleznovodsk group of mountains.

The descent to the cars takes about 1.5 hours.

Meals: breakfast at the hotel.

Group transfer to the airport or railway station in Mineralnye Vody immediately after the tour. The estimated time of arrival is around 15:00.