Mountaineering & mountain climbing

With all the variety of forms of tourist travel, mountain tours remain the most romantic and intriguing kind of tourism. Already in the word “climbing”, its energy, there is an effort, tension, overcoming, and other experiences, in some ways similar to the personal spiritual experience.

Mountain ascents and tours are also the way to yourself, the knowledge of your own abilities, the victory over fears, doubts, and uncertainty. Though before the campaign to the snowy peaks their future conqueror must soberly assess his physical shape, athletic preparation. It is not accidental that mountain trekking is closely connected with the development of mountaineering, one of the most difficult sports.

Optimal climbing for beginners in Russia

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The first ascent to the mountains for beginners should begin with a test of their own strength. To test your abilities choose low altitudes. Optimal: go hiking in traditional tourist places. For example, you can take a hiking trail to Ai-Petri (1233 m) and Atbash (1196 m). The difficulty of such a route is 2 points out of 5.

You can enjoy the beautiful views, sit around a campfire, spend a few nights in tents. Along the way, you will meet waterfalls, mountain rivers, steep precipices, picturesque Devil’s Stairs, and the historic Foros church. Dizzying Via Ferrata on Mount Ilyas-Kaya will tickle the nerves of travelers.

The reward will be a view of the natural wonder – the Temple of the Sun, reminiscent of English Stonehenge. During the tour, you can go down to the sea and swim in kayaks, visit sea grottos and caves.

A great first mountain to climb is Shumak Pass (2760 m) in Baikal. The difficulty level is 3 out of 5. The hiking trail along the Eastern Sayan Mountains will take hikers past Marble waterfalls, healing mineral springs, and high cliffs of the Sacred Pillars.

If the walks have inspired new achievements, then for the next ascent to the mountains it is worth considering a trip to Kamchatka to the craters of Mutnovsky and Gorely volcanoes. The complexity of the route is estimated at 2 points out of 5. Even school-age children cate make such a hike.

Tourists will enjoy breathtaking landscapes, virgin nature wonders, overnights in tents, and fascinating legends told by the group guide. Along the way, tourists will see glaciers, geysers, waterfalls, hot springs, and a natural pool, look into the crater of a volcano, raft on the river Bystraya, fish, go to the ocean, and sail it on a boat.

The craving for adventure hasn’t evaporated? Then you must start climbing the “higher” mountain. This Kamchatka volcano Plosky Tolbachik height of 3140 meters. It is available to visit during periods of rest, which can last several years. The optimal time for a hike is summer and early fall.

Before you start, it is advisable to find out what the seismic situation in the area is. A pleasant bonus is an opportunity to see the fissure eruption of 2012 and the Dead Forest, to walk along the rift inside the volcano, to take part in a boat trip in Avacha Bay, and to go fishing.

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For travelers with little experience in hiking and good physical shape, climbing the mountains for beginners may begin on the Caucasian Mount Elbrus (5642 m). There are routes of varying degrees of difficulty. Some of them are also suitable for tourists making their first steps up. With a trained group and a professional instructor, success is assured.

You will see the glade of Stone mushrooms, Lenz cliffs, glaciers, snow-covered peaks. Beginners in mountaineering will learn how to carry crampons and ice axes, walk in a bundle.

Altai Belukha Mountain is another popular route for the first hike. It consists of two peaks – Western (4,440 m) and Eastern Belukha (4,506 m). It attracts tourists with a variety of routes of any complexity, stunning landscapes, which inspired the great Roerich, and rich nature.

You will see huge glaciers, the total area of which reaches 70 square kilometers, picturesque riverbeds of Katun, Kucherly, Ak-Oyuk, Ak-Kem rivers, clear highland lakes, mountain passes, and gorges, an Old Believer village founded 300 years ago.

The unique nature of Russia gives a wealth of opportunities for travel. In any mountainous region of the country can easily find interesting routes for hiking. Ural, Altai, Caucasus, Crimea, Kamchatka, Altai, Sayan Mountains, or Khibiny await adventure and romance lovers. They are ready to present new impressions and unforgettable memories, to send for easy walking or to prepare for serious mountaineering.

How to climb the mountains safely and successfully

The Mountaineering Federation has developed several requirements for those wishing to conquer heights:

• to inform the Federation of mountaineering about the prepared ascent to the mountain;
• inform the search and rescue unit of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia data of the group, the route and time of the expedition;
• all participants of the event must meet the qualification of the planned hike, be trained, draw up route documentation, get a doctor’s opinion, purchase an insurance policy with coverage for evacuation by helicopter;
• an expedition is allowed only in a group of two or more athletes.

The Russian Mountaineering Federation subdivides all the peaks into levels of difficulty from 1 to 6.

Additionally, routes may be marked with letters indicating special conditions. The best time to travel is summer. At this time there is less precipitation, fog, lower wind speed, and higher air temperature. When planning a hike, inexperienced hikers should choose a gentler slope and an easier route.

Enthusiasm alone is not enough to climb mountains. What is needed:

• good physical preparation;
• excellent health;
• special equipment;
• purchase of a license and insurance;
• the organization of the group;
• finding an instructor and guide;
• competent planning of the route.