Trekking in Arkhyz — 7 Days over the Ayulyu Pass

Route line: the village of Arkhyz — the Baritovy waterfall — the confluence of the Psysh and Belaya rivers — the Bely waterfall — Lake Belorechenskoe — the Ayulyu pass — Lake Semitsvetnoe — the Bolshaya Dukka valley — the village of Arkhyz.

The first two days allow you to check equipment and settle into a rhythm without a heavy pack. The there-and-back walk to the Baritovy waterfall gives the first real ascent, after which the group moves to the start of the self-sufficient section and pitches a tented camp. The main stage runs through fir forest and high terraces to Lake Belorechenskoe, then over the ungraded Ayulyu pass to Lake Semitsvetnoe.

There are no technical mountaineering sections in the programme, but a low difficulty grade does not mean the absence of effort. Several days involve long ascents and descents, walking on stony trail and carrying a pack. For a first multi-day trip, boots broken in beforehand, trekking poles and a few training walks with the intended weight matter more than anything else.

Agree your personal kit list with the guide before the trip. The rental shop in the village can cover anything you would rather not buy for a single week.

Day 1. Meeting with the instructor at 13:00 at the airport or railway station in Mineralnye Vody. Introductions and a briefing. Transfer by minibus to the village of Arkhyz, with a lunch stop at a canteen in Cherkessk on the way. On arrival in Arkhyz the group registers at the hotel, settles into the rooms and, after dinner, turns to the organisational questions. Introductions follow. Personal equipment is checked and shared equipment and food are handed out. There is a rental shop in the village where anything left at home can be hired. Night at the hotel.

Day 2. Fitting day. Up at 07:30, breakfast at 08:00, departure at 08:30. Today’s walk goes to one of the jewels of Arkhyz, the Baritovy waterfall. It is one of the more accessible and better known waterfalls in the area. The walk takes 3.5–5 hours and gains about 600 m of height. Children of about 4–5 can usually manage the climb at the group’s pace, although everyone, adults included, will work for it. The walking pattern is 40 minutes on the move, 20 minutes’ rest. The group takes snacks, tea in flasks and lunch, carried in light packs. Lunch is taken with a panoramic view of the village of Arkhyz. Return to the hotel, dinner and packing the rucksacks. Night at the hotel. Route length 8 km.

Day 3. Up at 07:30, breakfast at 08:00, departure from the hotel at 09:00. The group moves to the start of the route at the confluence of the Psysh and Belaya rivers, 15 km from the village, and pitches a tented camp. Lunch. A there-and-back walk to the Bely waterfall follows; the walking part is only 250–300 metres, returning by the same line. After lunch comes the training block: walking on a steep slope and a controlled descent, all without special equipment. Dinner. Equipment fitting. Night in tents. Route length 1 km.

Day 4. Up at 07:30, breakfast at 08:00, departure at 08:30. Today brings a demanding climb up the Belaya river valley. The walking pattern is 40 minutes on the move, 20 minutes’ rest. The objective is the approach to the Ayulyu pass, 2874 m and ungraded. Ayulyu lies in the Gabulu ridge and links the valleys of the Belaya, a tributary of the Psysh, and the Bolshaya Dukka. The climb runs through remarkably fine fir forest. The trail winds along a steep slope and eases off on the first terrace of the valley. The group stops on one of the terraces for lunch and then continues along the left side of the gorge, gaining height steadily. Two more walking stages after lunch bring the group to Lake Belorechenskoe, below the final rise to the Ayulyu pass. Dinner. Night by the lake in tents. Route length 6 km.

Day 5. Departure at 08:00, lunch at 13:00. The walking pattern is 40 minutes on the move, 20 minutes’ rest. The climb to the Ayulyu pass. From the pass there is a magnificent panorama over the lake cirque, the hazy wooded spurs of the gorges and the summits of the Main Caucasus and Sofia ridges. On the side of the ascent stands the strikingly beautiful Mount Pshish. After photographs and the traditional summit chocolate the group starts down into the Bolshaya Dukka valley. The descent runs down the steps of an enormous staircase worked by ancient glaciers — a stony slope that is comfortable to move on. Camp is at Lake Semitsvetnoe. Night in tents. Route length 4 km.

Day 6. Departure at 08:00, lunch at 13:00. The walking pattern is 40 minutes on the move, 20 minutes’ rest. The group follows the Bolshaya Dukka valley to its confluence with the Arkhyz river, then returns by chartered transport to the hotel in the village of Arkhyz. In the evening there is a celebratory dinner at one of the local restaurants. Night at the hotel. Route length 11 km.

Day 7. Transfer to Mineralnye Vody airport or railway station. End of the programme.

• Guides
• Hotel accommodation in twin or triple rooms, for the number of nights set out in the programme
• Tent accommodation, for the number of nights set out in the programme
• All transfers according to the programme
• Three meals a day throughout the programme, with dinner on the first day and breakfast on the last
• All the necessary permits and registrations
• Group equipment: satellite navigator, first-aid kit, tents and shared kitchen equipment

• Single occupancy
• Personal equipment
• Travel from your own region to Mineralnye Vody and back
• Any deviation from the programme
• Any costs arising from a change to the programme

書類：

• パスポート
• 航空券／鉄道チケット
• 医療保険

個人装備：

• バックパック 50～60リットル
• アタック用バックパック 15～20リットル
• 寝袋（快適使用温度 0℃～−7℃）
• スリーピングマット
• トレッキングポール
• トレッキングブーツ
• キャンプ内用の替え靴（トレッキングサンダルまたはスニーカー）
• 防水レイヤー ― ジャケット＋パンツ
• 就寝用フリース上下
• 保温下着（上・下）
• フード付きダウンジャケットまたはダウンベスト
• 薄手の手袋
• バンダナ／バフ／キャップ／ハット（いずれか）
• フリース帽
• 就寝用の暖かい靴下
• 歩行用トレッキングソックス

その他：

• ヘッドランプ（連続点灯12時間以上）＋予備電池
• サングラス（紫外線カット指数3以上）
• 魔法瓶 1リットル
• 日焼け止めクリーム、リップクリーム
• 個人用救急セット
• 弾性包帯および／またはサポーター
• KLMN