Route 30: Through the Mountains to the Sea, with Oshten — 4 Days

«The Thirty» is the historic name of an All-Union tourist route. It is not a statement about the number of kilometres or the number of days. Modern versions differ in length and in starting point. This trip runs one specific four-day programme: one night in Krasnodar, two walking days with tents in the area of the Fisht shelter, and a finish in Sochi.

After the drive to Yavorovaya Polyana the group crosses the Guzeripl and Armenian passes to the Fisht shelter. On the third day there is a there-and-back ascent of Oshten, made without moving the main camp. On the final day the route crosses the Belorechensky and Cherkessky passes and descends to Babuk-Aul, from where participants transfer to the coast.

No technical mountaineering experience is required, but the compact schedule makes the programme physically dense. You need to be ready to walk a mountain trail with a pack, to cope with changeable weather and to recover in a tent. Early in the season snowfields may still lie on the approaches to Oshten, and the guide confirms the personal equipment list.

Before the trip it is worth reading through our guidance on choosing trekking footwear, our overview of guided treks and the entry level of our mountain training plan.

Day 1. Participants gather at the hotel in Krasnodar. Equipment check and a group briefing. Night at the hotel. It is also possible to join the group in Maykop or in Guzeripl.

Day 2. An early departure for the start of the route at Yavorovaya Polyana, 100 km from Maykop. The drive passes through fine scenery. Today’s walking distance is 10 km. It begins with a long but gentle climb to the Guzeripl pass, 2043 m above sea level, which gives a striking view: the Kamennoye More ridge rises ahead, the sheer walls of Oshten stand to the right, and a little to the left are the main Caucasus range and Mount Fisht. The trail then descends along the walls of Oshten to the Armenian pass at 1865 m, with an equally fine view of Fisht and the neighbouring ridges. The Fisht shelter is visible from the pass, on a picturesque clearing at the foot of the mountain, and only about 30 minutes away. On arrival the group chooses a suitable place, pitches the tents and settles in for dinner and rest. Night in tents.

Day 3. An early start. The plan for the day is a there-and-back ascent of Oshten, 2804 m. The group rises early, has breakfast and takes some food for a snack before setting out. The ascent of Oshten needs no special skills and can be walked. The route starts across the alpine slopes of Mount Blyam, next to Oshten. From the top of Blyam a fine panorama of the area opens up and the onward line to the summit becomes clear. The ground underfoot changes markedly with the season: in early summer snow cover still remains, melting away by midsummer and sometimes only by the end of it. The grassy slopes of Oshten, like the whole surrounding area, are striking for the variety of the local flora. On reaching the pre-summit ridge the first thing to draw the eye is the highest peak of the whole massif, Mount Fisht, 2868 m. On the pre-summit plateau the view widens: the Fisht massif, the slopes of Pshekha-Su, the valley of the Belaya river and the Fisht shelter are all clearly visible. From the summit itself a panorama of the entire Lago-Naki plateau opens up.

Day 4. In the morning the group heads for the shepherds’ huts near the Cherkessky pass. Leaving the shelter, the trail climbs gently towards the Belorechensky pass, 1782 m above sea level. Most of the way runs through forest, but nearer the top the forest gives way to crooked woodland and then disappears altogether. From the pass there is a fine panorama of the Belaya river valley, the slopes of Oshten, the Armenian ridge and Mount Fisht. The route then runs along the walls of Fisht to the Cherkessky pass at 1836 m. What follows is the liveliest part of the route: 4 km of very steep descent, known among walkers as the «merry descent». Beyond it the trail reaches a dirt road leading to the Babuk-Aul shelter, from where a truck takes the group to Solokh-Aul and a comfortable transfer continues to Sochi, in the Adler district.

• Accommodation in twin or triple rooms at a hotel in Krasnodar — 1 night
• The work of the guide
• Transfer Krasnodar — Yavorovaya Polyana
• Transfer Solokh-Aul — Sochi
• Nature reserve permit
• Three meals a day of mountain type on the route, from day 2 to day 4
• Group equipment: tents, navigator, cooking equipment, gas, first-aid kit and similar items

• Travel from Sochi
• Personal equipment
• Any deviation from the programme
• Accommodation and dinner in Sochi
• Any costs arising from a change to the programme

Documents:

• Passport
• Plane/train tickets
• Medical insurance

Personal gear:

• 50–60 L backpack.
• Sleeping bag, comfort temperature from 0C to -7C
• Karemat
• Trekking poles.
• Ice axe. Classic.
• Mountaineering system.
• Carabiners – 2 pcs.
• Self-insurance whiskers.
• Mountain or high-altitude boots
• Sneakers
• Waterproof layer – Jacket + pants. The industry offers a range of products from simple membranes
• 5000/5000 to Gore-Tex products.
• Fleece suit.
• Thermal underwear top + bottom.
• Fleece gloves.
• Bandana (besides protection from the sun in the valley you can use it to insulate your throat or face in the cold).
• frost)
• Socks
• Helmet

Miscellaneous:

• Diode head flashlight
• Sunglasses
• Thermos – 1 liter. Preferably without a button in the lid.
• Windproof mask on the lower part of the face (with some success can be replaced by a scarf).
• leggings
• Sunscreen, hygienic lipstick
• Chemical warmers (not necessary, but can be very useful).
• Personal first aid kit
• Elastic bandage and/or support bandage
• CLMN