Trekking Gwandra

Route: Mineralnye Vody town – Uchkulan aul – Uchkulan river valley – Kichkinakol river valley – Ullu-Kel lake – Ullukel Lower pass – Makhar river valley – Gondaray river valley – Uchkulan aul – Mineralnye Vody.

Day 1. 13:00 meeting with the instructor at the airport (railway station) Mineralnye Vody. We check in to the hotel and start solving organizational issues. We get acquainted. We check personal equipment, hand out public equipment and food. In the city there is a rental where you can take the necessary in case you forgot something at home. Dinner and instructing the group. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2. Transfer by minibus to Uchkulan village. Upon arrival at the place we make camp and start to solve organizational issues. Equipment fitting. In free time we can walk along Uchkulan valley. Dinner. Adjustment of equipment. Overnight stay in tents.
Day 3. Rise at 7:00. Breakfast at 8:00, departure at 8:30. Today we will have not easy ascent along the valley to Gitche-Kyol lake. Regulation of the crossing 40 minutes of work, 20 minutes of rest. The route will pass through the forest zone and it will start with a steep ascent to the hanging valley of the river Kichkinakol, further we will get into the alpica zone and the ascent will become more pleasant, passing from one hanging valley to another. We’ll put the base camp on the shore of the first lake. Dinner. Overnight stay in tents.
The length of the route is 8.5 km.
Day 4. Rise at 7:00. Breakfast at 8:00, departure at 8:30. Regulation of crossings 40 minutes work, 20 minutes rest. It is sacrilegious to be near the pearl of Gvandra, one of the biggest lakes in the Caucasus – Ullu Köl, and not to go up to it, that’s why on the third day we will make a radial exit with assault backpacks to the lake. We will take a thermos with tea, snacks and lunch with us.  From the lake there is a magnificent view to the passes Ullu Köl west and east, as well as to the summit of the same name, the lake itself is 650 meters long and more than three hundred meters across, the absolute height above sea level is 2817 meters. Back down the same way. Dinner. Overnight stay in tents.
The length of the route is 5 km.
Day 5. Rise at 7:00. Breakfast at 8:00, departure at 8:30. Regulation of crossings 40 minutes of work, 20 minutes of rest. From the place of overnight stay we gain 250 meters and find ourselves on the Ullu Köl Lower Pass (2900 meters). The whole Main Caucasus Ridge is in the palm of our hand. The task is to descend to the d.r. Makhar. The descent is not difficult but rather long and tiring.  On the way we’ll have a look at Narzan springs and have lunch there. We’ll put the camp in the d.r. Gondaray. Gondaray. Dinner. Overnight stay in tents.
The length of the route is 16 km.
Day 6. Rise at 8:00. Breakfast at 9:00. We slowly get ready and wait for our transportation to Mineralnye Vody. Return to the hotel. Farewell dinner. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 7. Departure home.

• Guides
• Hotel, accommodation in 2-3-bed rooms. Number of nights according to the program.
• Accommodation in tents. Number of nights according to the program.
• All transfers according to the program.
• Three meals a day during the whole program. Dinner on the first day, breakfast on the last day.
• All necessary permits and registrations.
• Group equipment (satellite navigator, first aid kit, tents, public kitchen utensils).

• Single accommodation.
• Personal equipment.
• Road own region-Mineralnye Vody- own region
• Any deviations from the program.
• Any costs associated with changes in the program

Documents:

• Passport
• Plane/train tickets
• Medical insurance

Personal equipment:

• Backpack 50-60l.
• Assault backpack 15-20l.
• Sleeping bag, comfort temperature from 0C to -7C
• Karemat
• Trekking poles.
• Trekking boots
• Replacement shoes for walking around the camp (trekking sandals or sneakers).
• Waterproof layer – Jacket+pants
• Fleece suit for sleeping
• Thermal underwear top+bottom
• Down jacket or down vest
• Non-warm gloves
• Bandana, buff, cap, hat of your choice
• Fleece hat
• Warm socks for sleeping
• Trekking socks

Miscellaneous:

• Diode flashlight on the head + spare batteries
• Sunglasses with protection factor not lower than 3
• Thermos – 1 liter.
• Sunscreen, hygienic lipstick
• Personal first aid kit
• Elastic bandage and/or support bandage
• CLMN