Description

The table "from the north"

The route starts on the bridge over the Terek River between the villages of Balta and Chmi, at the mouth of the Vagai-choch (bear) gorge. The bridge is controlled by an MIA (Ministry of Internal Affairs) checkpoint, where there is also a parking area where you can leave your vehicle. Passing through the checkpoint is free, but you need to have your identity documents (passport) with you.

From the checkpoint, follow the road east, leaving the "Kavdolomit" quarry to your right, without turning anywhere. Where the road ends, a trail begins, sometimes indistinct, along the bottom of the gorge, passing through the bed of a temporary water flow. The path is obstructed by:

• fallen trees,
• stone blockages,
• bushes.

The ravines are quite challenging. Over time, the gorge turns into a narrow canyon with smooth, sheer walls, and further on, the canyon widens again, with the slopes on the northern side becoming gentler.

You should follow the trail until you reach a point where a branch trail leads off to the left, up the slope. From the checkpoint, this takes 3–3.5 hours. At this point, there is a fairly steep, grassy slope rising to the ridge, bounded on the east by rocks, along which the ascent to the ridge is made. The ascent from the valley floor to the ridge takes about 1 hour.

Follow the ridge east; there is a trail. Over time, the ridge turns to the right, transitioning into a steep, grassy slope with rock outcrops. You should follow the trail, trying to maintain a southerly direction along the gentlest part of the slope. Just below the "table" top, there is a "key" to the route - a rocky belt, which is:

• an intensely fractured, crumbling limestone massif,
• about 30 m high (less than a full rope length),
• with a slope of about 40–50%,
• wet during the off-season due to snowmelt, and in summer, after rain, due to infiltration.

At the bottom, the belay point is organized as best as possible; at the top, the rope is secured to one of the "carrots" (rock anchors) hammered into place at the exit to the "table". From the ridge to the key takes 4–4.5 hours.

After reaching the "table" top, you should:

• move southwest towards the summit along the gentle slope.

The time from the key to the summit is about 30 minutes.

The descent is preferably made to the south, to the village of Beini (2–3 hours). Recommendations for the route:

• start moving from the checkpoint as early as possible;
• bring a hammer, pitons (including a couple of U-shaped pitons), and ensure each participant has a jumar;
• during the off-season, if the ascent from the ridge to the key is slippery, it is advisable to traverse certain sections in a rope team;
• if the route is snowy, it is advisable to bring crampons, at least 2 pairs per group.

StarG (Kavdolomit)

Since 2017 Google

Result: Since 2017 definition

Strategy: 12.2016

Timeline:

• 2016
• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020