Ascent Log

1. Type: Rock climbing
2. Caucasus (Eastern), Chekhychay River gorge.
3. V. Erydag, via the center of the North-West wall through "Zerkalo" (Efimov's route).
4. 6A category of difficulty.
5. Height difference: 950–970 m; length — 1100 m. Length of sections with 5 and 6 category of difficulty — 930 m. Average steepness of the wall section of the route is 80°.
6. Pitons hammered:
   • Rock pitons 105
   • Chocks 115
   • Bolt pitons 20
7. Team's travel time: 56 hours and days — 5
8. Overnights: 1st — Wide ledge under an overhanging rock after reaching the lower bastion. 2nd — Same place. 3rd — In hammocks on "Zerkalo". 4th — On a laid-out ledge, one rope below the inner corner "Kniga".
9. Leader: Nurbagandov Gadzhimurad Musaevich, Master of Sports. Participants:
   • Smotrov Sergey Ivanovich, Master of Sports
   • Makovkin Mikhail Valerievich, 1st sports category
10. Coach: Nurbagandov G.M.
11. Departure to the route on August 12, 1998, return to base camp on August 17, 1998.
12. City administration of Kaspiysk.

Photo of the 6A category of difficulty route, through the center of the north-west wall via "Zerkalo". To the left of it is Shchedrin's route (6A), to the right — Babitsky's route (6A).