ASCENT DOCUMENT

1. Ascent category: rock climbing
2. Ascent region: Dagestan Mountains #2,10/Eastern Caucasus/
3. Peak, its height, and ascent route: Mt. Sel'dy (3664 m) via the Southwest Couloir
4. Proposed difficulty category: 2A
5. Route description, elevation gain: 700 m
6. Length of sections: I difficulty category — 400 m; II difficulty category — 250 m; III difficulty category — 25 m; IV difficulty category — none; V difficulty category — none.
7. Number of pitons hammered: For belaying — 3
8. Number of moving hours: — 8
9. Number of nights and their characteristics: no overnight stays
10. Participants' surnames:
    1. Leonov Petr Georgievich
    2. Pashchuk Evgeny Grigorievich
11. Coach: Timoshin M.E.
12. Date of departure and return: May 8, 1989

General view of Mt. Sel'dy. Photo taken from Erydag a/s at 2300 m.

Description of the ascent route to Mt. Sel'dy (3664 m) via the Southwest Couloir, category 2B.

The Sel'dy massif is the southern "stern" of the vast Erydag plateau. Several routes have been established to the summit, including a category 3B route via the southwest counterfort. The described path runs approximately 250 m to the left of this route. The southwest couloir starts with characteristic "gates" at the top and ends with rocks resembling sheep's foreheads at the bottom. It is better to bypass the sheep's foreheads at the base of the route from the left, under the right edge of the Western wall of Mt. Sel'dy (R0–R1). Then, proceed right-upwards along a long, inclined, scree-filled ledge-couloir (snow and ice in winter), overcoming 2-meter walls, to reach a rocky shoulder with a view of the couloir. Here is a landmark cairn (R1–R2). (From here, 200–250 m to the right along the ledge lies the key section of the category 3B route via D-3 k/f). From the cairn, turn left and enter the couloir through a 3-meter wall. Move straight up through a system of ledges (on the left side of the couloir) towards the "gates" (R2–R3). Pass through the gates from the right via a cleft (belaying) (R3–R4). On the plateau, proceed 400 m to the right to the summit. Descent follows the category I route to the south.

Diagram of the Chekhychai river gorge

Overnight stays:

• 1 — Kurushskie;
• 2 — Shalbuzdagskie;
• 3 — Upper Shalbuzdagskie;
• 4 — "Grot";
• 5 — Sel'dy;
• 6 — Erydagskie;
• 7 — "Bolshoy Kamen'";
• 8 — Bazardyuzi;
• 9 — Vakhchagskie.