Ascent Passport

1. Rock climbing category
2. Region: Crimea, Batiliman
3. Peak: Kush-Kaya
4. Route: via South wall, "rybka" (The Fish)
5. Category of difficulty: 5A
6. Route description: height difference — 390 m, length — 460 m, average steepness — 58°
7. Equipment used: rock pitons — 18 pcs, nuts — 2 pcs
8. Climbing time — 6 hours, descent via trail — 0.5 hours
9. Climbing leader: Udovitsa Aleksandr Viktorovich, participant: Vorobyov Mikhail Yuryevich
10. Coach: Vorobyov Mikhail Yuryevich
11. Ascent completed on June 25, 1978
12. Organization: CFK "Chernomorets" Approach from the belay station along the ledge left and up, then 20 m up the cracks to a large terrace under the yellow overhanging rocks.

R0–R1. The start of the route is about 50 m left of the yellow overhanging rocks. Follow the inner corner, transitioning into a system of cracks, to a ledge (30 m); move right along a steep slab with holes to a diagonal ledge, and along it 25 m right and around the corner to the initial right-hand belay "krokodil" (crocodile). Alternative start: from under the yellow rocks, 6 m up the broken rocks and left along a diagonal crack to a tree and to the base of the chimney (50 m). R1–R2. 20 m up the chimney, then through a cornice to a crack with a tree. From it, move left to the adjacent crack and follow it to a pine tree (50 m). R2–R3. From the pine tree, go straight up 40 m into a bowl. R3–R4. Follow the slabs of the bowl 100–120 m towards a tree growing at the start of two parallel cracks. R4–R5. 15 m up the crack to where it splits. Follow the left diagonal crack to a small flake where you can place your foot (10–12 m); to a thin reliable belay, under it traverse left and 20 m up cracks to a ledge with a tree. R5–R6. From the right part of the ledge, 15–20 m up cracks under an overhanging knob. The crack bends and transitions into an inner corner leading to a tree on a ledge with a white patch. There's a bypass to the right of the knob. R6–R7. From the right part of the ledge, follow the rightmost crack 10 m with difficult climbing using étriers, then 20 m up cracks. The crack transitions into a slightly overhanging chimney. The chimney ends on a ledge; from it, 10–15 m to a tree. R7–R8. 10 m up to another tree. A fork in the route with two options. Left option: 5 m under a huge cornice, then left along a crack "on tension" to a small bush and further to the base of an overhanging chimney (30–35 m). R8–R9. Climb the chimney using étriers on bolts, then 40 m up cracks and chimneys through a wide recess. R9–R10. Right along easy rocks or straight up a 5-meter chimney. R9–R8. Right-hand option: right and up under a huge overhanging slab, then up a thin crack on an inclined slab to a small corner with broken walls. Exit onto the left wall of the corner and move right onto a long inclined ledge (40–50 m). R8–R9. Follow the ledge to its right edge, up slabs and cracks to a ledge. From it, right and up to the summit (30–40 m). Required equipment: rope — 50 m; nuts — 7–8 pcs; rock pitons — 4 pcs; shvelers (U-shaped pitons) — 2–3 pcs; étriers. Kush-Kaya via S wall, "rybka" (The Fish) 5A category of difficulty.