Mshatka-Kaya — 8

Via the second counter-forcing route of the western part of the "Ear" massif, 4A

This is one of the most popular routes among climbers of average qualification.

From the upper highway 50 m east of the climbers' parking near Forosky Kant:

• up and to the right at first along the trail and simple rocks
• to the base of the second counter-forcing route of the western part of the massif (R0: 300 m, 30–45, no category).

On the R1–R2 section:

• up the system of walls and shelves
• then along the inner corner to a tree (R1–R2: 40 m, 700, III).

On the R2–R4 section — at first up and left into the inner corner. Then along it for 70 m. Then move to the right wall of the corner and exit to the terrace along the slabs (R2–R4: 80 m, 60–70°, III+).

On the R4–R5 section — along the terrace on foot up and left 30 m to a "rusty" cirque.

On the R5–R6 section —

• at first up and right 15 m,
• then traverse right 5 m along a sheer wall to the base of an implicit inner corner (R4–R5: 30 m, 40–50°, no category; R5–R6: 40 m, 75°, IV).

On the final section — at first up and left 15 m to the base of a chimney and then up the chimney 25 m to the exit onto the yayla (R6–yayla: 15 m, 75°, III+; 25 m, 85°, IV+).

The ascent takes 3–4 hours. The length of the main part of the route is about 220 m.