East European Highlands
Route Description: Гребневая двойка
Description of the "Grebnevaya dvojka" 2A route to Sokol mountain with technical details and equipment recommendations.
Sokol. "Grebnevaya dvojka" Route 2A (author unknown).
Recommended equipment:
- Rope 50–60 m
- Standard set of cams and nuts
- 10–12 quickdraws
- 2–3 large and 2 medium slings
The route is long but very beautiful and relatively safe from rockfall.
"Grebnevaya dvojka" Route 2A and neighboring area
Route Description: Большая прогулка
Description of the "Gift Set" 2A route on Sokol Mountain in Crimea with a detailed analysis of sections and belays.
Sokol Mountain "Present set" marush (big walk) 2A
Author: Gennady Ivanov In June 2012, my wife Anna and I visited Sudak and climbed Sokol Mountain via the "Present set" marush, rated 2A-2B. Marush is simpler than Vilka or PK in Foros. So, most likely, its category is 2A. My comments on the description (in italics) R0–R1 35 m: 5c+
- Belay is organized using trees and, if necessary, personal anchors.
- Station is on a bolt and a tree, on a small ledge. The length of the section is 45 m; the first bolt is encountered at 35 m, but the station is 10 m higher. R1–R2: 25 m, 5b — simple climbing with easy belay organization using trees and personal anchors if needed.
Route Description: Мучача
The "Muchacha" route, category 2B complexity, on Sokol mountain, description of the passage and equipment recommendations.
Sokol - 52
Muchacha * 2B cat. diff.[№2]
(A. Kuzmitsky — E. Khvorost, November 2005) R0–R1: 50 m, 5B. The start coincides with the right double, then left to the inner corner with a crack, belay is easily organized on the entire rope, be careful when passing the oblique crack (15 m) — destroyed edge. Station on the upper juniper bush on a comfortable ledge + own elements. R1–R2: 50 m, 5 c. First up, along a vaguely expressed crack, then along the slab up to the right on a bush (parallelogram to the double on the right), 3–4 m before the bush — bolted piton, from it up 8–9 m to the station under an oblique hanging block. Station on bolted piton + small nuts. R2–R3: 50 m, 5 c. First up the slab to a tree, and then a beautiful long
Route Description: Сестры Зайцевы
The "Sestry Zaytsevy" (Zaytsev Sisters) Route, category 2B, on Mt. Sokol in Crimea: a detailed description of the ascent and adjustments to the original version.
Crimea, Sokol Mt. "Sestry Zaytsevy" Route, 2B
The "Sestry Zaytsevy" route (2B) is located in the near sector of Sokol Mt. In summer, this sector is in the shade around 3:00 PM. It was interesting to climb through the crack that goes through the first bastion. The approaches to the route, like most routes in the near sector, start from the "3rd kilometer" sign. You pass by the start of:
- "1" route,
- "Menuet",
- "hAachu"
and go further. The crack is clearly visible from both the road and the start.
First ascent: Vlad Chumachenko and Alexander Gorbatyuk (August 22, 2007)
Sudak, Sokol Mt. The original thread of the "Sestry Zaytsevy" 2B route
Later, the thread of the "Sestry Zaytsevy" route was corrected:
Route Description: Chico
Description of the "Chico" rock climbing route, category 3А, on Sokол-51, with equipment recommendations and analysis of the route sections.
Sokol-51
Chico * 3А complexity cat.[№4]
(S. Nadtochiy — E. Gaynulov, November 2005) R0–R1: 50 m, 5c+. Belay is organized easily:
- large friends facilitate belay organization,
- don’t forget to lengthen quick draws at the turn. Belay station is on a convenient ledge on a big tree. R1–R2: 20 m, 4b+. Belaying is still necessary. Station coincides with Muchacha’s R1 station R2–R3: 50–55 m, 6a. Two thirds of the rope — there is protection, then 9–10 meters
Route Description: По ножу
Description of the "Sokol — 3" route with a complexity category of 3Б, including a detailed breakdown of the stages and recommended equipment for experienced climbers.
Sokol - 3
Knife edge, 3B grade.
(S. Nadtochiy — O. Leviash — V. Chumachenko, 2005)
R0–R1: 50 m, 5a. Protection on trees. Belay station on a large ledge on a tree. R1–R2: 55 m, 5c+. Protection is conditional, points won't withstand a light jerk. Small nuts, possibly pitons. List:
- Belay station on a ledge
- To the left of a "dead" sapling. R2–R3: 55 m, 5c+. In the beginning of the pitch, 8–10 meters of climbing is done without
Route Description: Вечная молодость
The "Eternal Youth" route, category 3B, on Mt. Sokol in Crimea: a detailed description with key sections and equipment recommendations.
Crimea, Sokol Mt. "Vecnaya molodost" Route, 3B
The "Vecnaya molodost" route is located in the western sector of Sokol Mt., next to
the "Grebnevaya dvojka" route. A good, logical 3-pitch route that leads to the
"Grebnevaya dvojka" route in its upper part. Protection is natural (nuts, friends,
pitons); there is little old gear. Belay stations are on trees, on key ropes on their
own protection points + pitons (bolts).
The approach to the route coincides with the approach to the "Grebnevaya dvojka"
route. Start 30 meters to the right, from the sign. It's convenient to set up a
belay station on a large pine tree.
Description of the "Galochka" route, category 3B complexity, on Sokol Mountain in the southwest wall, with a detailed analysis of the stages and equipment recommendations.
Sokol — 13
Authors: Alexander Kuzmitsky, Moscow, Sergey Nadtochy (Terrorist), Simferopol Guidebook Sokol
Sector 4 (southwestern wall)
This sector contains routes: "Galochka" 3B, "Ryzhiy ugol" 5A, "Dva karniza" 5A, "Yaponskiy sadik" 5A, "Vechnaya molodost" 3B, "Grebnevaya dvojka" 2A, and some others. The approaches are fairly simple: from the pocket near the road, above "Bukhta lyubvi", up the trail, under the wall (detailed descriptions of approaches and descents will be given in a separate material). We haven't gotten around to describing routes such as:
- "Legenda"
- "Skazka"
- "Grot"
Route Description: Косая
The "Kosaya" route on g. Sokol, complexity category 3B, a description of the classic version with a detailed analysis of the sections and recommendations for equipment.
Sokol Mount, "Kosaia" route, classic variant — 3B (V, 8 pitches), author unknown.
The original name of the route is "Kosaia chetverka" (Kosaia four), initially classified as 4A, later it was (quite reasonably) downgraded to 3B. For a 3B category route, it's quite complex. One of the old classic routes on Sokol Mount. Logical line. Plenty of old "iron" (pitons) can be found, belay stations on trees or bolts.
In recent years, a variant of the upper part was climbed via the right crack — in this case, the route category is 4A.
Sokol Mount. Description of the "Kosaia (chetverka)" route, classic variant — 3B. Lower part of the route (R0–R4)
Approach to the route: from the parking area at the 4th km of the Sudak — Novy Svet highway, opposite the viewpoint with a stone bearing the inscription "Slava voinam-geroiam" (Glory to the hero-warriors). From the parking area, a good trail leads right-up under the cliffs. You need to ascend to the "Galochka" (right) ledge. The landmark during the ascent to the ledge is a large dry tree. The exit to it is via a wide internal corner, climbing is not difficult (I–II), but it's better to rope up.
Approach to the route and start of the route. Then along the ledge left, practically to its end. The landmark is a slanting crack with an overhanging block on the left and a tree on the right.
Start of the R0–R1 pitch. R0–R1: 50 m, IV (5c). The start is from a large tree in the lower part of the slope.
Route Description: Истукан
The "Istukan" 3B route on Sokol: a short, interesting path with diverse climbing and belaying, recommended for training before tackling category 5 routes.
Sokol — 47
Istukan 3B[#8]
(A. Kuzmitsky — I. Artemov, February 2006)
R0–R1: 40 m, 6a, A1+. Up left via the internal corner by simple climbing to a ledge with a tree, then up via a vertical crack by climbing interchanged with A1+ gear, with a gradual drift leftwards. Belay station on a ledge, on a juniper. R1–R2: 40 m, 4a. Straight up. Belay station on one of the large trees at the base of the ridge. R2–R3: 40–45 m. Simple traverse along the ridge, protection as necessary. Belay station on a tree left of the ridge base. R3–R4: 40–45 m, 5B. Up left — traverse via slabs to a system of cracks, via them up to a vertical wall (be cautious, loose rocks) and through it to a ledge. Landmark — a huge tree on the ledge. Protection is easy to arrange while climbing. Further along the ledge — traverse rightwards to the base of a leaning slab. Belay station on a large boulder. R4–R5: 25 m, 6A+. Up via the right part of the leaning slab (huge gap between the slab and the wall) with an exit onto it, further up via a bolt to a plateau. Belay station on a large characteristic pine tree 5–7 meters from the edge.
Recommended equipment:
50 m rope, 12–16 quickdraws, a set of nuts, large cams and hexes — 2–3 pcs., slings — 2–3 pcs., hammers, pitons.