II AS II ORT

I. Ice and snow class. 2. Central Caucasus. 3. Pik Germogenova, 3993 m, via N wall 4. Proposed 4A cat. dif. 5. Height difference — 513 m. Length of sections with 5 cat. dif. — 155 m Average steepness of the wall section — 51°. 6. Ice screws used for belay — 76. 7. Trekking hours — 6. 8. No overnight stays.

May 12, 1949 Sports Society “Lokomotiv” Group

The group consisted of Garf (climbing category), Marupin, Baldin, Mikhailov, Povarnin, Radovskaya, and Nekrasova. After an overnight stay at the “Lokomotiv-Tuva” hut, also known as the “Green Hotel,” they departed at 5:00 AM to ascend Peak Germogenova via a new route. The path follows along the right (orographically) moraine of the Bashkara glacier until it reaches the cirque. The cirque is traversed in a northwest direction, [illegible, possibly omitted] to reach the base of the couloir descending from the saddle between Peak Germogenova and Cheget-Kara-Bashi. They had to overcome a small icefall, which was easily bypassed on the right. The group reached a small glacial lake and took a short rest. It was 7:00 AM, and they were at the base of the couloir from the saddle between Peak Germogenova and Cheget-Kara-Bashi. As they ascended the avalanche cones, they quickly gained altitude via the couloir, which had a gradient of about 30° in its lower section and increased to about 50° in its upper section. The couloir is quite wide (60–70 m²) and covered with good firn. It is the main route for all avalanches and rockfalls coming from the slopes of Peak Germogenova and Cheget-Kara-Bashi. A deep avalanche groove runs through the middle of the couloir; however, the avalanches are so powerful that they overflow the right groove, affecting a significant part of the slope.

REPORT

on the first ascent of p. GERMOGENOVA via the North face tentatively Cat. diff. 3B protocol № 564 p. 4 dated October 28, 1986

Passport

I. Ice and snow class. 2. Central Caucasus, Main Caucasian Range. 3. p. Germogenova, 3993 m, according to S V Caucasus 4. Proposed category: 4A. 5. Height difference — 513 m. Length of sections with 4th category difficulty — 155 m. Average steepness of the wall section — 51°. 6. Number of ice screws used for belay — 76. 7. Moving time — 6 hours. 8. Without overnight stays.

Ascent Log

1. Ascent category: rock climb
2. Ascent area: Kabardino-Balkaria, Baksan River basin, upper reaches of
   • Kamyk-Su River
3. Peak, route: Gnitche-Tyrnyauz, 3555.6 m, via the Southwest Ridge
4. Estimated category of difficulty: 2A, first ascent
5. Elevation gain: 650 m
   • total route length — 1000 m
   • average steepness of the route — 50°
6. Number of placements: 4

275. Ascent via the Northwest Ridge (rock route, category 1B difficulty, fig. 32, 39). From the Gulskie ploshchadki (point 249) on the right side of the Gul glacier, having passed the peak Gulba, turn right and ascend a snowy slope, then traverse easy, crumbling rocks in a couloir to reach the saddle of the Northwest Ridge of Gulba peak. At the saddle, turn right and follow the Northwest Ridge to arrive beneath the first gendarme. Overcome it directly via simple rocks ("live" rocks, belay). Continue on simple, crumbling rocks of the Northwest Ridge; tackle the second and third gendarmes directly (belay). Beyond them, follow the gentle, easy, crumbling rocks of the Northwest Ridge, with some ups and downs in the middle section, to reach the summit of Gulba. 6–8 hours from the initial bivouac.

276. Ascent via the Southeast Ridge (rocky route, V. Logvinova, category III, fig. 32, 39). From the Gulskie Ploshchadki (point 249), follow the glacier to the snow patch descending from the deepest saddle of the Southeast Ridge of Gульба peak. Here, turn right and along the left side of the snowy slope, alongside the rocks of the Southwest counterfort, approach the saddle. Before reaching the saddle, turn left and ascend the snowy slope, then a simple rocky couloir for 150–200 m to a connecting ridge left and above the first gendarme of the Southeast Ridge of Gульба peak. From the connecting ridge, turn left and ascend steep, heavily fragmented rocks

Fig. 39.

CAUCASUS CHAMPIONSHIP 1986

Rock Climbing Class

Via the right buttress of the East wall

First Ascent

Category 5B difficulty (approximate)

USAB "Baksan" Team

Passport

I. Technical class 2. Central Caucasus 3. Ascent via the right buttress of the East wall. 4. Proposed - 5th category of difficulty, first ascent 5. Height difference: 910 m, length - 1275 m. Length of sections with 5-6 category of difficulty - 415 m. Average steepness of the main sections 54° (2900-3810 m). Including 155 m (83°) of 6th category of difficulty; 6. Pitons hammered: rock hatchet pitons ice 89/7 none 49/0 0/0