Heroes of Altai peak via the northwestern slope Barnov S.I. Altai, Severo-Chuysky Ridge 1.2

Passport

1. Category: first ascent.
2. Altai, Severo-Chuysky Ridge, Karakabak gorge, 1.2
3. Heroes of Altai peak, via the northwestern slope, ice and snow.
4. Proposed — category 4A difficulty, first ascent.
5. Elevation gain: 480 m; length – 1050 m. Length of category V sections – 15 m. Average slope:

1. Gorny Altai, Severo-Chuysky Ridge.
2. v. UPI, center of the NW slope.
3. route 2B cat. sl., first ascent is proposed.
4. Nature of the route: ice.
5. Height difference of the route — 500 m. Route length — 1000 m. Length of sections:

• 2 cat. sl. — 550 m.
• 3 cat. sl. — 450 m. Average steepness:

Chaptynova peak via the direct line of the northern slope Barnov S.I. Altai, Severo-Chuysky Ridge 1.2

Passport

1. Class: first ascent.
2. Altai, Severo-Chuysky Ridge, Karakabak gorge, 1.2
3. Chaptynova peak, via the direct line of the northern slope, ice-snow route.
4. Proposed category: 3A, first ascent.
5. Elevation gain: 350 m; length – 650 m. Average steepness of the route – 25–30°.

Report

on the first ascent of the route to the summit Yubileynaya from the Container pass, category 1B, by the team of the Sports club of alpinists "Voshozhdenie" (Barnaul) on May 3, 2019

I. Ascent Passport

2. via N.-W. buttress, 2A 3. via left edge 3A 4. via right S.-W. buttress, 2B 5. via W. wall, 3B 6. via right W. buttress, 3B

Via North-Western Buttress, category 2A

The route is the closest from the base camp. Begin the ascent along the right tributary of the Uluun river, after 5-7 minutes, and after crossing the river, start climbing up to the right along the slope with a gradual exit to the North-Western buttress. The steepness of the buttress gradually increases. The movement takes place on snowy, uncomplicated rocks. After an hour of ascent, the buttress flattens out significantly and turns into a forty-meter snowy ridge. Further movement is carried out directly along the buttress on snowy uncomplicated rocks with simultaneous belay. After 30-35 m:

• On a three-meter inclined plate, hook belay with alternate movement is necessary.
• Above the plate, there is a snowy shelf convenient for belay.

2. via N.-W. counterfort, 2A cat. 3. via left edge, 3A cat. 4. via right S.-W. counterfort, 2B cat. 5. via W. wall, 3B cat. 6. via right W. counterfort, 3B cat.

Ascent via right South-West counterfort, 2A cat.

The approach from the base camp to the start of the ascent takes 20–25 minutes (see the description of the ascent route along the South ridge, 1B cat.). The beginning of the ascent along the counterfort is a snowy slope 150 m long. In the middle of the slope, on the right side, there is a dangerous section - an avalanche-prone couloir, it should be crossed from left to right, and it is necessary to pass it before 7:00 am. Then it is necessary to traverse a 40 m long snow corrie. Further, 100 m along a heavily snowy ridge to the beginning of the difficult key section of the route. Pass 40 m through the chimney on the left, bypassing the forked gendarme, into a two-meter gap. The gap should be bypassed on the right. Then 40 m between the walls, through the chimney. After it, pass 20 m to the exit to the pre-summit ridge. And along it 120 m to the summit. The ascent takes 4–5 hours. Descent along the South ridge, via the 1B cat. route.

Safety assessment of the route

Via Western spur, Cat. II

From the base camp, follow the right bank of the right tributary of the Uluun River. Begin the ascent up a snowy couloir to the right of the Western spur, sticking to the rocks. After 30 minutes, exit left onto the spur, which consists of snowy, non-technical rocks. After 80 m, the ridge becomes steeper. Approach an 8-meter wall, in front of which, lower on the ridge, a control cairn is built. The wall is climbed by alternating movement up to the left. Continue along the not-so-steep ridge for 65 m. A small 5-meter wall is encountered. The ridge turns left and abuts a 7-meter wall, to the right of which there are internal corners and large walls. Move up one of the internal corners with alternating belays. Continue with simultaneous movement along the ridge, which drops off to the right with large walls up to 60 m deep. Moving along the ridge, reach the walls of a "gendarme," which is climbed from right to left via small walls and an internal corner (first crux). Climbing is quite challenging for winter conditions; hook belays with rope protection are required. To the right, 80-meter walls with a frozen waterfall between them are visible. After passing the crux, move 55 m with simultaneous belays along the ridge. The ridge is snowy; then exit onto inclined snowy slabs. Hook belays with rope protection are necessary (second crux). After 30 m, enter a wide snowy chimney; after 50 m of movement through it, exit back onto the ridge. Small "gendarme" features on the ridge should be bypassed on the left. After 80 m, approach an 8-meter internal corner and a 15-meter wall above it. After passing them, exit back onto a gentle ridge leading to the summit. Descend from the summit via the Category I route. Total ascent time is 5-6 hours.

Route Safety Assessment

Routes

3. Via the left edge, 3rd cat. of diff., 3A
4. Via the right S.–3rd cat. of diff., 2B
5. Via the 3rd wall, 3B
6. Via the right 3rd cat. of diff., 3B
7. Via the right S.–3rd cat. of diff., 2A
8. Via the S. ridge

Via the left edge of the Western counterfort, 3A cat. of diff.

Begin the approach along the right tributary of the Uluun River, and after 5–7 minutes, having crossed the river, start ascending up and to the left along the slope towards a large wall at the beginning of the edge. Gradually, the steepness increases to 30°. From the base camp to the start of the route — 30 min.

2. via N.-W. counterfort, 2A 3. via the left edge of 3rd counterfort, 3A 4. via the right S.-W. counterfort, 2B 5. via the W. wall, 3B 6. via the right W. counterfort, 3B

Via the right Western counterfort, category 3B

From the base camp, move along the right bank of the right tributary of the Ulu river. After 20-25 minutes of movement, begin the ascent up a snowy couloir to the left of the rightmost counterfort of the summit. Having gone about 300 m, exit to the left onto the rocks of the western counterfort and approach the wall along large snowy, in some places icy, inclined slabs. The station is on the archa. Start with 10 m up the inner corner on the right, then move along gentle ledges under a small 5 m 80° wall, from which exit onto inclined slabs under the key section. It is passed through a clear gap in the right part of the wall, with an exit then into an inner corner. There are places with ice and a couple of "hourglasses." Then, bypassing the drop on the left, ascend to the saddle along the right side of the counterfort via inclined slabs, to the left of which is a control cairn under the wall. From the saddle, traverse right for 10 m to exit into a snowy chimney on the southern wall and climb back onto the counterfort. Having passed a three-meter step, move left along a horizontal ledge, and then ascend to the South ridge along the left side of the counterfort, bypassing its "fence." To the right, the counterfort drops steeply down. Having reached the ridge, move left towards Mt. Ermolaeva. The duration of the main part of the ascent is 4-5 hours. Descent is via route 1B along the South ridge.

7. Ascent Routes on Mt. Morion Vostochny (2125 m)

Via the North Spur, Cat. 2A

From the base camp, move along the right bank of the Uluun River towards Mt. Morion. After 1 hour, begin ascending the couloir between Mt. Morion and Mt. Morion Vostochny, keeping to its left side. Bypass the initial, straightforward rocks of the spur on the right, then ascend onto the spur and continue up to the rocks. Movement is simultaneous. Further:

• Traverse across snow-covered slabs under a steep wall with fractures on the left and right parts — the first critical section of the route.
• The start of this section can be done from either the right or left, depending on the route conditions.
• After 15 meters, both paths converge before a 10-meter snow-filled internal angle; careful passage through this angle brings you to the left side of the spur, where belays can be organized. Continuing with alternating movement along the sharp, steep, and snowy ridge demands caution and the ability to set up belay points without halting. Before the second critical section — a wall with a vertical crack — it is necessary to establish a reliable belay station, as a fall could result in dropping into a steep couloir on the left. The wall must be ascended via the vertical crack, which accommodates good placements for nuts and cams. It is not recommended to bypass the wall on the left due to smooth, snowy rocks with minimal handholds and cracks. Further: