1.2. North Chuya Range, Aktru gorge

Kzyl-Tash 3486 m via the North slope of the Southwest ridge

Proposed category: 3B, first ascent Route type: snow-ice. Note: height (3486.4) is as per the published 1:50,000 map available on the Internet. Altitude difference as per the group's altimeter: 520 m Route length — 900 m (estimated); including 400 m of category 3 difficulty, between 45° to 50° Average steepness of the entire route — 35° Equipment used on the ascent: 12 ice screws, no rock pitons or stoppers (no protection left behind) Climbing hours on July 16, 2005: from Aktru alpine camp (2100 m) to Uchyitel' pass (3100 m) — 1.5 h (4:00–5:30),

Ascent Certificate

1. Altai, Severo-Chuyskie Belki ridge, Aktru gorge, section 1.2.
2. Kzyl-Tash peak 3486 m, via the middle ridge of the Southern slope.
3. Proposed category: 3A.
4. Route type: rock.
5. Height difference 900 m, length 1400 m, average steepness of the main part of the route 40°.
6. Pitons used: rock and chocks — 15 pieces.
7. Team's travel time 8 hours.
8. No overnight stays.
9. Leader: Afanasyev A.E., Master of Sports

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:

Passport

1. Class. First ascent.
2. Altai, Severo-Chuysky ridge, Karakabak gorge.
3. Peak "Russia XX века" – peak "Instruktorov" traverse.
4. Proposed 3A category of difficulty.
5. Elevation difference 860 m, length 2210 m.
6. Pitons: 18 ice screws.
7. Climbing hours: 11 h from glacier to glacier.
8. Overnight stays: not necessary.
9. Leader: Drakin A.V. CMS.

Report

of the Altai Regional Federation of Alpinism (ARFA) team on the first ascent of Peak Nikolai Bondarchuk, South Chuya Ridge, Elangash valley. "2B", (k) Barnaul 2013 Leader: Vitaly M. Guselnikov — Master of Sports in Alpinism. Participants:

• Pavel Badanov
• Valery Bogomolov
• Dmitry Bondarchuk
• Alexander Grebennikov

July 13, 2001

ASCENT DOCUMENT for the summit "Peak 300 years of St. Petersburg"

1. Ascent category – Ice and snow.
2. Ascent area – Altai, South Chuya Ridge.
3. Peak – Peak 300 years of St. Petersburg, Height – 3514.5 m, combined route – snow, ice, rocks.
4. Expected category – 2A.
5. Route characteristics: height difference – 500 m, length – 1100 m, average steepness – 45° (excluding the ridge).
6. Number of ice screws used – 12, rock anchors – 2.
7. Total climbing hours – 11 hours.

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

v. Klever (2119 m) – v. Fregat (2140 m) – v. Morion (2125 m), 3A cat. dif.

From the base camp, the ascent to v. Klever is done via route 1B cat. dif. along the Northern ridge. The ascent takes 1.5–2 hours. From v. Klever to v. Fregat, there are three pronounced "gendarms". All are passed head-on. The route runs along a highly jagged, sharp ridge and is psychologically very difficult.

Ascent to the 1st "gendarme"

• Descend 60 m from v. Klever into the pass;
• Overcome two walls — 3 m and 5 m;
• Traverse 50 m and ascend to the 1st "gendarme".

Further

• Traverse 60 m along a ridge of similar character;
• Ascend to the 2nd "gendarme";
• Descend from it 15 m, approach the beginning of the most challenging part of the route.

Along the left edge of the central buttress of the North-West wall, category 3B difficulty

From the base camp, move along the right bank of the Omot river towards the North-West wall of Oмот mountain. After 1 hour, start ascending through a couloir, heading towards the left edge of the central buttress. The first uncomplicated rocks of the buttress can be bypassed on the right, leading to a narrow ledge below the first key section of the route — an 80-meter bastion. The first wall with a sufficient number of holds is climbed diagonally from right to left towards a vertical inner corner, partially filled with ice. Climbing is tense, using ITO. Exit from the corner occurs along an inclined snowy ledge, at the end of which feather-like rock blocks are located to the right and directly along the direction of movement, which can be used to organize belays. The belay station is inconvenient and semi-pendant. Further:

• A crack filled with snow and ice goes vertically upwards. Climbing is complex, using ITO.
• The next wall with a limited number of holds and a small overhang is climbed directly left-upwards through a wide crack, leading to the top of the bastion. The ledge at the top is sufficient to accommodate three to four people. Further movement is possible with alternating belays; one should stay slightly to the left of the buttress rocks. In this part of the route, one should be cautious of slippery snow-covered slabs. The second 50-meter bastion is the next key section:
• Movement along a steep ledge at the base of the bastion to the left and through a crack in the wall, filled with snow, onto a small ledge below the top of the bastion. Climbing is not straightforward due to the limited number of holds.
• Then up the wall to the left onto the top of the second bastion.

1. via the left edge of the E. ridge, 2B
2. via the right edge of the E. ridge, 4A

Via the right edge of the Eastern ridge, 4A category of difficulty

From the base camp, having ascended to the terrace on the left bank of the Ulun river, proceed to the gorge of Mt. Tsoy to the start of the route. This takes 1–1.5 hours. Then:

• Ascend 200 m along the snowy slope;
• further, move along the slabs and internal corner to reach a snow shelf 30 m;
• at the upper part of the corner, there is a plug and an awkward transition;
• then move 160 m along moderately difficult rocks to the base of a large "gendarme" — it is clearly visible from below;