The traverse route of the Shkhelda massif from west to east along the Stroitely ridge, complexity category 5B, a detailed description of the path, equipment specification, and possible bivouac locations.
- Traverse of the Shkhelda massif from west to east (L. Nadezhdin's route, category 5B difficulty).
The path from the Shkhelda alpine camp (group of 4-8 people) to the summit of Vtoraya Zapadnaya Shkhelda with the initial bivouac at "Aristov's Overnight Stay" and the second bivouac on the scree of Vtoraya Zapadnaya Shkhelda is described in route #86. From the summit of Vtoraya Zapadnaya Shkhelda, descend via scree, then via simple, destroyed rocks of the Eastern ridge, overcoming small
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gendarmeries on destroyed rocks of medium difficulty directly, reaching a small shoulder. From the shoulder, go right and down a couloir, then traverse left along snow-covered ledges and inclined slabs onto the ridge. From here, follow a simple, snow-covered rocky ridge, then a 4-5-meter vertical chimney and a 12-15-meter wall to descend onto a snow col before the large black 1st Western gendarme of the Builders' Ridge.
From the col, ascend via a sharp snow ridge (cornices!) with rock outcrops - climb to the base of the rocky tower of the 1st gendarme of the Builders' Ridge. Bypass the rocky tower by traversing along the ice-snow slope, then along inclined snow-covered slabs on the right. After a short descent along the ridge, continue descending via difficult and medium-difficulty rocks of the wall on the right side of the ridge, leaving a figurative gendarme on the right, and descend onto a snow col under the 2nd gendarme.
From the col, ascend via rocks of medium difficulty on the steep, sharp rocky ridge to reach the 2nd gendarme of the Builders' Ridge. The ascent is possible:
- by traversing along a ledge on the right side of the ridge,
- then directly upwards via difficult rocks of a 40-50-meter wall.
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