Mount Belukha: height, description, coordinates, interesting facts. Belukha: coordinates and photos, what to see and where Belukha is located In which mountain is Belukha mountain located

Mount Belukha is a three-headed peak in the heart of the Eurasian continent, the highest point of Altai. Many tourists dream of conquering it. However, you need to know a few important points: in particular, when and how best to climb this mountain. This will be discussed in our article.

Three-headed mountain - a symbol of Altai

It should be noted right away that in Russia there are several geographical objects with the toponym "Belukha": a mountain, a river, an island and a natural park in the Altai Mountains. We will talk here exclusively about the top.

Mount Belukha has always been a kind of sacral, sacred object for the peoples of the Altai Mountains. She was even honored to be present on the modern coat of arms of the Altai Republic. Altaians call it "Uch-Sumer", which translates as "Three-headed peak". After all, it is this view from afar that Mount Belukha has. You can also see a photo of this beautiful peak in this article.

Mount Belukha is an orographic object consisting of two pyramidal pointed peaks - Western and Eastern Belukha. Between them there is a saddle (the so-called Belukha Saddle), which has two slopes: a steep northern one, which descends to the Akkem glacier, and a gentle southern one. The absolute height of the peak above sea level is 4506 meters. This is the highest point of the entire Altai Mountains.

Mount Belukha: where is the peak?

As mentioned above, this mountain is the highest point of the Altai Mountains. To be more precise, it crowns the Katunsky ridge, which stretches for almost 150 kilometers.

Now let's find out where Belukha Mountain is located in administrative terms. It is located on the border of two states - Russia and Kazakhstan, at the source of the Katun River. The top of the mountain is administratively "registered" on the territory of the Ust-Koksinsky district of the Altai Republic.

This Altai mountain got its name not by chance. The fact is that the top is completely and constantly covered with snow. And it is precisely this, snow-white ("belukha"), that Mount Belukha looks to the locals.

The coordinates of this mountain are as follows: 49.48 o north latitude and 86.35 o east longitude.

Exploring and conquering the mountain

The earliest documented references to Belukha date back to the end of the 18th century. The first attempt to conquer the summit of the mountain was made by Samuel Turner back in 1904. However, the Tronov brothers were the first to conquer Belukha in 1914.

The first scientific studies of this area began in the first half of the 19th century. So, the naturalist F. Gebbler in 1835 studied the vegetation of this region. Along the way, he discovered two local glaciers: Barelsky and Katunsky, and also for the first time tried to determine the height of Belukha. With the help of a goniometer, he received a mark of 3362 meters, which, as is now known, turned out to be very erroneous.

The second attempt to measure the height of the Belukha was made by Professor V.V. Sapozhnikov only in 1895. According to him, the height of the eastern peak of the mountain was 4542 meters. For the first time, the correct height mark of Belukha (4506 meters) appeared on a geographical map of 1948. However, the method of obtaining this mark remained unknown.

It is interesting that in 2012 the specialists of ZapSibGeodesia carried out comprehensive geodetic studies of the Belukha massif and obtained its new height: 4509 meters. In addition, the employees of the enterprise fixed special benchmarks on the mountain, which will be useful for future surveyors. Thus, on modern maps you can find two different heights of Mount Belukha: 4506 and 4509 meters above sea level.

Geology and relief features

Mount Belukha consists of Cambrian rocks. Many rocky spurs of the mountain are nothing more than outcrops of shales and sandstones of the Middle and Upper Cambrian age. Conglomerate formations are also found, but much less frequently.

The massif of Mount Belukha is quite unstable in tectonic terms; weak earthquakes quite often occur in this area. The latter can be the cause of collapses and sudden avalanches, which is a serious danger for tourists and climbers.

In the Paleogene, the Belukha mountain range began to experience tectonic uplift, which continues to this day. The result of these processes was the formation of typical alpine-type landscapes here, with steep rocky ridges, massive screes and deep canyons. In addition, the territory of the massif is extremely prone to talus and landslides. Thus, here you can find a wide variety of landforms.

Climatic features of the territory

It is very important for tourists and climbers to know the climate of a particular area. The climate of the Belukha massif is severe. Winter here is cold and long with air temperatures down to -40 degrees, and summer is short and rainy with temperatures that do not exceed +10 degrees in the valleys. But on the top of Belukha, even in summer, there can be frosts down to -15 ... -20 degrees Celsius. You need to be prepared for this when climbing Belukha.

Within the mountain, about 500 millimeters of precipitation falls annually. At the same time, 30-50% of them fall in the form of snow. On the slopes of Belukha, mountain-valley winds and foehns are quite common.

Mount Belukha is one of the leaders in the Altai Mountains in terms of the number of glaciers. In total, 169 glaciers of various sizes are known within this massif. Glaciologists (scientists who study glaciers) even distinguish Belukha glaciers as a separate type. The largest of them is the Sapozhnikov Glacier, which stretches for ten kilometers in length.

Rivers flow from the Belukha glaciers, which mainly belong to the Katun basin. They feed mainly on glacial and snow waters. All the rivers of the massif are characterized by fast flow, abundance of cascades and waterfalls. There are also several picturesque lakes here, which are confined to kars and trogs (glacial landforms).

Flora and fauna of the mountain

The Belukha mountain range is characterized by very rich vegetation with a huge variety of forest formations. The belt of forests here reaches a mark of 2000 meters, above the subalpine belt begins with light forests, shrubs and herbs. On the slopes of the mountain you can find many rare plant species (up to 30). Among them are ukokskaya larkspur, Krylov's cinquefoil, rosea rhodiola and others.

From representatives of the world of fauna here you can meet zokor, snow leopard, mountain goat and lynx. However, the avifauna of the Belukha is richer. Various birds live within this territory: alpine jackdaw, golden eagle, lentil and others.

Mount Belukha: how to get to the top?

To climb the mountain, you will need the appropriate hiking (or climbing, depending on the difficulty of the chosen route) equipment. The most suitable period for conquering Belukha is from June to September. Of course, for a safer ascent, it is desirable that the team has a person who is well acquainted with this area.

How to get to Belukha? The easiest way is to use the following algorithm:

• take a train to Barnaul;
• get by bus to Gorno-Altaisk;
• then take a bus (or taxi) to the village of Tungur;
• walk to the foot of Belukha.

The starting point of your journey should be Gorno-Altaisk, 250 kilometers from which Belukha Mountain is located (photo of the largest city closest to the mountain is below).

Next, you need to move towards the village of Tungura, where numerous tourist complexes are located. In this village, they will tell you in detail about how best to conquer Belukha and which route to choose. From Tungur to the mountain itself - about 50 kilometers. And this section will already have to be overcome on foot (or on horseback).

There are several routes to Mount Belukha. You can climb to its top from the south (category 3A tourist route, easier) or from the north, along the Akkem glacier (category 4A-4B mountaineering route, the most difficult and dangerous).

Finally...

Belukha Mountain is insanely beautiful and attracts hundreds of desperate tourists. Its snow-capped peaks against the background of the bright blue Altai sky look simply amazing!

But you should always remember that the mountains do not forgive a neglectful attitude towards themselves. Therefore, if you are going to conquer Belukha, you should carefully consider everything and prepare well so that this adventure remains a pleasant memory in your life.

Hiking on the highest mountain of Altai, Belukha, is a popular tourism destination. Yogis and esotericists go there to find answers to questions and gain new spiritual experience, climbers go there to test themselves, and ordinary tourists want to see the nature of incredible beauty. For many, this journey is extremely difficult. We tell you what is special about Belukha and how to prepare for its conquest.

Gai Sever, wikipedia.org, CC BY-SA 4.0

Why is Mount Belukha famous?

Belukha is located in the Ust-Koksinsky district of the Altai Republic. It is the border between Russia and Kazakhstan. Until about the 1950s, Belukha competed for the title of the highest mountain in Altai with Nayramdal peak on the Ukok plateau. But the latter was lower by 132 meters.

Belukha is a powerful mountain. She has several peaks. The two main ones in the form of irregular pyramids are called Eastern Belukha and Western Belukha. Their height is 4509 and 4435 meters respectively. The third towering point is Delaunay Peak (4260 meters).

Because of these three peaks, Belukha was nicknamed the Three-Headed Mountain. Although there is another one in its array - the Crown of Altai - it is located a little to the side. Belukha Mountain got its name because it is white all year round - glaciers and snow on its peaks never melt.

Locals consider the mountain sacred. It is another place in the Altai Mountains where esotericists were looking for an entrance to Shambhala. The Altaians believe that the goddess Umai lives on Belukha - this is the highest female deity among the Turkic peoples, the patroness of mothers and an assistant in childbirth.

Attractions around Belukha

The journey to Belukha turns out to be very eventful, because there are several interesting sights around it. Tourists see not only the mountain itself, but also valleys, lakes, waterfalls, glaciers.

1. Akkem lake

Located on the northern slope of Belukha. Akkem is translated from Altai as "white water". The lake is fed by the melt waters of the Akkem glacier. The color of the water in it is cloudy, gray-white due to the suspension of solid particles that the stream brings from the glacier. The water temperature does not exceed 4.5 degrees.

Tent camps are set up on the lake. One of the main things that tourists want to see here is the reflection of the Belukha in the water. It can be observed in calm, clear weather, when there are no ripples and clouds hiding the peaks.

2. Akkem glacier

It is located on the northern slope of Belukha. Its area is 10.4 square kilometers and its length is 7.8 kilometers. It is gentle, without cracks, but with a bumpy surface, so it is not easy to walk on it.

The glacier is surrounded by the famous Akkem wall, which itself is part of it. The wall is called the section of Belukha, which is formed by the slopes of its peaks. From afar, it seems sheer, but in fact, its angle of inclination is 50 degrees. There are hiking trails of varying difficulty along the wall.

3. Tekelu Waterfall

One of the highest waterfalls in the Altai Mountains. The drop height is 60 meters. The view of it opens from the Akkem trail - a hiking route to Lake Akkem. It is impossible to see the entire waterfall because it flows through a narrow chute. Tekel is a natural monument of republican significance.

4. Yarlu river valley

One of the most mystical places in the Altai Mountains. Here is a huge and atypically smooth white stone for these places. It is called the Stone-Master or the Stone of the Shaman, it is revered by the followers of Roerich. It is often possible to observe meditating people on it - they sit or lie on a stone with their eyes closed. A small town was built around it.

The valley itself is extremely beautiful. The mountains that surround it are predominantly blue or grayish in color, in some places purple. There is one patch of reddish rock called Mother's Heart. And in the outlines of one of the ridges, you can see the profile of a woman.

The valley is especially beautiful after the rain - the colors of the mountains become very bright. The weather here is changeable, the clouds are moving quickly, constantly changing the lighting. This additionally creates a mystical atmosphere.

Another attraction of the valley is edelweiss flowers. They are believed to bring good luck.

5. Valley of the Seven Lakes

It is located 10 km from Belukha. It consists of three tiers, on which there are seven lakes with water of different colors. The third (upper) tier is the most picturesque. From it you can see the three most interesting reservoirs:

• Black lake, the color of which is given by stones at the bottom,
• Turquoise lake with water of a deep turquoise hue,
• "Lake of brides" with small flowers along the banks and on small islands.

6. Lake of mountain spirits

Guidebooks write that this lake is remarkable for its clear water - supposedly it is almost invisible. Sometimes people cannot see the boundary between water and air. When a breeze blows, the water seems to "appear" - due to ripples on the surface.

The transparency of the lake creates the effect of magic. For this reason, legends were born that spirits live here.

7. Chapel of the Archangel Michael

The highest mountain chapel in Russia. It is located near the source of the Akkem River, on its banks. The chapel was erected in 2006 in memory of the fallen climbers. Funds were collected from all over the world. It was difficult to choose a place for the chapel because of the mountainous terrain.

The project was developed by the architect Kirill Khromov, who had previously created wooden temples in Antarctica and Valdai. The log house was made in the village of Iogach.

The service in the chapel takes place once a year, it is led by a priest from Maima.

The history of the conquest of Belukha

The first attempt to climb Belukha was made by Englishman Samuel Turner in 1903 or 1904, but failed. The climbers who conquered the mountain for the first time were the brothers Boris and Mikhail Tronov. This happened in 1914 after three unsuccessful attempts.

The most famous climber in history, Reinold Messner, who was the first to climb all 14 mountains of the "eight-thousanders", did not reach the top of Belukha in 1996 due to bad weather. He called it "a mountain with character".

It is said that climbing Belukha is more difficult than climbing many other peaks with the same or even higher height. The reason is that the mountain "breathes" - that is, it changes every year. Glaciers are moving, because of small earthquakes, rockfalls and avalanches often occur. And where until recently there were paths, impassable sections and faults appear.

Changeable weather also creates obstacles for climbing. Winds often blow on the mountain and blizzards occur. You need to know exactly what time of day to overcome individual sections. For example, during the day, because of the sun, the snow becomes loose and almost impassable, the glaciers melt and it can be dangerous to walk on them.

Only experienced climbing instructors who make regular ascents and know the current routes can lead groups of tourists to the peaks of Belukha.

Types of trips to Belukha

There are two main types of hikes up the mountain - to the foot and up the mountain. Even a hike to the foot of the mountain will be difficult for people with poor physical fitness. Very few are able to reach the top.

Anastasia Solntseva, an entrepreneur from Barnaul, took part in a hike to the foot of Belukha in 2018. The group also lived in the camp for climbing. Of the 24 people who were going to conquer the summit, only 18 succeeded - and this is a good indicator.

Anastasia Solntseva,
businessman:

Adult and well-trained men could not rise due to poor physical condition or injuries. Someone could not stand the stress and could not endure all the difficulties. When you are completely exhausted back from the mountain to the base camp, everyone will applaud you, even if you do not climb Belukha. Everyone there is well aware that this is almost heroism.

Due to the complexity of the hike, its cost necessarily includes insurance with the possibility of evacuating a person by helicopter. And the instructors have satellite phones.

Many tourists prefer hiking to the foot of Belukha. The camp is set up on Lake Akkem, and then radial hikes are made to the surrounding sights. Programs take about 10 days.

Delivery to Belukha by helicopter is possible.

How to get to Belukha

You need to move along the Chuisky tract to the Seminsky pass. After the descent from the pass there will be a fork, here you need to turn right following the sign to Ust-Koksa - a good road ends at this point. After Ust-Koksa, the Uimon steppe begins, after 60 km of movement along it there will be the village of Tungur. Hiking to Belukha begins from it.

From Tungur, trucks deliver tourists to the Three Birches parking lot. From there they go on foot to Akkem Lake for about 15 km. A camp is set up on the lake, this is the starting point for a variety of routes around Belukha.

How to prepare for the conquest of the Beluga whale

First of all, you need to take care of your health and fitness.

Anastasia Solntseva,
businessman:

If you want to go hiking, then you need to understand that this is not an easy walk through the forest. Often companies and guides present this program in this way. Are you planning a trip next year? You need to start training now. Especially if you don't have the experience of backpacking long distances like I didn't. On the first day, our iPhone showed that we had walked 17 km and 100 floors.

According to Anastasia, you need to come to the mountains completely healthy and it is better to increase immunity in advance.

Anastasia Solntseva,
businessman:

A sore throat can turn into a terrible cough. Even a small height, and the base camp on Lake Akkem is at around 2000 meters above sea level, as if destroying you. You don't notice it right away, but then it makes itself felt.

You will need hiking and climbing equipment. The organizing companies are ready to provide something for rent, you will have to look for something on your own - this must be clarified in advance.

How much does it cost to get to Belukha?

The cost of tourist programs for Belukha is 50-60 thousand rubles per person. Be sure to ask about the qualifications of the instructor who will accompany your group and ensure safety on the trip.

If you are going to climb Belukha, then you need to keep in mind that circumstances can develop in different ways - the weather can interfere with the ascent. Locals believe that Belukha “does not let in” people with negative thoughts. Only the strong in spirit are able to reach its peak.

Mount Belukha is the highest point of the Katunsky ridge and the highest point of Siberia. Mount Belukha is one of the natural attractions of the Ust-Koksinsky district of Gorny Altai.

The mountain has two peaks, which are in the form of irregular pyramids - Western (4435 m) and Eastern (4506 m). Between the peaks there is a depression - the Belukha saddle, whose height is 4000 m. The peaks of the mountain, together with the peaks of the Crown of Altai and Delaunay located on the right and left, form the Akkem wall, almost vertically falling down in the direction of the Akkem glacier. All glaciers are quite large, from 2 sq. km to 10 sq. km.

The name "Belukha" was given to the mountain by the Russians because of the large snow cover on the peaks. Locals still call her Muzdu-Tuu, which means "ice mountain".

The first person to measure the height of the mountain in 1835 was the naturalist, doctor and traveler F. Gebler. Thanks to the goniometric device, Gebler was able to measure the height of the Belukha peaks relative to the Belaya Berelya River and estimate it at about 3361 m. In 1895, V. Sapozhnikov, a professor at Tomsk University, made an attempt to measure the height of the peak. According to his measurements, the eastern peak of Belukha was 4542 m. The next person to measure in 1935 was climber-instructor D. Gushchin, then a new, completely unexpected result was obtained - 4630 m.

The mountain range of Mount Belukha is composed of Upper and Middle Cambrian rocks. Numerous cracks, faults and thrusts of rocks testify to the tectonic instability of the mountain. Micro-earthquakes are quite common here.

The Belukhinsky massif is characterized by variegation of vegetation. According to many researchers, most of the ridge is part of the Katun high-mountain region, where a huge variety of forest and high-mountain formations is concentrated. Small mammals can be found here: tundra shrew, red-gray, red-backed and big-eared voles. On the right bank of the Katun river live the zokor and the Altai mouse.

In 1978, Belukha Mountain received the status of a natural monument of the Gorno-Altai Autonomous Region, and since 1998 it has been on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites "Altai - Golden Mountains".

Mount Belukha is the main peak of the Katun Ridge (one of the names of Kadyn-Bazhy is translated as “Top of the Katun”) and the highest peak of the Altai Mountains, one of the largest mountains in Russia.

In the South Altai language, the mountain is called Uch-Sumer, which means "Three-headed".

The Belukha peak was named after its color - it is abundantly covered with snow, 169 glaciers are concentrated on the slopes, representing more than 60% of the glaciation area of ​​the Katunsky ridge.

The height of Mount Belukha is 4509 meters.

The height of the Beluga Saddle, a depression between the peaks (it is this place that is recognizable in many photographs of the mountain), is 4000 meters.

The mountain range is composed of rocks of the Cambrian period, the relief rose in the Paleogene, is located on the border of seismic zones (7-8-point activity).

The climate of the mountainous region of Belukha is severe: winter is long and summer is short, altitudinal zonation can be traced. Forests extend up to 2000-2200 meters, thicker on the northern slopes. There is also an alpine belt in the valley - lush meadows from which impressive views of Belukha open up.

The fauna of Belukha Mountain and the foothills are rodents, lynxes, snow leopards (very rare), Siberian mountain goat.

Climbing Belukha

The first ever successful ascent of Mount Belukha in Altai was made by the Tronov brothers in 1914. Modern records are the first paragliding flight from Eastern Belukha (Levkin and Usanov, 2000), a two-hour extreme skiing (D. Shitov, 2003).

Now Mount Belukha is a landmark with a developed tourist infrastructure. There are many options for tours and excursions: these are horseback riding routes, hiking in the surroundings, and climbing to different heights. The easiest way to the top of Eastern Belukha is from the south; he was assigned an average category of difficulty - 3A. Climbing the Akkem wall is faster, but also more difficult - 3B tourist, 4A-4B climbing.

The optimal season for overcoming routes is from June to September.

Sights of Belukha

The slopes of Belukha are popular not only among climbers and other extreme tourists, but also among travelers who want to touch the history, nature and culture of the region.

Yarlu valley with shaman stone- one of the most mystical places in the Altai Mountains. Groups of meditators often meet here. Tourists who are not fond of esotericism also do not bypass the Yarlu valley: the bright colors of the surrounding forests, high mountain walls and rare alpine flowers - edelweiss, make the landscapes unforgettable.

Lake Akkem equally popular with mystics (they consider the name of the reservoir to be prophetic, since on the contrary it is read as “Mecca”), and among trekking enthusiasts. The lake is located on the northern slope of the mountain. The name of the reservoir is translated as "White Water" - after all, it is fed by melt water from the Belukha glaciers. Tourists go hiking to the lake to enjoy the photographic view - the reflection of the Belukha in Akkem Lake.

On the way to Lake Akkem, one of the highest waterfalls in the region is encountered - Tekel. The height of the fall of mountain water is 60 meters.

Mountain Spirit Lake with exceptionally clear water. The water is so transparent that it seems it does not exist. Light ripples appear on the surface from the wind, distorting the images of the bottom. This led to the emergence of local legends about spirits.

Unusual facts about Beluga

• Mount Belukha is equidistant from four oceans.
• The highest point of Siberia is the Eurasian watershed, over the latitudes above which the rivers flow north, and beyond the watershed, to the south, the rivers flow south.
• The total area of ​​Belukha glaciers is 150 sq. km. In total, there are 169 glaciers on its slopes. Of these, the largest is the Sapozhnikov Glacier, reaching a length of more than 10 kilometers.
• The peaks of Belukha are an exact projection of the three stars of the Orion belt.
• Belukha is located in a zone of seismic activity - there have been earthquakes with a magnitude of 7-8 points. On the slopes of the mountain you can find many cracks and tectonic faults.
• On the slope of Belukha is the highest Orthodox shrine - the chapel of the Archangel Michael. It was erected in memory of the travelers who died in the mountains.

Myths and legends

The picturesque surroundings — paths along centuries-old cedars, piercing mountain lakes, turbulent rivers and impregnable rocky peaks, have long excited the consciousness of local peoples and travelers. For many centuries, Belukha Mountain has acquired hundreds of legends, almost its own mythology.

• According to the legends of Buddhist monks, it is on the top of Belukha that the legendary country of Shambhala is located. Local Buddhists believe that Gautama Buddha went to India from here.
• The Altaians believe that the evil spirit Erlike lives in one of the underground caves. He punishes everyone who steps on his territory - brings down rockfalls, avalanches and thunderstorms on travelers.
• It was in the vicinity of Belukha that Russians searched for the sacred country of Belovodie for 2 centuries. According to legend, once a whole nation went underground to avoid subjugation to the "White Tsar".
• There are also legends about the White Burkhan, a mysterious deity whose arrival people expected at the beginning of the 20th century. Then Belukha changed its shape (the third peak collapsed), which the local population considered a sign.
• Some Buddhists believe that the Belukha caves lead to Tibet. The legend was based on a real fact - in the vicinity of Belukha there is the deepest cave in Russia, its depth is 345 meters.
• Women come to Belukha to be treated for infertility. According to local beliefs, the goddess Umai, the patroness of children and mothers, lives on the top of the mountain.
• For hundreds of years, there was a belief that the punishment of the gods would overtake the one who climbed Belukha - he would go blind. The legend has a real basis - the first brave conquerors of the mountains went blind from the bright sunlight reflected from the snow.

The most famous researcher of the mystical side of Belukha was Nicholas Roerich - a domestic artist, scientist, esotericist, traveler. He researched the legends about the mysterious Shambhala and Belovodye.

How to get to Belukha Mountain

Mount Belukha coordinates (latitude and longitude for the navigator) - 49°48’26.7"N, 86°34'53.5"E

As a rule, independent travelers build a route to Belukha through the village of Tungur. The distance to the village from Gorno-Altaisk is 450 km, from Barnaul - almost 600 km. The initial route from Gorno-Altaisk passes along R-256, after about 170 km you need to turn onto R-373 (following the sign for the Oil Depot) and then continue along this road to Tungur, using the navigator you can navigate to the coordinates 50 ° 9′39 ″ N, 86°18′55″E.

There are also regular buses to Tungur, but they rarely go - twice a week.

Already a couple of kilometers from the village there are tourist bases, up to the mountain - about 40 km.

Panoramic views of Mount Belukha on Google maps. Maps

Video about Mount Belukha

World cinema has already made more than one attempt to visualize paradise, one of the most beautiful and memorable for me is the film "What Dreams May Come" with Robin Williams in the title role. Traveling around the world, I was convinced that many places on the planet cause delight and surprise, but if I imagined what paradise looks like, then the image of the Altai Mountains definitely appears in front of me. Yes, yes, not at all endless glossy sugary beaches and villas on the equator ... I love mountains, and a trip to Altai was my first trip to the "big" mountains. Since then I have seen the Alps and the Andes, the Himalayas and the Tatras, all of them are different and beautiful in their own way, but I consider Altai to be the most striking and emotionally colorful mountain range in my travel collection.

Nicholas Roerich considered this peak to be one of several places on our planet through which the Earth receives the divine energy of the cosmos. Altai shamans clarify that Shambhala is located inside the sacred Belukha, but in a different spatial dimension.
Let's go to the foot of Belukha?

A very remote village in the mountains:

The locals here are not at all friendly (except that almost everyone is drunk):

The route was classic for this region - three days of walking to the Akkem lake up the Akkem river and down the Kucherla river.

epic shot :)

Who does not want to go for three days - flies by helicopter :)

Akkem and Belukha... this was the first shot taken in the lake valley, and even though the photo was taken on a cheap but cool soap dish at that moment, for me it refreshes the emotions of that evening, when after three days of walking with a thirty-kilogram backpack over my shoulders I still saw the very panorama of the crystal clear lake and the majestic slopes of Belukha…

Nearby is an absolutely amazing place - the "Valley of the Seven Lakes", we climbed here during the "day" on Akkem.

Akkem and Belukha is a very popular place among the followers of Roerich's teachings. Nicholas Roerich considered this peak to be one of several places on our planet through which the Earth receives the divine energy of the cosmos. Altai shamans clarify that Shambhala is located inside the sacred Belukha, but in a different spatial dimension. And you can see it only in a modified state of consciousness, and this is not given to everyone.

"Museum on the opposite bank":

There was also a professional photographer near our camp, whose work I later recognized on a photo site under the nickname neuda4nik. In the photo - he is in a red jacket, he has stunning landscapes from Alatay to the Himalayas.

Mount Belukha is the highest point of the Altai Mountains (4506 m), crowning the Katunsky ridge.

In India, far in the south of Asia, they knew that in the north, in the mountainous country of Altai, on the right bank of the Katun, a many-headed mountain rises high into the sky, the significance of which is equated to the world mountain Sumeru. In the Indian sacred Vedas, it is written that Belukha is called upon to determine the "center from the four oceans", since it is located almost at an equal distance from the three oceans - the Arctic, Pacific and Indian, for which it is called "the umbilical cord of the Earth" in ancient writings.

Belukha has several names, each nation has its own. One of the names given to her by the Altaians themselves is Tsagan-Ubugun - "White Old Man". The gray-haired head of the "Old Man", according to their ideas, reached the very top of the world, which is located near the Big Dipper.

In 1926, Roerich made an expedition to the Altai Mountains to the foot of Belukha. The Golden Mountains (according to one hypothesis, the word "Altai" comes from the Turkic "altan", "altyn" - "golden") interested Roerich as the northernmost point of the mountain world of Central Asia, as one of the main corridors along which the ancient peoples moved from the center of Asia to the plains of Siberia and further to Europe. As a place of interest for its ancient culture, philosophy.

Not far from Belukha in the Uimon Valley, Nicholas Roerich found dozens of ancient monuments, burial structures of Altai, unknown to science. In his diaries, for example, the traveler mentions kereksurs (grave hills made of large stones), “steles of nameless peoples”, “deer stones” (mysterious plates covered with images of deer with horns thrown behind their backs and with ornately twisted processes), “stone figures” (sculptures of “babes”, called kezers and allowing you to imagine in detail the cut of the clothes of the ancients). The stone graves of the local population are associated with legends about tribes that have long passed here. For example, about a tribe with a high culture, great knowledge and a wonderful name - Chud. According to stories, the tribe was in mortal danger, and it was forced to leave through its secret underground passages in an unknown direction. There is a version that the local ancient barrows with stone blockages are the immured entrance to the mysterious dungeons of the Chud. Roerich immediately remembered the legend, widespread in India and Tibet, about the underground city of the Agarti people.

According to one of the legends, Belukha is the birthplace of Buddha, it was from here that he went to India and Tibet.

Our helmsman - Stas!

Such a mug of tea in the evening after a busy day is an absolute euphoria, no all-inclusive 5 * cocktails will give such a feeling!

"Tomsk parking" (3100m) on the glacier is the highest point of our trip. From here, climbers are already on their way to the ascent. Although we called this place "Tomsk overnight".
During the day it is +30, at night -5 in July.

This is how "Tomsk parking" looks like in the panorama:

Serious guys, not like we are mattresses:

The parents of climbers - the children also spend their holidays on the glaciers in a tent:

Extreme or hiking?

Of course, I love when adrenaline tickles, I like extreme sports. But when traveling, I chose tourism and hiking without extreme sports. Climbing, kayaking and other extreme sports are not my thing. Life is beautiful and should be enjoyed, not subjected to unjustified and pseudo-controlled risk. It's my opinion.

The helicopter of the Ministry of Emergency Situations evacuates a group of Belarusian climbers who fell asleep at the final stage before the ascent:

And we go down:

This picture is very consistent with real feelings (whoever is in the subject will understand :):

On the way to Moscow, we met European tourists on the train who flew to Asia from London and then travel back on trains with a journey through transit points. There is even a guide:

Here are the real adventures:

Technical details:

We traveled to Altai for a long time ... by train overnight Kiev-Moscow, two days - Moscow-Novosibirsk, night - Novosibirsk-Biysk and another daylight on the Gazelle to the village of Tungur ...

Very, very beautiful mountains, absolutely incredible, diverse and rich nature. All this is Gorny Altai!