Kuznetskiy Alatau : The Land of the Lakes and Flowers, Trekking, backcountry skiing.

Region: Russia, Southern Siberia, Kuznetskiy Alatau range
Activity: teahouse trekking, trekking, backcountry skiing (in winter and early spring)
Trip Category: regular
Difficulty: easy to medium, no need of special skill (kids from 9 years old are allowed).
Dates: year round, backcountry skiing - december to 1st half of April

Kuznetskiy Alatau - "The Blacksmith's Mountains" is the medium-altitudes mountain land on the south of Siberia, slightly to the North from Altai, which keeps untouched wild nature so far. The area is practically unpopulated, so unique mountain taiga consists from firs, silver firs (pihta) and Siberian stone pines keeps it's virgin purity. Due to absent of industrial infrastructure, the ecological situation is perfect. The highest point of the entire area is Verhniy Zub ("Upper Toth") mount, 2178 m. The unique feature of the area is - despite of lower to medium altitudes- the presense of 80+ glaciers! So you can try real alpine landscape without any risk of AMS! There are no serious obstacles like snow and ice-covered passes en routes, trails lay in taiga or in some higher parts in tundra flats.

The unique feature of the area is the well-developed network of mountain huts, so teahouse-style trekking or backountry skiing is available- similar to Nepal or other tourist's areas! The area also has good features for snowboarding and heliskiing. Nevertheless, we suggest two variants of routes- one is year-round, easy-graded, teahouse style trekking or backcountry skiing. The 2nd variant is a bit adventureous and suitable only for summer (May to Septrember). Note: for backcountry skiing it is needed some special gear, including skis and warm clothes!

Itinerary (variant 1 - teahouse trekking or backcountry skiing):

Day 1	Arrival to Novokuznetsk. Meeting at airport or railway station, transfer to Mezhdurechensk (about 1,5 hrs, minibus). Hotel accommodation (DBL).
Day 2	Train to Luzhba village (about 1,5 hrs). Short hiking (500 m) with Tom river crossing to Priut Kuzbasskiy ("Kuzbass Asilum"). Rest, checking the gear, consultations, training (you can fishing in neighbour Tom river!). Russian bania (sauna)- the water is directly from mountain stream!
Day 3	Hiking up to "Priut Glukhariniy" ("Capercaillie's Asilum") along Amzas river gorge. 9 km, 1st part (about 4 km) - rural road. Lunch. Hiking up to Priut Soboliniy ("Sable's Asilum"). 6 km. Hut accommodation.
Day 4	Hiking from Priut Soboliniy to Priut Podnebesniy ("Below The Sky Asilum"). Steep ascent to the range, then traverse, then gentle descent. 12 km. Rest. Bania. Hut accommodation.
Day 5	Hiking up along Belsuu river to Priut Taijesu ("Taijesu Asilum"). 15 km. Hut accommodation. Most remote and wild part of the route. Bania.
Day 6	Most difficult day of the trip. Hiking from Priut Taijesu up to Ozerniy Pass ("Lake's Pass"). Crossing Ozerniy Pass, 1800 m, beaten trail, possible radial trip to Maliy Zub ("Small Toth") mount, 1984 m. Descent to Priut Yuriya Diakonova ("Yuri Diakonov's Asilum"). Hut accommodation.
Day 7	Hiking from Priut Yuriya Diakonova to Priut Kupriyanovskaya Poliana ("Kupriyanov's Glade Asilum"), 10 km. Bania.
Day 8	Hiking up to "Priut Rubanovskiy Stan" ("Rubanovskiy' Asilum") on Shorskiy Pass (n/c, about 1,000 m), lunch, then descent to "Priut Alguiskiy". 8 km. Rest. Hut accommodation.
Day 9	Hiking Priut Alguiskiy - Priut Kuzbasskiy (8 km). Hut accommodation. Russian bania. Firewell dinner.
Day 10	Spare day for case of bad weather.
Day 11	Train to Mezhdurechensk. Transfer to Novokuznetsk. Hotel accommodation (DBL).
Day 12	Transfer to airport. Departure from Novokuznetsk.

Cost: us for an offer.

Included: Meeting and seeing off at airport, 1 night hotel accommodation in Novokuznetsk and 1 night in Mezhdurechensk (DBL), all transfers according the programme (including boats for Tom river crossing and railway tickets Mezhdurechensk-Luzhba-Mezhdurechensk, hut accommodation FB, hot meals on active part, guide/interpreter, porters and cook service, rain cover.

Not included: visa fees, travel to/from Novokuznetsk (daily scheduled flights from/to Moscow ant St. Petersburg, railway from Moscow or Novosibirsk), personal gear.

Options. Visa support, SGL accommodation, gear rental. Any tailor-made trip is possible.

For those who have extra time, more longer (and more adventureous) trip is available:

Itinerary (variant 2 - medium-grade trekking):

Day 1 Arrival to Novokuznetsk. Meeting at airport or railway station,
transfer to Mezhdurechensk (about 1,5 hrs, minibus). Hotel accommodation
(DBL).

Day 2 Train to Luzhba village (about 1,5 hrs). Short hiking (500 m) with
Tom river crossing to Priut Kuzbasskiy ("Kuzbass Asilum"). Rest, checking
the gear, consultations, training (you can fishing in neighbour Tom river!). Russian bania (sauna)- the water is directly from mountain stream!

Day 3 Hiking up to "Priut Rubanovskiy Stan" ("Rubanovskiy' Asilum") on
Shorskiy Pass (n/c, about 1,000 m), lunch, then descent to "Priut Kupriyanovskaya Poliana". 15 km. Hut accommodation.

Day 4 Hiking from Priut Kupriyanovskaya Poliana to Priut Yuria Diakonova (10 km). Lunch. Hiking to Priut Mazaevskiy Stan ("Mazaevskiy Asilum") on Ramazin stream, 8 km. Hut accommodation. Bania.

Day 5 Hiking from Priut Mazaevskiy Stan up to Karatash ("Black Rock") pass. Crossing the pass (beaten trail, 1800 m), 8 km. Descent to Hunuhuzuh Lake. Overnight in tents.

Day 6 Hiking from Hunuhuzuh Lake to Haratas Lake. 11 km. Overnight in tents.

Day 7 Hiking from Haratas Lake to Kamennie Vorota ("Stone Gate") Pass, 2160 m, 1A CC, and optional radial trip to Verhniy Zub ("Upper Toth") mount- the highest summit of entire range, 2180 m. Descent to Verhniy Taijesu stream. 8 km. Overnight in tents.

Day 8 Hiking down from Verhniy Taijesu stream to Priut Taijesu. 12 km. Hut accommodation. Bania.

Day 9 Day of rest. Optional radial trip on Mount Dvuglavaya ("Two-Headed"), 1906 m.

Day 10 Hiking down from Priut Taijesu along Belsuu river to Priut Podnebesniy. 15
km. Hut accommodation.

Day 11 Hiking from Priut Podnebesniy to Priut Soboliniy. Gentle ascent to the range, then traverse, then steep descent. 12 km. Rest. Bania. Hut accommodation.

Day 12 Hiking Priut Soboliniy - Priut Kuzbasskiy (13 km). Hut accommodation. Russian
bania. Firewell dinner.

Day 13 Spare day for case of bad weather

Day 14
Train to Mezhdurechensk. Transfer to Novokuznetsk. Hotel
accommodation (DBL).

Day 15 Transfer to airport. Departure from Novokuznetsk.

Cost: us for an offer.

Not included: visa fees, travel to/from Novokuznetsk (daily scheduled flights from/to Moscow ant St. Petersburg, railway from Moscow or Novosibirsk), personal gear.

Options. Visa support, SGL accommodation, gear rental. Any tailor-made trip is possible.

Kuznetskiy Alatau : The Land of the Lakes and Flowers. Siberia. 12 or 15 days.