Ski touring Kackar mountains and Mt. Kasbek I Caria Pan Travel I Turkey

SKI TOUR KACKAR MOUNTAINS AND MT. KASBEK

SKI TOUR IN THE TURKISH CAUCASUS - KACKAR MOUNTAINS & MT. KAZBEK (5.033 M) IN GEORGIA

Mountains as far as your eyes can see! The Kackar mountain range is located in the north-east corner of the country and is considered a tropical forest of Turkey in the summer. In winter, it is a ski tour paradise with steep, partly wooded cliffs. Above the tree border, wide alpine pastures offer great downhill runs. The highest summit of the Kackar range reaches almost 4,000 m. It is still an area where also wildlife is to be found. It is not uncommon if you see a bear or whole herds of cubs during the ski tour.
Far away from civilization, in a small village, and enjoy the secluded mountains of the Kackar Mountains.

Afterward, we will cross the border to Georgia in the Kasbegi area. Here we climb the highest mountain of Georgia, Mt. Kazbek with an altitude of 5033 m.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TOUR

For these tours, good body condition and good skiing skills are required. The ascents and descents are long. On average, 1,400 - 1,600 heights are to be handled, so the slopes are accordingly long. The maximum steepness of the slopes is around 30 °. The selected mountains are ideal skiing places - for enthusiastic ski mountaineers great, exotic destinations that require no special ski skills apart from the necessary physical condition.

Mt. Ararat and Mt. Kasbek mountains with their altitudes of 5,165 and 5,033 m should not be underestimated, both of which require good acclimatization. The overnight stays on Ararat take place in the tent camp and on Kasbek in the simple mountain hut. The conditions on both mountains can be extremely cold and stormy.

TOUR ITINERARY

1st day: Arrival to Erzurum
Flight to Erzurum. 4 hours drive to Yaylalar, Overnight in Yaylalar at Camyuva Pension.

2nd day: Skitour to Yüncüler Pass
The ski tours are usually depending on the snow conditions usually directly from the guesthouse. The first ski tour starts near the village of Olgunlar (last settlement before the mountains lies at 2,100 m) and climbs through a valley on the long Güngörmez - mountain range. On the Yüncüler - Pass arrived we climb one of the numerous summits with a great panorama offers. The highest point of the ascent is 3,140 m. The descent is via the same route, usually to the village of Yaylalar. The length of the descent is over 7 km.

3rd day: Skitour to Lanetleme Pass
Again we start from the village of Olgunlar. Along a slope, it goes up over the Döbe summer village up to the Lanetleme Pass at 3,225 m. Downhill is via the same valley down to the small settlement Olgunlar. The length of the descent is about 8 km, if the conditions are right, even almost 10 km.

4th day: Ski tour Güngörmez mountains
Directly from the pension, above the village, the ascent begins through a pine forest on a ridge, then along a valley slope on one of the numerous peaks of the Güngörmez - chain at 2,995 m. The descent is via another route, through a partially narrow valley down to the village of Yaylalar. The length of the descent is about 5 km.

5th day: Ski tour Güngörmez mountains
We are starting straight from the pension. Right on the edge of the village, it goes into the forest where a steep climb begins. We leave the forest and climb to one of the numerous peaks of the Güngörmez chain (which are a part of the Kackar mountains). The ascend ends at exactly 3,000 m (higher, depending on conditions). The descent is partly through a tight valley, partly through the forest down to the Coruh valley. A bit below the village Yaylalar we cross through the forest to the pension. The length of the descent is about 5 km.

6th day: Skitour Pohnic mountain
From the guesthouse, depending on the circumstances, it goes to the village of Olgunlar or just opposite the guest house to the mountain Pohnic (3,100 m). The ascent is steep and we ascend quickly (just under 3 km), but then, after crossing the summit, we have a downhill of 8 km through the valley Körahmet down to the guesthouse.

7th day: drive to Tbilisi
Continue on a very varied, beautiful landscape about 8 hours to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Overnight at the hotel.

8th day: Stephansminda
3 hours drive to Stephansminda at 1,790 m. The overnight stay will take place in the Guest House.

9th day: Ascend to the camp
Continue by vehicle from Stephansminda to the Sameba monastery at 2,200 m. From here we start to ascend to the camp at 3,650 m. We stay in a tent camp overnight.

10th day: Summit Mt. Kazbek
The climb to the summit starts already in the night at 02.00 clocks and takes about 10 hours. Technical requirements, the mountain has only in the glacier area which is exceeded on the rope. It is not steep to the plateau, from the plateau to the saddle it is partly 30 ° steep, but from the saddle to the summit in places up to 40-45 ° steep. Crampons, rope, and ice axes are used (from height 3,900 m to summit and back to 3,900 m). Back to camp and overnight in tent camp.

11th day: Reserve day
Reserve day for bad weather conditions.

12th day: Return Tbilisi and dinner
Return to the monastery (4 hours), then continue by vehicle to Tbilisi. On the way, we are visiting the Sameba monastery and Ananauri Mtskheta church. Arrived in Tbilisi above the city, dinner in a very great restaurant with Georgian dishes (with a great view of the city). Overnight at the hotel.

13th day: Flight home

Transfer to the airport of Tbilisi, flight home.

ACCOMMODATION
We are staying in a simple but cozy guesthouse with a warm atmosphere based on half-board in the village of Yaylalar, where we start our ski tours. Middle-class hotel in Tbilisi, guest house in Stephansminda, tent camp on Kazbek.

THE SKI TOURS
5 peaks around the village of Yaylalar near Yusufeli in the province of Artvin, most are done directly from the pension with little or no ride. The steepness of the mountains is
25 ° - 35 °. The ascent of Mt. Kazbek (up to 45 ° steepness and you go partly because of the crevasses on the glacier ascending on a rope.

SKI GUIDE
Up to 8 people single ski guide with German - or English language skills, from the 9th person, is a 2nd ski guide.

PERMIT
There is currently no permit necessary for the Kackar Mountains, the permit for the ascent of Mt. Kazbek we are organized by us on spot.

SKIING GEAR
You bring your own. Additional equipment list for the ascent will be provided with the booking.

TOUR DATES
03/23/2022 - 04/03.2022 - limited availability

BOOKING DEADLINE
It is 2 weeks before the tour date.

OUR SERVICES

On request flights from all major European airports to Erzurum and back home from Tbilisi
All necessary land transport
German or English speaking ski guide of our company
6 nights in Pension Camyuva in the village of Yaylalar with half board
Crossing to Georgia
2 nights at the hotel in Tbilisi, 1 night in Stephansminda at the Guest House and 2-3 nights at the base camp at Mt. Kazbek in tents
Ski guide in the Kackargebirge and Mt. Kazbek (English-speaking accompaniment throughout the trip)

Important notice: Programme could be changed due to weather conditions!

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