Mount Ushba, Caucasus: description, history and interesting facts

Mount Ushba, which rises high above the Shkheldinsky gorge, is considered one of the most popular massifs in the area of the Main Caucasian Range. Two peaks (North and South) are divided by the Ushbina jumper, called mountaineers "pipe" for constantly walking in it strong winds. The mountain with the legendary past and to this day is enveloped in a cloud of greatness and mystery.

Meaning of the name

The difficulty of the relief, the history of conquest - all this gave her a very frightening name, which translates as "coven of witches". But even under one name is known Ushba - the mountain-killer. This name was assigned to it from ancient times to the present day. She became famous for her strict temper and unpredictable character. It happens that the ascent to the top of simply difficult work grows into a hard struggle for life. Nevertheless, throughout the history of mountaineering and mountain sports Ushba mountain beckons its splendor. Anyone who has at least once seen this wonderful place, can not forget the wonderful feeling of her charming appearance.

Description

The mysterious and enticing mountain ranges of the Caucasus offer a wonderful view from the slopes of Mount Elbrus, but Ushba Mountain is capricious and famous for inconstant weather. If the whole of the Caucasus is clear and the tops of all peaks are clearly visible, then this beauty can be shrouded in fog. In order to see it from Elbrus, one often has to wait a few days. The Sabbat of witches does not need popularity.

But when suddenly the mountain tsarina wants to appear because of her white robes in the form of clouds, you can enjoy a fascinating miracle. Almost two kilometers of pink rocks of granite and gneiss hang over emerald meadows and a glistening diamond glacier. It's unrealistic to imagine even with a very violent imagination. To enjoy all kinds of mountains that Ushba can give, you can only look at it with your own eyes.

Legend

The scarlet walls of the regal mountain have become the main theme of a very marvelous story, which local residents like to recite.

A long time lived a hunter Betkel. His wondrous appearance, youth and courageous character attracted luck: he constantly brought prey from the hunt. One day the young man decided to go up to the witches' Sabbat mountain. All the villagers began to persuade him, but they did not succeed. When Betkel approached the glacier itself, a Georgian goddess of Dali's hunt appeared before him. Very much she liked this brave youth, and she did everything to fall in love with him.

A lot of time lived Betkel happy life with her goddess. But one day, when the clouds dissolved, he looked down and saw the familiar walls of his settlement. After hatching, the young man quietly fled from Dali. In his native village he met the most beautiful girl in Svaneti and decided to marry her. A wild tour came to the wedding celebration from the mountains, and the young man decided to shoot him in honor of the holiday. For a long time he ran after the tour, not thinking about where the road leads. The hunter climbed very high on the Ushba slopes when the tour evaporated. Betkil guessed that he was trapped in Dali. The whole village came to the foot of the cliff where the young man climbed. He asked residents to perform the ritual of weddings and funerals, and then fell off the cliff, painting it in the color of his blood. Since then, hunters were forbidden to go there, and Dali never again appeared before people.

The difficulty of climbing

It also affects the size of Ushba Mountain. The height of its northern peak reaches 4690 m, the south - 4710 m. Both are covered with thick snow cover. Despite this, more than half of the route to the point of 2700 m is easy to drive by car. Of course, this will require an SUV. The best option is "UAZ", which is not for nothing called a cross-country vehicle. His patency in these places is much better than the famous jeeps. On a very narrow road, large foreign cars simply will not pass.

Far not everyone is subject to Mount Ushba. Climbing it is only possible for experienced climbers, who have already climbed to the top of the highest category of complexity. Climbers have to overcome technically difficult areas of the highlands. You can resort to the services of a good guide or climb yourself.

If it is decided to storm these peaks, you need to know the Ushbinsky icefall well, because it is full of cracks. In the periods suitable for the ascent, they do not disappear anywhere, but become more visible. These are the most dangerous places, in connection with this mysterious beauty and received her sad nickname Ushba - the mountain-killer.

Pride of Svaneti

All of Svaneti, a mountainous country characterized by a free nature, nature itself presented in the form of Ushba. In the Central Caucasus, there is no greater reason for pride and respect than climbing this inaccessible for a mere mortal mountain. It is for this that many people appreciate such places.

For Russian fans of mountain peaks who can see Ushba from another territory, with the northern one, this massif does not have such a mythical halo as for the inhabitants of Svaneti. Nevertheless, the image of the mountain attracts and simultaneously scares. The huge two-headed peak ruled over the whole territory of the Caucasian range as a ruler. And there is no doubt that she is a queen, tall, stately and unapproachable. This is Ushba Mountain. Georgia can be proud of this creation of nature.

Interesting Facts

Around the massif breaks steep polutorakilometmetrovye walls, which are routes of different levels of complexity. At the moment there are about 500 routes on Ushba.

The easiest, the standard route, to the North Ushba is a route of category 4a. It passes through the Ushbino plateau, through a place called "pillow", and then three hundred meters along a precipitous slope with an ice-snow surface stretches to the summit crest. Under the snow cover is ice, and if there was a snowstorm before the rise, there is a threat of avalanches. Along the long northern ridge, the double cornices decorated by nature itself are painted at the peak of the mountain. The ascent from the Ushbino plateau to the summit takes about eight hours, and half the time is required for the return journey.

Outlaw

The famous Ushba Mountain, where there are many difficult, but at the same time interesting routes, - a wonderful dream of many climbers, is now considered illegal. There is one very important point. It so happened that the mountain, popular all over the planet, an integral part of the history of the Soviet, and nowadays Russian mountain sports, is now banned, and the rise to it is considered a grave violation. There is nothing to be done - at the moment the situation is such that within the short South spur of the Main Caucasian Range the state border is passing.