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A Gold Key (Zolotoi Klooch)
Location: Russia, the Southern Siberia, Gorni Altai.
The whole duration: 10 days (from Barnaul)
The duration of the active part: 7 days
The length of the active part: 105 km (on horses) + 4 km (on foot)
Time of the year: June – August
 Not far from the center of Koksinski region there is a village
"Maralovodka" (comes from the word maral (Siberian stag), the last
inhabited place in the Upper Katun region. There are very few visitors
there. That is why its nature is considered to be virgin. Coming aside
from the main highway, a path leads to the land of crystal lakes and
eternal snow mountains - to the place, where every tourist can quietly
observe a wild animal and a keen fisherman can catch as much grayling as
he wants. You will really be surprised by this mysterious cleanliness.
The grass is so high, that it can hide a horse, and the area of herbs is
so enormous that it makes you want to be healthy at once. Gradually going
higher and higher you notice how coniferous forest changes deciduous one.
You will get accustomed to our stops at the bank of crystal streams or
pearl lakes. The nature of highlands is special. Huge areas are covered
with moss, lichen and dwarf (Arctic) birch. Clouds are of special
interest: they flow towards you, pass you and you feel as if among them -
so high you are. You will never forget this wonderful journey among the
roars of rivers and waterfalls, this crystal snow and highlands, these
ancient cedars and dwarf birches. Songs by the fire, tea made from herbs,
the freshness of the air and clean water will always remind you of the
time spent in Gornii. It's hard to explain; you'd better come and try it
yourselves. After that you will surely want it again.
 Equipment: We shall provide you with all the necessary
equipment: a tent for two persons (if you want you may live there alone,
in this case, please, let us know about it beforehand), a warmth-keeping
mat and a sleeping-bag, a mackintosh, special bags for carrying some cargo
on horses, helmets, life jackets, waterproof packs for personal
belongings, special equipment for rafting, a first-aid set, an awning to
protect from rain, tableware and cutlery. WE EXPECT YOU TO TAKE YOUR
PERSONAL BELONINGS: a small rucksack or a sports bag, a tracksuit, a
mackintosh, rubber high boots, warm clothes for cool nights: a warm
sweater, warm trousers, warm jacket, a knitted cap (to protect your ears),
and wool socks. You will also need things for everyday wearing: a
cloth-cap or a headscarf, trousers without coarse seams for horse
traveling, a wind jacket, two T-shirts, a light shirt with long sleeves,
sports footwear, socks (three or more pairs), shorts, two pairs of gloves.
For rafting you will need: neoprene footwear, or trainers with wool socks,
or river sandals for underwater swimming. You must have: specific
medicine, personal hygiene belongings, some substance to protect you from
insects, a torch, (photo) camera, sunglasses, swim suit (desirably), a
clasp knife (desirably).
Tour Program
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Meeting in Chemal (Meeting at the airport, at the bus station in Barnaul. A light breakfast with beverages. A bus drive along the route: Barnaul (a town) - Biisk (a town) - Ust-Sema (a village). Dinner at the shore of the Katun. Continuation of the trip along the Chuiski highway: Ust-Sema - the Seminski gate -Tuekta (a village) - Ust-Kan (a village) - Ust-Koksa (a tourist center). The approximate length and time: 410,10 miles, 13 hours. Accommodation in summer houses. Supper. Night's sleep.
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Ust-Koksa (a village) - Maralovodka. Preparation for the trip. The approximate length and time: 18,64 miles, 40 minutes. Breakfast in the tourist center; a bus drive to the village Maralovodka. Camping. Preparation for the trip. That means: distribution of food, equipment; instructions on the safety measures, and training tours. The evening of getting acquainted. Beginning with this day you will live in tents; food will be prepared by the instructors on fire.
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Starting the tour: Maralovodka - the Petrushinski "clamp" (a very narrow aisle with a rock on one side) - the Pologaya river - the valley Nash Log (which means Our Ravine) - the Biruksa river. The approximate length and time: 17,40 miles, 6 hours. From the village Maralovodka we shall start moving up along the Katun. Passing apiary at the mouth of the river Kabanuha, where you can buy some fresh honey, you will enjoy the view of the vast fields with wheat and oats and also hayfields. Having gone through Petrushinski aisle -a rock "clamp" with a precipitous shore - we begin to rise along the Pologaya River. At the upper reaches of the river, at the foot of the mountain Palamoshka we shall have dinner. Then we go down the valley Nash Log till the river Biruksa. We shall cross it to camp on the other bank of the river. If you wish you can go fishing - the river is full of grayling.
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The tour: the Biruksa river - Petkin Log (Peter's valley) - the upper reaches of the Suhaya river (Dry river). The approximate length and time: 6,21 miles, 3 hours. In the morning we go up along the steep stone path till Petkin Log. Gradually deciduous forest changes coniferous one. From here you can see the white tops of the Katunski mountain ridge. Then we go down to the Suhaya River. The lower we descend the more luxuriant the flora becomes. This place is home to masterwort. There are a lot of small lakes scattered around the place. Coming down we shall camp under lush branches of old cedars.
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Zolotoi Klooch. (A Gold Key). The approximate length and time: 7,46 miles, 3-4 hours. We go up to the right upper reaches of the Suhaya River. The path goes up, gliding away among huge stones. The flora around us is very poor: moss, lichen and dwarf birch. Reaching the mountain ridge we are awarded a splendid view of a range of mountains. In the north-west - the Korgonski ridge; in the north-west - the Terektinski ridge; in the south-east - the Katunski ridge. Touching the moving clouds there towers Beluha - the highest mountain top, 14 783,46 feet. Then we go to a special flat place, a col, from where we can see a beautiful valley, surrounded by high mountains - the gorge Zolotoi Kluch. Down the place there is a cascade of lakes, which accept the waters of descending snowfields. Having dinner, we go back to our camp, once again admiring the beauty of the surrounding mountains.
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The tour: the Upper Suhaya river - the Upper Mihailovka. The approximate length and time: 6,21 miles, 3 hours. Today we shall conquer the gate. A steep, solid path goes up, gliding away among dwarf birches. Reaching the col, we can see beautiful Mihailovskie lakes - a cascade of large lakes one after another going down the valley. There are a lot of round and oval, large and small snowfields scattered around the place. A steep grass path goes down to the lakes. To prevent horses from falling we shall lead them ourselves. For a night rest we shall stop not far from the lake, near the stream, among beautiful cedars.
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Mihailovskie lakes and a waterfall. The approximate length and time: 2,49 miles on horses and 2,49 miles on foot, 5 hours. A short march to the waterfall. We dismount from the horses to start going up the stones. We go among various waterfalls, which roar and rumble, releasing huge amounts of water and light. We are in front of the lake - a vast cup, filled with crystal sky-blue water. We rise a little more. And again a mirror of the lake surrounded by high rocks. A little higher, near the top lake, in the shadow of the mountains you can see the remains of an ancient glacier. After a thorough observation and a good rest we shall return to our camp.
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The Upper Mihailovka - the wade across the river Biruksa - Silkina Yama. Fishing. The approximate length and time: 7,46 miles, 3-4 hours. A descend to the Birusinka river. We move down the valley of the Mihailovka River. The path either goes steeply up, gliding away among trees, or goes flatly through Alpine meadow. As we go down the coniferous forest around us gives its place to deciduous one; flora becomes richer. Coming up to the Biruksa River we wade across it and stop for a night rest at the place called Silkina Yama. This place is a real find for those whishing to fish - it is full of grayling.
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Silkina Yama - the Proezdnaya river - the Pologaya river - Petrushinski aisle - Maralovodka (a village). The approximate length and time: 18,02 miles, 5-6 hours. We go up along the river Proezdnaya till the Upper Pologaya. Then we go down the valley of the river Pologaya. We reach haymaking fields, where hardworking bees collect their honey. After that we move along the Katun River up to the village Maralovodka - our final destination. As soon as we descend, we shall camp, return the equipment and go to banya. Then, after having some rest, we shall celebrate our trip with delicious dinner, laughter and songs till the very morning.
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A bus drive: Maralovodka - Chemal - Barnaul. The approximate length and time: 429,99 miles, 13-14 hours. A departure day. After breakfast we pack our things and drive home.
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