Characteristics of the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes, geographical location.

The Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes includes the highest volcanoes of Kamchatka and the most powerful glaciers of Erman and Bogdanovich.

The most significant volcanoes of the group:

• The highest and most active volcano is Klyuchevskaya Sopka.
• The most technically challenging is the Kamien volcano.
• The largest in terms of glaciation area with a powerful ice dome is Plosky Dalniy (Ushkovsky) volcano. Its crater, with a depth of over 200 m, is filled with ice. Inside the crater, there is an ice cave approximately 1000 m long.

The Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes is located in the center of Kamchatka, 500 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The nearest settlements are Kozyrevsk and Klyuchi, located 60 and 40 km away. However, there are no roads to the volcanoes even from these settlements.

By a high-clearance vehicle, one can only reach the forest zone boundary; beyond that, the journey continues on foot. Approaches to the start of the routes take 2 to 4 days. The only means that allows quick access to the foot of the volcanoes remains the helicopter.

Many alpinist routes of 2A–4B category of difficulty have been traversed in this area.

The summer in this region is:

• short
• cold

Climate peculiarities:

• At an altitude of 2750 m on the plateau and in the center of the Svetly glacier, snowfall is possible at any time of the month.
• Storms occur in June and July.
• Winters are characterized by very strong winds.
• In January–February, the air temperature drops to −50 °C.

Klyuchevskaya Sopka volcano 4688 m, 2A category of difficulty, descent slope 3, V. Sergeev, 1966.

It is more convenient to set up a base camp at the Perevalny crater (altitude 2740 m). From the plateau, the ascent follows a vaguely defined ridge (a lava flow) (see photo). Then, one crosses a wide couloir and reaches a ridge consisting of solidified lava. Further movement is along a wide ridge with a slope of 30–35 degrees, comprising lava outcrops and large slag. Along the ridge, one reaches the crater's edge.

The crater's edges are wide fields consisting of fine slag; the crater's diameter is 600 meters. Movement within the crater is unrestricted.

The inner cone of Klyuchevskoy volcano is constantly changing due to its ongoing eruptions.

The ascent takes 8–9 hours. Descent is via the ascent route. Climbers must wear helmets during the ascent.