Geographic Overview of the Area

The AGEPSTA massif is a standalone ridge with the dominant peak GLAVNAYA AGEPSTA (3261 m), dropping off to the north with walls up to 80 ° steep and a height difference of 1000 m. It is located on the border between Krasnodar Krai and the Georgian SSR. It is bounded to the west by the Aibga ridge and the Turii mountains, to the east by the Atskentsi ridge, to the north by the Mzymta River, and to the south by the Gegra River. From a geographical point of view, the AGEPSTA massif is part of the Southern Front Ridge. It stretches parallel to the Main Caucasian Ridge between the upper reaches of the Tikhaia and Agepsta rivers. It is 10 km long, with heights ranging from 2800 to 3200 m, and is composed of marl, conglomerates, limestones, diorites, tuffs, and other rocks from the marine and Cretaceous periods. Glacial landforms are well-developed:

• cirques;
• karst formations;
• glaciers (the largest being Khyms-Aneke) cover about 5 sq. km. The lower slopes feature mountain meadow vegetation, beech and beech-deciduous forests, rhododendron, and plenty of berries such as currants, blueberries, and bilberries. High precipitation (up to 6 m of snow in some years) and a sharp temperature scale contribute to the breakdown of rocks.

2.1.25

Description

Traversing the "Laub" massif from east to west, category 2B difficulty. Height — 2900 m. (Photo № 2) From the base camp at "Kardyvach" lake, the path to the saddle of the Main ridge of "Laub" peak goes along the trail to the snow cone protruding from the couloir. We cross the snow cone from right to left and ascend to the steep grassy slopes covered with dense snow. Having reached the oval ridge, we continue moving straight north along it, in the direction of the visible couloir, which leads to the saddle — the beginning of the traverse. The path along the snowy oval ridge is straightforward and takes 1 hour 30 minutes to reach the couloir. Couloir:

• Completely covered with snow, with ice patches in some areas;
• Pressing to the left side, we use an ice axe for belay;
• On the way, there are small protruding rock outcrops, which are passed directly — the rocks are straightforward;

Ascent Route

Climbing type — rock. Climbing area — Caucasus, Krasnodar Krai. Peak, its height, ascent route — Lajub via N-E wall, 2998 m. Proposed difficulty category — 5B (KTPV, 2.1 clause 6). Route characteristics:

• Elevation gain — 900 m
• Length of sections:
  • R4 category: 620 m
  • R5 category: 440 m
  • R6 category: 110 m
• Average steepness of the route — 50–52°
• Wall section steepness — 72–75°

The main summit of Psysh mountain (3509 m) is located in the Main Caucasian Range, in the upper reaches of the Psysh river between the passes:

• to the west — Naur,
• to the east — Chamagvara and glaciers:
• Northern Psysh,
• Southwest Psysh. In addition to the main summit, there is also the Eastern summit of Psysh, to which the Busha glacier is adjacent from the north, and the Skeu glacier from the south. The North-Psyshsky and Busha glaciers are separated by an ice isthmus, to the north of which the Tokmak peak rises in a beautiful pyramid (see orographic diagram, photo I). There are no classified routes to any of the peaks in the upper reaches of the Psysh gorge. Only in the upper reaches of the Amanauz river — a left tributary of the Psysh river — were four routes to the peaks climbed and classified in 1978:
• Akademika Kalesnik (2A and 3B)
• 60 let VLKSM (2B and 3B)

DESCRIPTION

First ascent to v. Sofia via the eastern slope and ridge, approximately category 2A difficulty. From the base camp, follow the trail used by Kislovodsk climbers to the Sofiyskiy glacier, emerging under the eastern slopes of v. Sofia – 4 hours. The route initially follows a diagonal ledge, from right to left, passing from "sheep's foreheads" to "sheep's foreheads". The approach involves a steep snowy slope with a gradient of 40–45° – 250–300 m, followed by a wide bergschrund. The "sheep's foreheads" are traversed with piton protection – initially 10 m straight up, then 60 m to the left with a gradual gain in height. Climbing is difficult. The group of six spends 2 hours on this section. After reaching the diagonal ledge, move along it to the left towards a couloir descending from the ridge – 45–60 minutes. Movement is with simultaneous protection. The ledge is snow-covered. Before the couloir, turn right at a 90° angle and climb onto a degraded rocky ridge. The rocks are moderately difficult, with movement on a full rope and simultaneous protection. The ridge has many protrusions that can be used for belaying. The ascent along the ridge takes 1 hour, after which you emerge onto a snowy slope with a gradient of 40–45°. This slope is traversed:

• initially 60 m up and to the left,
• then 30 m up and to the right, emerging onto the eastern ridge – 20–30 minutes.

Ascent Log

1. Climbing category—
2. Climbing region— Krasnodar Krai, Kardyvach Lake.
3. Climbing route — Tsynдышхо Northern via the north-eastern ridge
4. Ascent characteristics: elevation gain — 1,252 m average slope of ascent — 40° length of difficult sections —
5. Pitons driven:
   • rock —

Ascent Passport

Ascent Category	— technical
Ascent Region	— Krasnodar Krai, Kardyvach Lake
Ascent Route	— Mt. Tsyndyshkho Southwest (3150 m) from Tsyndyshkho Pass, 2B category
Ascent Characteristics:
	The route is combined, total elevation gain — 400–450 m, average slope — 35–40°, total climbing time (from camp to camp) — 10–13 hours.
Team Name	— Group of climbers from Krasnodar City Committee on Physical Culture and Sports.
Team Members:	Zavalei Igor Leonidovich — leader, 2nd sports category; Nataev Vladimir Nikolaevich — Master of Sports of the USSR, senior instructor; Yakovleva Lyudmila Trofimovna — 3rd sports category; Rogulenko Vyacheslav Ivanovich — 2nd sports category
Team Coach —	Kisel Sergey Yakovlevich — Master of Sports of the USSR, senior mountaineering instructor.

ASCENT DOCUMENT

1. Ascent type: rock climbing
2. Ascent area: Caucasus, Krasnodar Krai up to Marukh pass
3. Ascent route: traverse of Tsyndyshko: Northern 3102 m, 2nd Northern 3107 m, Main 3210 m, South-Western 3150 m.
4. Proposed difficulty category: 4A
5. Pitons driven: rock: 32 (including chocks) ice: 4 bolt: –

REPORT

ON THE ASCENT (TRAVERSAL) OF AKBENSKIE PEAKS VIA THE CENTRAL EASTERN EDGE EXPEDITION LEADER GNOEVSKY I.P. Taganrog 1978

I. Brief Geographical Description and Sporting Characteristics of the Ascent Object

Akbenskie (North and South) peaks are located in the Ptysh cirque and are adjacent to Ptysh Glavny from the south, and to the Juguтурлючат massif from the north. Thus, Akbenskie peaks are situated on the Main Caucasian Ridge. The height of the South peak is 3510 m, and the North peak is 3530 m. The Akbenskie peaks drop sharply into the Ptysh cirque from the east and to the South Ptysh cirque from the west. The height difference from the glacier to the peak is 1100 m.

2. Climbing Conditions in the Area

Sportive Characteristics and Selection of the Ascent Object

The area began to be explored in terms of alpinism in 1934. The peak Maly Aksaut has the following routes:

• a route of category 2B difficulty via the eastern ridge, described in F. Kropff's book "Western Caucasus", M.: FiS, 1962;
• a route traversed by the Odessa Regional Council of the "Avangard" sports society in July 1975, approximately category 3B difficulty. No other data on ascents to the peak M. Aksaut was found. Upon closer acquaintance with the area, the logical and objective safety of the route along the eastern counterfort was established, as well as its sportive attractiveness. This determined the object of the ascent.

Composition of the Sports Group

The group consisted of:

• Braer V.I. (leader), 1st sports category
• Markovsky O.V., Master of Sports of the USSR