Gorge of the Adyl-Su river

The gorge of the river Adyl-Su is divided into two parts in the shape of a horseshoe. One part was formed by the Adyl-Su River, and the other by the Shkhelda River. Both rivers are about the same in fullness. Their sources are glaciers in the mountains of the Greater Caucasus Range. The Shkhelda mountaineering camp, one of the oldest mountaineering schools in the Soviet Union, was built near the confluence of two rivers in 1946.

The source of the Shekhelda River is located in the Shekhelda glacier near the mountain of the same name. The length of the river is only 4 kilometers. The source of the Adyl-Su River is located on the Dzhankuat glacier. It lies between the Jantugan and Gumachi mountains, which are part of the Greater Caucasus Range. The length of the river Adyl-Su is 12 kilometers. After the confluence of the Shekhelda and Adyl-Su, after 4 kilometers, the river flows into the Baksan Gorge near the village of Elbrus and flows into the Baksan River.

There are three large mountaineering camps and camping areas in the gorge of the Adyl-Su River. The gorge is easily accessible to all tourists who live in the villages of the Baksan River Valley.

The three most popular routes in the Gorge of the river Adyl-Su:

1. Along the gorge of the Shkhelda River to the Shkhelda glacier 
2. To Lake Bashkara at the foot of the Jantugan River 
3. To the Glaciological Station of Moscow University at the foot of the Dzhankuat glacier

Registration of a border zone pass is not required for the first two routes. If you plan to go till the glaciological station of Moscow State University, then you can apply for a pass at the Skhelda mountaineering camp.

The route along the gorge of the Shkhelda River is very popular, both for untrained tourists and for climbers. There is an easy route to the Smile of Shkhelda Beach, and climbers climb the peaks of Shkhelda Mountain, where there are routes of the highest difficulty category.

There is a hiking trail along the lower part of the Shkhelda gorge. It is very popular among tourists, as the route takes place in a picturesque gorge. 2.7 kilometers from the beginning of the route there is a small depression with a sandy glade. Previously, the river made a bend in this clearing, which was called the Smile of the Shkheldy Beach. Now this bend is no longer there. Of course, it is impossible to swim on this beach, since the icy waters of the river originate in the Shkhelda Glacier.

Near the Smile of Shkhelda Beach, you need to cross to the right bank of the river via a suspension bridge. Beyond it begins a small section of the gorge, which we called the Upper reaches of the Shkhelda River. This is a small segment, only 1 kilometer long. Here the river flows among the rocky mountains. On the left side, Bzhedukh Mountain rises above the gorge, and several peaks of Shkhelda Mountain can be seen ahead. There is no path here, and periodically there are stone rubble left by the retreating glacier. However, walking along the river is quite possible.

The route to Lake Bashkara. You can enter the Adyl-Su gorge by car and drive along a dirt road to the Jantugan mountaineering camp. The distance from the village of Elbrus (at the entrance to the gorge) to the Dzhantugan mountaineering camp is 5.6 km. It is better to drive through this part by car. Behind the mountaineering camp is the Campsite Hearth and the former border post. The hiking trail starts from here.

The distance from the former border post to Lake Bashkara is 3 kilometers, with a clime of the altitude in a range 350 meters (from 2250 to 2600 meters above sea level). The trail ascends along the right bank of the river Adyl-Su. At first, it stretches in the forest, but, as it rises, it opens onto the open spaces of the gorge of the Adyl-Su River.

After climbing, tourists go out onto the high moraine of the glacier, which offers a beautiful view of Lake Bashkara, the surrounding mountains and glaciers. Mount Jantugan has a pyramidal shape. To the right of it rise the mountains Bashkara (4162 m) and Ullukara (4302 m). The Bashkara glacier descends between them to the lake, and the border of Russia and Georgia runs along their peaks.