Tkumil River Gorge on Elbrus
The Tkumil River Gorge is located between Glade of Emmanuel and the German Airfield. If you have planned trekking to the German Airfield and then to the Glade of Stone Mushrooms, then the first significant ascent takes place in the gorge of this small river. The trail is quite dangerous, in some places it goes right along the edge of the cliff. On some maps it is marked like: "Dangerous path".
The Tkumil River originates on the Ullukol glacier, which descends along the northern slope of Elbrus to the level of 3300 meters. In the morning, the river flow is weak, but as soon as the sun begins to warm up more, the glacier melts more actively. The river flow is getting bigger.
The first 200 meters at Glade of Emmanuel the gorge is low. The rock along the banks of the river is crumbling and it looks quite picturesque. Then the gorge turns into a narrow canyon. Its width is not more than 20-30 meters, and its height is more than 20 meters. On this segment, the Gorge of the Tkumil River is the most beautiful and "dangerous".
About halfway along the path to the German Airfield goes to the left of the Tkumil River gorge and rises in a mountain hollow along the bed of a dried - up stream Psychat. The river flows around the rock, but at the German Airfield it can be seen again.
At the end of the trail, before entering the German Airfield, right in the middle of the trail you can see an interesting exhibit: volcanic bomb of reddish color, which flew out of the crater of Elbrus during the eruption. She flew about 20 kilometers, and is now here.
