If you are planning a trip to Sheregesh, be sure to plan in advance which places you would like to see. Despite the fact that this is a small quiet town, there really is something to see! Today, guests are offered a variety of excursions, including a trip to such important place for all Christians, like .
The history of the appearance of the Worship Cross in Sheregesh
Most recently, at the beginning of this century, it was decided to create a monument dedicated to the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Christ. The place for him was selected Mount Kurgan, which was always revered by local elders. The very idea arose during Bishop Sophrony's trip to the Tashtogol deanery. And a year later this monument was created. The custom of erecting crosses has long roots.
The monument is very high and reaches 20 meters. Due to the rather large weight, the structure was installed using a helicopter.
In clear weather, the cross can be seen from afar. That is why it quickly became the hallmark of Sheregesh for vacationing tourists.
Today, for an excursion to the Cross, you can use a snowmobile tour or a snowcat ride. Those who prefer walking can climb or walk to the place along a fairly snowmobile-packed road.
Built back in the days of the Soviet Union ski resort Sheregesh has now become one of the popular resorts Russia. The phenomenon of the rapidly growing popularity of the ski resort seems to be difficult to explain.
Indeed, the following factors can in no way contribute to the popularization of recreation in the Tashtagol region, the place where Sheregesh is located:
- remoteness from the center;
- expensive air travel
- landscape with little elevation change.
True, some unique circumstances can attract skiers and tourists, such as:
- no danger of avalanches, which is not found in large resorts;
- natural snow covering the slopes already in November;
- opportunity (snowman);
- a string of recent Guinness and Russian records.
Correctional the colony IR-4
Perhaps extreme seekers are also attracted by being half a kilometer from ski slopes a correctional colony of strict regime and a site-settlement for almost a thousand places are intended for men who have committed crimes. In the settlement, the convicts are without protection.
You can meet visitors to the colony in the village itself, as well as on the way to it. After all, you can walk to the barbed wire in 20 minutes from the lift, moving on the left side in the direction of the village. According to local residents, the majority of the population is closely connected with the correctional institution: someone was in it by a court verdict, someone was waiting for the return of a relative, friend, and someone.
It is noteworthy that the windows of one hotel overlook the walls of the institution, and the reflection of the inscription “free rooms” falls on the building of the correctional institution.
Getting to both the colony and the skiing areas is equally easy. Buses, taxis, minibuses run from the local.
It should be noted that the prisoners of the colony and their relatives were even lucky to some extent. After all, the opportunity to be in an ecologically clean area, for which tourists, skiers have to pay considerable money, is provided to convicts by a court decision.
Mountain Green
The most popular and most visited place for skiers is Mount Zelenaya. It is a real paradise for professionals. riding on skiing This is a fun place for beginners as well. Wonderful snow, clean air, mountains will leave many pleasant impressions.
The mountain owes its name to the bright greenery that covers it in summer. Officially, the mountain is called Karitshal, which in the Shor language sounds like the edge of a mountain range, the end of a mane. Do not forget about this name helps the sign on the cafe "Karitshal", which is visible when moving on a tow or chair lift.
In addition to the track 2.5 thousand meters long, freeride lovers can ride on the virgin lands. Cozy cafes await guests and athletes.
The tracks on the eastern slope of Zelenaya meet the requirements of the FIS world standard, thanks to which world-class competitions and stages of the national championship are held on them.
Zero chance of avalanches
The uniqueness of Sheregesh lies in the almost zero avalanche risk. This is facilitated by Mount Zelenaya resembling an ant's house, which has sloping slopes and long roll-outs. The slopes in the lower part are densely covered with thickets of fluffy fir trees, the snow from which can only slightly shower a freerider who has rushed past.
Similar slopes of Elbrus or Krasnaya Polyana do not guarantee safety from avalanches. Resorts near Moscow can boast of zero avalanche risk. But it makes no sense to talk about riding in the Moscow region, which will bring satisfaction to riders, because of its low height.
But lovers mountain descent Those skiing in Sheregesh in different seasons are well aware that there are places near the slopes where an avalanche can become dangerous for humans.
This is well known to local lifeguards, who warn vacationers of the danger lurking. Especially dangerous is skiing in the spring after a sharp rise in temperature. The November snow falling on the ice crust becomes dangerous.
Worship Cross on Mount Kurgan
A visit to Sheregesh will be incomplete if the tourist has not visited the Poklonny Cross, installed in 2001 on Mount Kurgan. The cross in good weather is visible to the naked eye even at the entrance to the village.
The fifteen-meter cross, according to the Orthodox tradition, was erected in honor of the celebration of the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Christ. A structure weighing almost eight tons was installed using a helicopter. Since ancient times, Christians erect such crosses on hills, forks in the road.
You can get to the place where the Cross was established either on foot along the road, starting on the mountain, or using snowshoes from the Khlebnitsy station.
According to legend, there is an ancient Orthodox tradition of erecting worship crosses on hills, at intersections of roads.
Sheregesh village in Gornaya Shoria
The village of Sheregesh is located in Gornaya Shoria. The village owes its origin to the brothers-hunters Sharagashev, who delivered stones to geologists in 1931, which turned out to be iron ore.
After the start of the construction of the mine and the extraction of the first ore, the place received the status of a village.
In addition to the mine, since 1981 a mountain-skiing complex has become a landmark of Gornaya Shoria, which was built for training athletes and holding the Spartakiad.
The territory of Mountain Shoria is inhabited mainly by the Shors, who preserve their traditions and language.
Mount Mustagh and Camels
Having visited Sheregesh, it is worth visiting some places of this unique region. This is revered by the local population, which is the highest in the southern part of Kuzbass.
Many legends have been created about Mount Mustang, among which one can note the legend of a beautiful Shor girl, whose attention two heroes wanted to achieve. The beauty was supposed to go to the hero who defeated the opponent in battle. The battle of the heroes with the use of whistling arrows and stone blocks continued for a long time, but none of them could win. The exhausted men fell to the ground, becoming two humps of one mountain. The girl covered them with a shroud, rose up in a cloud, shedding streams of tears. To this day, pure streams rush from the mountains, spreading the strength of the heroes in different directions.
The spectacle of the rocky formations of Mount Kurgan, which opens from Mount Karitshal, is impressive. The magma that emerged from the ground, when solidified, took on the form of camel humps. Rock formations are called "Camels".
Recommended to visit the following places. Among the most notable sights of Mountain Shoria, one should note the Mednaya rock, the Saga waterfall, and the many caves of the Mras-Su river basin. You can also visit national park Shors, Tashtagolsky reserve. The Tashtagol Museum of Nature and Ethnography is located 21 kilometers from the resort, and the Tazgol Museum of Ecology is located 60 kilometers away.
Guinness World Record - Swimsuit descent from Zelenaya Mountain
The popularity of the ski resort is given by the flash mobs held here, events designed to break records. So, from year to year, the number of people involved in setting a record for inclusion in the Guinness Book is increasing. The first record was when about seven hundred people dressed in bathing suits descended. The record became the property of the Guinness Book, having gained popularity among fans of the Book.
This year, 1815 people in swimsuits participated in breaking the previous record. The event was held in April during the Grelkafest festival.
Here, for the Guinness Book, a record was set by the Novosibirsk pilot Alexander Orlov. The paragliding pilot took off from the slope, taking five companions. The flight has become the most massive paragliding.
To be a single ski pass
A serious disadvantage of the resort is the abundance of lift operators in the absence of a single ski pass. According to tourists, the division of tracks between different owners often leads to misunderstandings. Having bought a ski pass for one track, it will be possible to ride on another slope when buying only another card. The problem can also arise when driving to a lift from another company. You either have to spend money on buying another card, or go down the mountain on foot. Moreover, unused money is often not returned.
The cost of a ski pass for a day, depending on the sector, ranges from 800 to 1000 rubles, and the VIP will cost 4000 rubles.
A consolation for tourists of the new season may be the intention of the major lift owners to unite and create a single ski pass. The owners of twelve out of eighteen lifts agreed to join. Six operators refused.
For the merger, a single settlement and cash center will be created, the development of which will take a couple of years. In the meantime, you will have to use the turnstiles of the Cascade group.
Equipment rental
When visiting a ski resort, it is not necessary to bring skiing or snowboarding equipment with you. There are several companies in Sheregesh offering rental equipment for different prices. But the largest network remains the Ryder rental, which includes various points where you can get equipment for both experienced skiers, snowboarders, and beginners.
Freeriders who want to ride in any weather, even when the lifts are not working, can fulfill their desire by taking snowmobiles from the lower station, which will help them get to the slopes of Mount Mustang, Camels, Poklonny Krest.
Taiga gifts of Mountain Shoria
The path to the parking lot from the ski lifts passes through a spontaneous market. Here, locals offer visitors the gifts of the taiga in the form of badger and bear fat, honey, fox tails, fir oil. Tourists are offered collections of herbs that grow only in this area, tree bark, fir oil. In other places, it is unlikely that you will have to meet such taiga rarities.
Leaving the village to the ski lifts, the hotels will not be able to get past the "Corn". This supermarket, which exists only thanks to visitors, is the largest retail outlet in the village. There is a taxi rank nearby. Here you can also meet grandmothers renting apartments to visitors.
Despite the availability of rooms in hotels, it is more economical to rent an apartment from a private owner. You can get to the ski lifts by taxi. The distance is approximately five kilometers.
Long flight
It will be possible to get real pleasure in the form of visiting Sheregesh by spending a significant amount on a flight to Novokuznetsk. Here is the nearest airport to the resort, which receives flights from Moscow. Buses run from Novosibirsk to Sheregesh.
worship crossConclusion. The fabulous sensations received in Sheregesh are difficult to convey in words. The mountain slopes covered with the purest snow, the dense forest surrounding the tracks, the blue sky remain in memory for a long time and make you want to come back here again and again to experience the pleasure of speed, comfort level, and the goodwill of the local population.
The worship cross was installed on Mount Kurgan in 2001, in honor of the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Christ. The idea of installing the Cross was born in 2000 during the visit of the Bishop of Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk Sophrony to the Tashtagol deanery and with the support of the Governor of the Kemerovo region Aman Tuleyev. The erection of worship crosses on elevated places, at the intersections of roads is a long-standing Orthodox tradition.
The height of the cross - according to official data - is more than 15 meters, and together with the reinforced concrete base - almost 20 meters. The structure weighs 7.5 tons and is installed by helicopter.
Under good weather conditions, the Cross can be seen even at the entrance to Sheregesh. From the top of Mount Zelenaya, there is a beautiful view of Mount Kurgan with the Poklonny Cross and camels.
Snowmobile tours and snowcat tours are organized to the Cross. For lovers of hiking, there is an opportunity to reach the cross from Mount Zelenaya along a road rolled by snowmobiles or on snowshoes from the upper station "".
Today, after 4 days of non-stop skiing, we decided to go to the nearest local attraction - a bow cross on Mount Kurgan (northwestern part of the Mustag massif). It can also be reached by snowmobile in 15-20 minutes and 500 rE, but we are, damn it, backcountry fans, so with legs, legs ... Below is a small photo report, with comments.
1. Do not think that the weather is like this every day, not at all. We have been waiting for her, like this, for a whole week, and finally she happened)).
Only a small part of those who come to Sheregesh to ride, get to the cross (not to mention something more remote and confused). And out of this small number, an even smaller percentage of those who move there on foot. We, of course, are one of those hit on the head. And not just like that ... because when you walk with your feet there is time to see everything, let it through you, merge with reality ... not to mention the convenience of taking pictures and the health benefits)).
2. So, having risen for hours at 8 in the morning, we slowly gather (it gets light around 9) and move towards the bosom of nature ... past such absurdities in the form of a Texas cafe ...
3. Pretentious hotels of which there are countless ...
4. And attractive offers for investors (do not forget that Sheregesh is one of the most dynamically developing ski resorts Russia for the last 10 years).
5. The cross is located, as it were, behind the mountain, so the easiest way to get to it is to climb to the top of Mount Zelenaya.
6.On the lift, of course. There are already almost 20 of them, and a good half of them converge at the top on a patch with a diameter of 200 meters, so which of them to climb is not the point, which one you like best / which one works.
7. Well, then, we move towards our goal, ignoring the suggestions of snowmobilers. We have backpacks with us, on which you can conveniently attach boards, as well as telescope sticks, which greatly facilitate walking on snow and mountainous terrain. Snack, warm clothes, etc., of course, too)).
8. On the left along the way - a beautiful ridge of rocky outcrops bearing the speaking name "Camel". They are very pretty. By the way, they say they have broken climbing paths and in the summer people climb there (climbing routes on the Camels rocks). But this is in summer, and in winter their eastern lee slopes collect a large number of snow ... so it's not surprising that immediately after the snowfalls, these slopes are painted with special relish, even if they are very tiny)).
By the way, pay attention to the upper right corner of the photo - although there is still no snow at all (according to Gesh concepts), the avalanches are already descending. Classic board though. And they say “there are no avalanches in Sheregesh”)).
9.More general plan... both the rocks themselves and the trail from the fallen board (covered by recent snowfalls) are better seen.
10. Directly on the course - the hill to which we are on our way. Over the last days, of course, they have inherited here ... but there is nothing to be surprised at, this is the main local destination.
11. Beautiful so that you forget about everything ... (view of the Camel only from a different angle, as if along it).
12. The central part of the Mustag massif is actually a plateau, such a flat place between the peaks of Zelenaya, Komsomolskaya-Mustag and Kurgan. On the last, in fact, is the Cross. In the far northern part of the plateau is almost bald, but in the southern, closer to the cable cars, it is overgrown with not dense, but very picturesque forest. The forest is generally the main theme here ... Siberia, after all. But I will write about this later, in a detailed mini-guide about Sheregesh, which is just around the corner)).
13. Friend-Lenka)). We met about three years ago, when she came to study at our mountaineering school, then there were two or even three freeride schools, now just like that ... she comes and rides with us for company. Great.
14. View of the surrounding taiga, already on the outskirts of the Cross.
15. And here he is. They put it in 2001, in honor of the 2000th anniversary of R.Kh. Such a healthy ... (almost 20 meters). And everything would be fine, but it is located on a mountain which is a holy place for local Shor shamans... no comments. Shamans sometimes try to restore the status quo. Thus vandalism breeds new vandalism. All the same, we are interesting creatures, humans ... but oh well, that's not what we're talking about. It's beautiful here, that's what I wanted to say.
By the way, we walked for 1.5 hours, slowly (but this is on a snowmobile trail and good weather). The best thing is to load the body, but not get tired yet)).
16. And in the meantime, while we were drinking tea, a paramotor pilot was spinning light aerobatics over the slope, suddenly reminding us that we didn’t fly this fall, although we planned ... it would be necessary, but apparently already in the spring. It is very cold now, and it is not clear where and when.
