The route passes through the village of Irkutsk Region Bolshoy Onguren on the Baikal shore to the village Kachug Lena and includes swimming on the lake, pass to the Lena River and rafting on it to a considerable extent on the unpopulated area.
The length part walking – 8 km
Length swim in the water – 320 km (70 km by 250 km Baikal and the Lena)
Length – 18 days
Seasonality – July – August
Category Difficulty – III
Staircase to the top way from Irkutsk – a major industrial and cultural center of Siberia. In the city – many historical and architectural monuments, Art, Regional Geology museums.
From Irkutsk hydropower station dam can be reached by ship to Port Baikal or “Rocket” to Listvyanka, from a boat or by ship to Port Baikal. Hereinafter referred to as boat – along the western shore of the lake to the village of Bolshoy Onguren (pre-check the timetable).
In Bolshoy Ongurene meadow near the shore, where it is convenient to put the camp and build kayaks. From the village to the north shore of Lake Baikal is a narrow (5 – 10 m) stripe, covered with large stones and pebbles. In some places the rocks come close to the water. Such a bank (in the local – clamp) stretches nearly 15 miles, and go “sea” can only be sustained calm weather.
Next convenient parking – near Cape Kocherikova where the bay is bordered by a wide pebble beach and taiga comes close to the shore. Further north shore inconvenient for berthing and accommodation, but in this section are more common headlands, behind which you can hide or to land in case of an impending storm. Such capes and Ryty Shartlay. Near Shartlaya towering interesting loaches, they are worth to make the climb (arranging a day’s rest).
Lake of the route ends at Cape Pokoiniki with a convenient place to camp (500 m north of the weather station). Hence, there is a trail through the pass into the valley Solntsepad Lena. Initially, it stretches north on deciduous forest, but after 4 km sharply turns west and enters the canyon leading to the pass. Rise of 3 – 4 km to the saddle-saddle 2 basins divided into 3 stages. The trail winds along the right slope, and then – a short descent into the valley, forested. In the second valley trail passes on the left slope and the rise in the third step back on right. Then runs along the shingle scree, and enters it on the dry bed of the stream leads to steep, large scree leading out to the pass. Hence flat kilometer descent to the bank of the Lena. With the loss of trails need to look for her, and not to go at random.
Lena, one of the great rivers of Siberia, originates on the western slope of the Baikal Mountains and empties into the Laptev Sea. Above the exit from the pass it flows in a narrow valley, where the right and to the left to close the water looms cliffs. The river width varies from 15 to 35 m, flow rate 7 – 10 km/h. Thresholds, Shiver and clamps replace each other, there are 2 small waterfall. In line across large rocks, debris. Traveling along the Lena, we must bear in mind that the spring floods are low, but in summer due to heavy rains the water quickly rises to a few meters.
Canoeing can be started immediately after the descent from the pass. First 5 – 6 km width Lena 10 – 15 m, depth 0.2 – 0.4 m rapids alternate with stretches. Then, to the confluence of the right tributary – river flows Zolotokana 4 – 5 km in a deep canyon. Zolotokana behind the mouth – the most difficult section of length 12 – 13 km. Steep turns with clamps replaced Shiver standing wave and plums. Lena winds, visibility 50 – 100 m, but almost everywhere you can hit the beach and conduct reconnaissance.
Below the valley widens, the mountains away from the river, giving way to the taiga. Straighter channel, and for 6 – 7 km, almost to confluence of Big and Small Lena stretches small, simple place, which requires space pilotage. After 4 – 5 km mountain again suited to the bed, and again you have to overcome clamps and Shiver with the standing waves. Such character Lena saves 25 – 30 km, after which the valley widens, banks fall, the island appear, separate ducts covered rubble. River winds, the flow rate of 6 – 7 km/h. Overcoming this area requires special attention. In all cases, obscure the need to stop and exploration, as getting into the dam threatens severe accident and almost certain loss of ships.
In the area of the right tributary – Yuhty-2 Lena flows into the low, marshy banks, many currant. Blockages and less massive. Before the mouth of the left tributary – Anaya straight section length of 6 km. After the confluence Anaya river becomes wider 50 – 60 m and wet. Below meet the first settlement – Changur (a shop). Prior to final destination – the village of Lena Kachug character preserved.
Kachug of Irkutsk you can get a bus or airplane. Groups traveling on a raft, you need to begin the rafting below the confluence of Big and Little Lena. The most convenient approach – from the weather station at Cape Solnechnom.
Source: Skitalets foto
Translation: Google
