Horizon view from kush kai. Mount Sokol (Kush-Kaya): features, climbing, interesting facts. Where is Kush-Kaya in Crimea
The Crimean peninsula has long been one of the favorite places for climbers. Of course, there is neither Mont Blanc nor Everest here, but the local mountains are also very diverse and allow you to train in any conditions. However, people without special training can also enjoy the Crimean mountains - hiking tours are widespread, and one of the most popular routes is the ascent to the peaks of Kush-Kai.
Peculiarities
- on Babugan-Yail;
- near the Sokol peak (near the New World).
Some Crimeans also mistakenly add the Koshka hill in Simeiz to this list, although this is fundamentally wrong, since its Crimean Tatar name sounds more like Kosh-Kaya. Kush-kaya in translation means "Bird Mountain". Most likely, such a definition is associated with a characteristic feature of such peaks - they are located near the sea coast and represent a “halt” for flocks of migratory birds heading to hot countries.
These mountains are relatively evenly distributed on the territory of Crimea - in the east, as well as in the southeast and southern part of Crimea relative to its center. The height of the peaks is different. The highest Babugan Kush-Kaya is 1339 m, a little lower is the mountain near Laspi - its height is 664 m, and the peak in the Sokol rock rises to 476 m.
All these places are popular for travelers to visit - they offer amazingly beautiful views of the coastline, the Black Sea and the Crimean Mountains. On Kush-kaya in Sokol and Laspi, climbing trails of varying degrees of difficulty are also laid - from 1B to 5A. Let us dwell in more detail on the description of each of the mountains.
Peaks
The most picturesque, according to everyone's opinion, is the one that is located near Sudak, on the territory of the New World. It is considered a symbol of the village, it is she who is most often captured in the photo. This peak is called Sokol. A narrow rocky path leads to the upper plateau of the rock, originating from the Devil's Finger.
It is noteworthy that in the light of ultraviolet rays, this hill begins to shimmer, shimmer and sparkle in different colors and even change its hue. By the way, from the top of the Sokol you can see the namesake of this mountain, located on Babugan-yayla.
Kush-Kaya on Babugan-Yail outwardly resembles a human ear, as if listening to the measured sound of sea waves. You can get to it along a simple path leading from Paragilmen, this does not require any special climbing training and professional equipment. It is quite possible to climb and descend to this peak in one light day.
The most famous was Kush-Kaya near Laspi Bay, it has medium dimensions, but it faces the sea with its sheer wall, so the place has become the main site for training and mountaineering competitions. In 2013, the place was shrouded in sinister mystery - then a message appeared about the mysterious disappearance of a tourist from the slope, her body was never found.
The most unusual versions were put forward - here they mentioned both aliens on flying saucers who took the girl for experiments, and the criminal Internet community that issued a difficult task - to climb to the top. The mobile phone of the missing woman was also mentioned - allegedly something was filmed on it, which ultimately led to the death of the tourist.
In a word, there were many assumptions, but experienced climbers unanimously declared that the girl herself was to blame for what happened - you should not climb steep stone slopes in beach shoes, where there are many slippery boulders. Unfortunately, accidents with such unfortunate climbers happen in any mountains. Nevertheless, the body was never found, so the legend only acquired new details, and everyone found their own version explaining the mysterious disappearance of the tourist.
Popular routes
Fans of mountain tourism should pay attention to Kush-Kaya near Laspi Bay - thanks to the peculiarities of the landscape for rock climbers and climbers, there are many opportunities to hone their sports skills. There are several trails of varying degrees of difficulty, so everyone can choose the one that suits their physical abilities and level of training. Most often, climbers work out on the rock of the lowest belt, but it should be noted that professionals are a special “brotherhood”, within which all organizational issues and security aspects are resolved fairly quickly.
For beginners, it is better to choose a route leading along the Great Sevastopol Trail- it is a rather long section of the excursion route, in which Kush Kaya is only one section of a long route. The trail originates in Sevastopol, it is best to get on it from the Laspi pass. There are numerous signs here, so it will be almost impossible to get lost. Nevertheless, even such a seemingly elementary path requires comfortable sports shoes, preferably sneakers, and good physical shape.
Although the climb is quite accessible for non-professionals, it is still steep, so it will be difficult for weakened people or those suffering from chronic diseases of the heart and musculoskeletal system to make the ascent.
The tourist route passes by a small hunting farm. Here, wild animals live in a paddock - the locals even joke that this high net protects not animals from people, but vice versa. On the way to the top, you can also see the ruins of an ancient building with a large wooden cross.
According to the official version, there are the remains of the Cathedral of St. Elijah, which was erected in the Middle Ages, so the cross was erected here. But there are also skeptics who believe that the composition of the adhesive solution directly indicates that the structure is much more modern - most likely, it used to be a military outpost in the navy.
The peak of Kush-Kaya above the Laspi bay has long been recognized as one of the most beautiful, from a height a beautiful view of amazing picturesque places opens - Cape Aya, as well as the Batiliman tract and the bay itself. These landscapes are considered one of the most breathtaking in the entire Crimean peninsula. Many vacationers even come to these places for a couple of days with tents, so there is a campsite near the foot where you can always get water and dry firewood.
From the top of Kush-Kaya, you can walk along a narrow path to Cape Aya, where a military unit was located in Soviet times - the road there will take about an hour. Even 3 decades ago there were outbuildings and barracks here, and now there are only ruins.
In a more distant period - 600-700 years ago, Isar was located on Aya, the walls of which are quite well preserved, but the military in the last century dismantled the rocks into stones, which they later used for construction purposes. Immediately behind Cape Aya, an amazing view opens up - 400-meter sheer cliffs of reddish limestone seem to fall, bristling with the sharp corners of their landslides.
Under them you can see a white cozy beach - but do not try to go down to it, there are no paths and you can get there only if you have climbing equipment - it is not for nothing that this corner of nature is called the lost world.
Then the trail goes past the line of cliffs for Balaklava itself. If you start from Kush-Kai in the morning, then by the evening it is quite possible to walk along the Balaklava embankment. But keep in mind that d The oroga here is very insidious, it branches and often goes towards the cliff. Without knowing the trails and not having any orienteering skills, it is better not to decide on such a transition, but if the desire to overcome the route does not leave you, hire an experienced guide.
For information on which route is best for hiking on the Kush-Kaya rock in Crimea, see the following video.
This mountain looks like a kind of Chomolungma from the side of Alushta. Its gray pointed peak (1339 m)* stands out well against the background of the wooded Uraga and Chamnysh; ". And the day before yesterday this challenge was accepted - I decided to stretch my legs, almost completely atrophied from city life, and agitated my childhood friend Alexei for this adventure. Once upon a time, we almost ran up this mountain, however, from the direction of the Small Lighthouse. How about now? Is there still gunpowder in the flasks?
The aggravating circumstances were age, heat, an easel backpack foolishly loaded to excess (I have), a severe bruise on my toe about standing on a battery charge the night before (again, I have) and a not weak climb in the second half of the route, but the most terrible were the vile creatures that are yet to come. 
Route plan to Kush-Kaya. The dotted line marks the way back to the Yalta highway in the area of the gas station near the village of Vinogradny. 
Kush-Kaya looks distant and impregnable from the beach. 
But as soon as we climbed from the side of the Alushta bus station to the hillock, the peak of Kush-Kai went to the side and became lower. On the left is a wooded Uraga, on the right is Chamnysh, below it is a gray rock, from which we looked at Alushta last September.
This time we will go to the right along the forest road, as we did in previous years. In order not to miss, you should not go to the motodrom, you need to keep to the right of it and enter the forest. A well-fed hare darted past and confirmed to us that we had chosen the right path.
It's better to go on this road than on a motorcycle track. At first it is quite gentle, but after crossing the river it turns into a wide path and begins to climb the mountain. Moreover, when approaching the river, every time there is a feeling that he has reached a dead end, because. the trail is no longer visible.
It is quite comfortable to walk along the path with compacted pebbles. This is still an unremarkable oak forest, a beech forest awaits us above.
Already through the trees, Serous flickers. Now there will be a clearly visible tree with a hollow in which we hid the treasure last September. I wonder if anyone found it or not?
We hid the treasure not in the hollow, but on the opposite side. It is necessary to compare with last year's photo (it is below).
No treasure! So someone found our bracelet. Sorry for not reporting.
Altitude 530 m, no fatigue. Now let's have a rest at the equipped bivouac next to a tree with a hollow and forward - to storm Kush-Kai!
If we went to the very close Seraus (photo from, in the previous picture he is behind Alexei), we would see the peak of Kush-Kai. But its closeness is deceptive. To get to it, you need to climb the saddle between Uraga and Chamysh, and then to the height of Chamysh, i.e. practically climb onto its wooded head (right mountain).
Ah, did you get Seraus easily? Well, then get an obstacle course. And these are still flowers, berries will be ahead ...
But we courageously overcame it. Skill (in this case, army) can not be spent on drink, or, as they say, the old horse will not spoil the felling, well, or something like that ...
We go out onto a wide forest road leading from Vinogradnoye, and go along it to the right. Go not far, soon a fork - to Seraus and Chamnysh. And here is a stone with a crack, familiar from last year.
The trail to Kush-Kaya, or rather, to the saddle between Uraga and Chamysh-burun, after a fork, starts up sharply.
Let's look back. However, the photo does not convey this quite decent rise.
Suddenly, from the abyss of beeches (which means we are at an altitude of 600 m), a forest whale waved its powerful tail.
There are quite a few fallen beech trees along the trail.
Scatters of stones.
The stones are larger and there is "a load of brushwood" right there.
And these placers of stones look like frozen streams descending from the slopes.
A small smoke break on the trail going up. We did not yet know that this was the last peaceful halt. Now this will start!
Suddenly we were attacked by deer (moose) flies. Compared to their lone representatives last year on Seraus, there was something unimaginable here.
Apparently, these vile creatures * received information on their phone that two deer were walking along the path, and no other meat was expected for the next few kilometers ...
*deer bloodsucker, moose fly, moose louse, moose tick- the creature is still the same. It looks like a fly (in the photo it is greatly enlarged and already without wings), but landing on you or an elk, it discards its wings and turns into a "spider" with tenacious paws. - figs will be torn off from a T-shirt or body, figs will be crushed. She tries to get into her hair or under her clothes and starts drinking blood. Not afraid of waving hands. He likes to attack walking people and for some reason mostly only adults. It’s good that it’s still not a louse or a tick, and it flies only during the day. But it's not pleasant enough. Because this infection (however, one of the most intelligent acquaintances who was attacked by them gave them a more capacious definition in their hearts - sorry, I can’t give it here) can be the causative agent of Lyme disease.
We no longer had time for landscapes, however, it would be more correct to call these places a windbreak.
In the lowlands, the attacks were the most terrible. We ran like a bullet to the heights.
But even there, these creatures did not give rest. Aleksey fanned himself with a towel against them, and a fan would envy the turns of his hand. And I had to pull out of my backpack something with long sleeves saved for the occasion and put on in the heat in this armor, which was completed by tight jeans tucked into socks (after last September, no shorts when going to the forest!) And a T-shirt wrapped around the neck a la cowboy scarf. What kind of fitness can be compared with such masochism? Even the sauna is relaxing! Indeed, in these very days, weather forecasters promised forty-degree heat on the southern coast of Crimea.
Yes, in this case, we, like grumbling old men, can state that life used to be better. Well, these creatures were not in the mountains. And not only in our childhood and youth, even in the relatively recent year of 2008, we don’t remember this in these places.
And again military everyday life. Apparently, the intelligence of the enemy was well established. Even on a hillock, a massive attack awaited us.
Alexey rotated the towel like the blades of a helicopter, but it didn't help much.
But even in such a military situation, we tried to notice interesting objects. For example, someone put two small ones on a large stone, and it turned out to be a forest frog. The angle for the photo is not entirely successful, but the flies did not allow me to choose a better disposition. These creatures even strove to close the camera lens, they had to hold the "soap box" with one hand, and drive away the crazy insects with the other. To get a DSLR out of my backpack was not even a thought. For this reason, it was not possible to leave new treasures. Excuse me.
This is not a sign that we are giving up. It is Aleksey fighting off enemy aircraft with the last of his strength.
This is not our job. We behaved well in the forest. Here we had to take off our T-shirts, turn them inside out and crush these bastards. And it wasn't easy. There were many of them, they tenaciously held on to their paws, moved quickly ... Excuse me for the details. But it is better to know about them in order to equip yourself properly. Maybe some kind of pshikalki to take with you, or maybe a mosquito net.
The path turned into a forest road and gradually began to straighten.
This means that we will soon find ourselves in the saddle between Uraga and Chamnysh. From here the path to Kush-Kaya will go up.
As soon as the path turned into a kind of forest road, felled trees immediately appeared. Payback forest for proximity to civilization.
And here is the familiar tree at the fork. To the left of it rises the path to Kush-Kaya, to the right goes the path to Seraus, Alushta (where we came from).
A little higher spring. Despite the unpretentious appearance of the pipe, the water is tasty and cold. Here we replenished its stocks. By the way, this was the first source of water on our way - everything or almost everything dried up. For statistics - during this trip we drank 2 liters of water per brother. Now we know how much to take with us and that in this place you can always replenish its reserves, even in the heat.
Well then. Have a little rest. It's time to climb Kush-Kaya. We are at its foot. Soon it will be visible through the crowns of tall beeches.
P.S.
*There is more than one Kush-Kaya in Crimea. For example, above the Batiliman tract in the Laspi-Sevastopol region there is its own Kush-Kaya. And although its height is only 664 m, the view of this almost sheer cliff is impressive.
In addition to lovers of beaches and cultural attractions, climbers have long chosen the Crimean peninsula. There are no Everests and Mont Blancs here, but the local peaks are very diverse, therefore they allow you to train in almost any conditions. Mount Kush-Kaya in the Crimea belongs to the list of those. Fans of mountain walks who do not have special sports training will be able to conquer it along quite convenient paths.
Where is Kush-Kaya located in Crimea?
It would seem that it is easier to indicate the location of the rock. But the task will not seem elementary to a person who knows Crimea well. Mount Kush-Kaya is located there in three places at the same time. Today we will talk about everything, but we will dwell in detail on visiting the one near.
Object on the map of Crimea
Features of the origin of the name
The clue that finding the peak can be difficult is quite prosaic. The fact is that namesake peaks in Crimea are quite common. "Kush-Kaya" in translation means "Bird Mountain". This name is given to three different hills, quite distant from each other.
The most picturesque of them is the one located in, not far from Sudak. She is often photographed, she is considered a symbol of the village. Its Russian name is . The dimensions are more than usual - 446 m above sea level.
The highest is Kush-Kaya on. Her "height" is 1339 m. In appearance, she looks like an ear listening to the sound of the waves. You can get here through the path, accessible to tourists without climbing training.
The most famous mountain is Kush-Kaya near, about her visit today and will be discussed. Its height is average - 664 m, but a sheer wall is turned to the sea, where training and mountaineering competitions take place.
Crimean conspiracy theory
In 2013, this hill was shrouded in a veil of sinister secrecy - there were reports of the disappearance of a certain tourist on its slopes. Her body was not found. All those familiar with the news were sophisticated, inventing different versions of what had happened. Aliens and some criminal Internet communities appeared here, which gave the girl an overwhelming task as an initiation - to climb.
The phone of the missing person was also present in the case, where something was filmed. There were stories of her strange behavior and imbalance.
However, more experienced mountain tourists reasonably stated that there is no need to look for aliens where there are slippery stones, a large slope of the ascent and unsuitable beach shoes. Accidents with such unfortunate climbers occur, unfortunately, in any mountains. But if there is no body, there is no case. Over time, the “mystery of Kush-Kai” has lost its relevance, but everyone who has come up with a version of its solution for themselves has remained unconvinced.
Excursions and routes to Mount Kush-Kaya
For lovers of mountain tourism, Kush-Kaya near Laspi provides many opportunities. Since there are trails of different difficulty levels (according to professional classification - from 1B to 5B), all potential conquerors choose routes according to their capabilities and plans. In total, 18 different tracks lead here, some of them you should not even meddle without good climbing equipment and climber training.
The rock of the lower mountain belt is a favorite place for training and competition of experienced climbers. But they are a special brotherhood, solving organizational and security issues "among themselves." Unprepared tourists usually get to the top along the so-called Great Sevastopol Trail. It is a very long excursion segment, where Kush-Kaya is just one of its elements.
The trail starts at, but you can get to it in such a way as to get to Kush-Kaya from the Laspi pass. The path here is well marked, with numerous signposts - it's hard to get lost. But even this “simple” route requires comfortable sportswear, good shoes (so as not to slip) and decent physical shape (the ascent is steep and difficult, 
although it is quite accessible to non-professionals).
The trail passes by a paddock for wild animals - a kind of hunting farm. Locals joke that the answer to the question of who is protected from whom by a high mesh fence is ambiguous. On the way up you will see some ruins where a wooden cross is installed. The official version says that the ruins are the remains of the Cathedral of St. Elijah, which stood here in the late Middle Ages. That is why the cross was placed. But there are skeptics who say that the state of the stones and the composition of the technology that holds them together do not correspond much to this period, and the ruins are the remains of a naval outpost.
At the top of Kush-Kaya, holidaymakers tend to climb for the sake of the views that open from there. From a height you can admire the nature reserve in Laspi Bay. These landscapes are rightly ranked among the most beautiful in the Crimea. Often people come here for a few days with tents. At the foot there is a campsite for vacationers, where it is easier with both firewood and drinking water. But some "savages" contrive to accommodate outside this housing complex.
How to get (get there)?
As already mentioned, Kush-Kaya Mountain can be reached in different ways, but often tourists choose the route along the Great Sevastopol Road. If yours starts in the Laspinsky Pass area, then this is how the further path looks like:
Note to the tourist
- Address: Orlinovsky municipal district, Sevastopol, Crimea, Russia.
- GPS coordinates: 44.425131, 33.679880.
If it occurs to someone to check the fidelity of his friend according to the Vysotsky method, it is not necessary to go to the Caucasus - you can go to the Crimea. Mount Kush-Kaya is perfect for such a test, and friendly Crimean cities and towns will then help to adequately celebrate the common victory! In conclusion, we offer a video report about the trip to the hill.
District
Place
Crimea, South Coast, from Batiliman to Cape Aya.
Time
The best time is May holidays or October.
Transfer
By train to Sevastopol, then by minibus-taxi to Batiliman. To catch a profitable transport, turn around at the railway station and within 15 minutes everything will work out by itself. You can also get there by regular bus. From the bus station (it is located next to the railway station) there are regular buses to Yalta, Simeiz, Alupka. Drive to the village of Laspi. Further (about 5 km) either by hitchhiking or on foot. If you are located at the main parking lots near Kush-Kayoy, then go to the pump booth (it stands on the right side of the road, the Batiliman recreation center is located below), it is located a little before the fork in the road to the Cape Aya sanatorium and the Chaika sanatorium
Where to stand and how to live
The best parking place by the sea is not far from the so-called "Midiya", the landmark is the "Recreation Site" with cafes to the left of the road. Here you unload and go down from the site along a wide path in the direction of the building with antennas. From it to the left, along the coast, look for a free area and set up camp. Then it’s worth taking a walk in the opposite direction from the building with antennas and making yourself known at the Forest Cordon. Here you will be assigned a price for accommodation and, after a moderate payment, they will stop bothering you with daily visits of foresters. Clean water is collected at the cordon, garbage is collected in containers next to the Forest Cordon. You can also live right under the mountain. On both sides of the trail running along Kush-Kai, there are many parking lots above the road. Water can be taken on the territory of the boarding house "m. Aya". One source is located 50 meters from the entrance to the sanatorium (it sometimes dries up by May), the second is located on the beach of the sanatorium - a pipe with fresh water comes out in the area of the first breakwater.
Helpful information
Mobile communication on the entire coast works perfectly.
The telephones of the "Forest Cordon" and the Sevastopol KSO may come in handy. It would not be superfluous to know the phone number of the boarding house on "Aya", but there people are non-contact and people with ropes are not welcome.
climbing objects
If we conditionally divide the massif Cape Aya - Kush-Kaya into sectors, then sector 1 includes routes to the top of the Aya massif, which is bounded by the sea from the west, and the Samodeda route 6 k.t. All routes in this part are difficult and long. The next sector - sector 2, stretched from Samoded to the western part of Kush-Kai. Sector 3 starts from the western slope of Kush-Kaya to the South Ridge, which divides Kush-Kaya in two. Sector 4 from the South Ridge to the eastern slopes of Kush-Kai.
Sector 1 (m. Aya)
Sector 2 (m. Aya)
Sector 3
Sector 4
Approaches
Most of the routes in this sector start from the so-called "gray cup", which is formed by the rocks to the east of the South Ridge. A large yellow spot stands out in the lower right part of the cup - the “yellow wall”. Approaches originate from the "Recreation area", then along the road towards Laspi to the post with a road sign on the left? along the way. Here is the exit to the trail, go taking away to the left under the rocky gorge with a platform. From the site to the right upwards through simple rocks 20-30 m to an obvious, trodden path with a path up to a convenient platform under monolithic simple gray rocks. Here it is recommended to contact - the first pitch to the field at the base of the gray cup. From here, choose directions for routes in accordance with the descriptions.
Descent from Kush-Kai
The best landmark is the ruins of the Church of St. Elijah at the top. From the top along the path, going around the ruins on the left, down, keeping to the main path, get to the Sevastopol-Yalta highway in the area of the pass. Here you will find several cafes and a restaurant where you can have a bite to eat. For further descent, you need to return 500 m to the exit from the trail to the highway and start descending along the old highway. The entrance to the highway is blocked by a barrier with a "brick". If you do not enter the pass, you can turn off the path to the right earlier, but it is better to do this with a knowledgeable guide. An even shorter path is the "Monkey Trail", to the right of the Asymptote. The beginning of the trail is "caught" on the treeless part of the yayla about 20 meters from the edge of the cliff. The trail goes at first goes through the open space, in the area of the exit from the "Asymptote" it dives into the forest. Keep all the time the most trodden and great path. It goes all the time in a small distance from the ever-lowering wall of Kush-kai. In two places of 5-7 meters "monkey" - a simple climbing down the rocks. In the lower part, the trail crosses the old road twice, moving down to the current Laspi-Aya highway. After the rain - ATTENTION - steep slippery clay slopes!
Climbing objects
Sector "Africa"
Sector "Petrel"
Sources:
- Solomentsev Valentin
- Yurkin Alex
