Routes
- Mount Bazarduzu
- Gestola
- North Ushba
- South Ushba
- Dykh Tau, Classic route
- Dykh Tau West Ridge
- Shkhara from the North (Crab)
- West Elbrus
- East Elbrus
- Peak MNR
- Semenovskogo Peak
- Irik Chat
- Georia, Kazbek
- Georgia, Svanetia. Tetnuld climb
- Layla, Svanetia
- South Aragatz
- Ararat
- Altay. Belukha
- Altay. Ak Oyuk
- Altai. Peak Delone
- Alpamayo
- Huascaran Sur
- Tocllaraju
- Mont Blanc via Mont Maudit
- Matterhorn. Lion Ridge
- Castor and Pollux
- Breithorn
- Kilimanjaro Marangu
- Mount Meru
- Mount Kenya
- Toubkal
- Khan Tnegri from the North
- Pamir. Kommunizma Peak
- Pamir. Peak Korzhenevskoy
- Pamir. Lenina Peak
- Kamchatka. Kluchevskaya sopka
- Krestovskiy (Ploskiy) volcano
Layla, Svanetia
In this section you will find the most objective technical information on the mountain climbing routes. All mountain route descriptions are based on the personal experience of our guides operating these routes. They do not claim for absolute accuracy, evaluation of the complexity of some sections can be subjective and depend on the season. All materials listed in that section are intellectual property and intended for informational purposes only, any commercial use or total or partial reproduction is possible only by written permission of the copyright holder. MCS AlexClimb School of Mountaineering and Rockclimbing takes no responsibility for any consequences of using the information provided on this page. Do not forget that mountain climbing routes can be deadly dangerous regardless of their complexity.
Caucasus, Georgia, Svanetia.
Climbing Layla, the highest mountain of Svanetian mountain range. Season: June - September (Best time - September)
Information intended for evaluation purposes only. In order to avoid surprises and possible dangers and complications, we recommend to take part in the organized program of the MCS AlexClimb "Caucasus Georgia Svanetia, climbing Layla" - by well known route, accompanied by experienced guides. This will significantly increase the probability of success and safety of your climbing in Svanetia.
From the Svanetian Capital Mestia by the car you can get to Zkhumari village, the Layla climbing route starts here. In Zkhumari village you can negotiate the rent of horses for the cargo transportation - it will greatly facilitate the task of climbing Layla. From Zkhumari village take the old dirt road and walk by it for 4-5 hours to the upper pastures where there are located two shepherd's huts built of logs, the first overnight stop is recommended at the shelter (you must first agree your accomodation with the shepherds), or in the meadow behind the buildings. From this point it is a wonderful panorama of the Main Caucasian Mountain Range. By the way, as you ascent the Layla pass the views of the Great Caucasus will become more and more exciting - it's one of the characteristic features of the Layla climb - as the highest point of the Svanetian Mountain Range, Mount Layla is the best view point to the entire Caucasus from the south.
After spending the night in the shepherd's hut, continue on the path towards an implicit talus Saddle Pass Laila. From huts to pass 3-4 hours. Next, go down into the valley, where the tall grass-covered old moraine is another shepherd's hut - a tiny squat structure, built of stone. Sleep in this tent can without permission, but not recommended - then you can become the owner of a long fleas and lice.
After spending the night at the last camp go to the route early in the morning - 3-4 o'clock. Start walking on the left (in the direction of motion) side of the moraine to the apparent turn to the right - cross the stream and reach the glacier. Move up by flat, covered with scree glacier towards the Summit of Laila adhering to the direction of the rock ridge cut through the central part of the glacier. After climbing to the level of the middle part of the glacier, cross that middle part to the left (move only roped - a lot of deep crevasses). By the not steep glacier, maneuvering between the deep crevasses reach the upper glacier plateau on the north side of the Laila Range. There are crazy views from that point at the sunrise - the views of Ushba, Elbrus, the entire Caucasus. Distance from the camp in the valley - 3-4 hours.
Tp continue - go to the glacier base of the Laila Summit Tower. The base of Summit Tower of Layla is devided from the main body of the glacier by a few wide crevasses - the passing futher requires the organization of belaying - snow bridges are not reliable! Crossing the crevasses move up the right (in the direction of motion) side of the wide snow slope (possible avalanche danger) or on the right scree ridge to the Summit of Layla. Descend the same route. As a rule, the descent to Mestia is to be planned for the next day after the Laila climb.
We wish you good luck and good weather!
Our Principles
AlexClimb Rule #1 - Safety First
From the very beginning of our activity, here nearly 16 years, the first Principle of work of School of mountaineering and rock-climbing of MCS AlexClimb is the Safety Priority. On the basis of this Principle all process of training is based, all programs and rounds are developed and carried out only within this main principle. We consider that at professional approach to development of programs, at personal discipline and correctly put motivation - occupations by mountaineering and rock-climbing are COMPLETELY safe. And from the return - all troubles and accidents in our sport come from nonprofessionalism, from ignorance or neglect by elementary standards of safety, from irrational motivation, from revaluation of own forces and opportunities. All these prerequisites we COMPLETELY EXCLUDE in our work - ours Rock-climbing, Ice climbing and Mountaineering are based on one Principle - the Safety Priority. In rock-climbing, mountaineering and ice climbing, the Priority of Safety of MCS AlexClimb-is your personal security and comfort irrespective of, than we are engaged - we train muscles and we work technology of the movement in the sports hall and on the rock climbing wall, we make the way through snowstorm to top or we relax on golden sand of the Caribbean beach after hot day of trainings on rocks. The Safety priority - the main credo of School of mountaineering and rock-climbing of MCS AlexClimb.
AlexClimb Rule #2 - Leave No Trace
Closely interacting with Nature, working with the active programs in mountains, woods, lakes and rivers, we perfectly understand the importance of carefull and respectfull bahavior towards the Nature, for its resources. From the very beginning of our outdoor-activity we adopted rules of Leave No Trace technique - the standard of behavior of the person accepted in all the civilized world in relation to environment and especially - to the wild nature. After all on the relation of people to the nature near which they exist, itself can draw dalekoidushchy conclusions on the relation of these people to... Where and as we didn't travel - we don't reserve any garbage, we try to reduce whenever possible our influence on environment to a minimum. We clear earlier zagryazyonny tourist parking of the left garbage, we take out and we take out to utilization places that to us other people left there. We consider that only thus, at personal individual consciousness of each citizen, each tourist, climber or autotraveller, we will be able to keep the nature surrounding us in its state, natural, suitable for life, - in it pledge of the healthy future for ourselves and our children.
