Ona–Karatosh–Abakan

This route is for physically strong people with real experience of trail life and of floating mountain rivers. It will keep you in shape and give you a rest far from the city. The walking part is a full 8-day route through some of the most scenic and least-visited corners of the high-mountain taiga of Khakassia. The float down the Abakan means running mountain rapids of category 3 difficulty.

Arrangements: the float craft and the food for the float are brought in ahead of time to the mouth of the Kayla river. The group travels by vehicle to the start of the walking route, walks it from the 105th kilometer to the mouth of the Kayla along the Kurukul, Karatosh, Kaylyuza and Kayla rivers, then floats down to Abaza, fishing all the way. Whatever your experience or skill, we recommend the right gear for the float: life jackets, helmets, and insulating neoprene suits — a must for any long contact with the cold water of a mountain river.

Day by day:

1. Arrive by vehicle from Abaza to the 105th kilometer of the Abakan–Ak-Dovurak road, climb over the Kurukul pass and drop into the Kurukul valley. Make camp, overnight. Walk to the mouth of the Karatosh. Make camp, overnight.
2. Rest, sort and pack rucksacks, gear and food. Fishing, introductory excursions.
3. Walk the Karatosh to the upper ford, fishing. Make camp, overnight.
4. Walk the Karatosh to the mouth of the Kaylyuza. Make camp, overnight.
5. Walk the Kaylyuza to the pass and down into the Kayla valley. Overnight.
6. Walk the Kayla to the mouth of the Srednyaya Kayla, overnight.
7. Walk to the mouth of the Kayla. Make camp, overnight.
8. Rest, fishing, preparing for the float. Safety briefing and a run-through of the coming water. Fire, fish soup, overnight.
9. Float the Maly Abakan, fishing, to Vodopost. Rest, grayling shashlik, banya, overnight.
10. Float the Maly Abakan and the Abakan to the Kon-Karagay tract, overnight.
11. Float the Abakan to the mouth of the Khizas, make camp, overnight.
12. Float the Abakan to the mouth of the Matur, make camp, overnight.
13. Float the Abakan to the mouth of the Ona, make camp, overnight.
14. Float the Abakan to Abaza. Rest, overnight. End of the route.

Want to walk this route? Write to us — we'll tell you how to prepare.

All photos