A team from the Derzhavin Hiking Club of Tambov State University named after G.R. Derzhavin, together with members of the Polar Star Club of Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov, completed a first-category hiking trip along the Taganay National Park route in the Chelyabinsk Region. The group of 15 people was led by experienced instructor and NArFU student Matvey Denisov.
The total length of the route was 121 kilometers. During the hike, the participants crossed the key peaks of the Taganay mountain range: Otkliknoy Ridge, Mitkiny Rocks, and Kruglitsa, the park's highest point (1,178 m), and also climbed the southern summit of Itsyl.
"We started just as the flooding in the Chelyabinsk region was ending, and the trails around Zlatoust were still battered by recent hurricanes. The first day was met with rain, but then the weather improved: the clouds avoided us, and the rest of the day was fine," says Anna Arkhipova, head of the Derzhavin hiking club. "Technically, the most challenging section was the ascent to Otkliknoy Ridge, where the route included some rock climbing. The climb wasn't easy the first time due to the dark clouds hanging overhead. We waited, then set off again, and reached the summit."
The hike included overnight stays at the Gremuchiy Klyuch, Taganay, Kialimsky Kordon, and Meteorological Station shelters. One of the highlights of the hike was a visit to the bathhouse at the Taganay shelter and a traditional encounter with the local foxes, which have become an unofficial symbol of the area.
"The Meteorological Station greeted our group with a beautiful sunset, and the shelter offered a panoramic view of all of Taganay. Moments like these are what people go to the mountains for," Anna Arkhipova shared her impressions.
