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Climb Shkhara (5203m) is the highest mountain in Georgia, boasting a substantial wall that spreads 12km across. The immensity of Climb Shkhara is undoubtedly demanding from onlookers to the horizon. As you gaze to the nine different peaks of Mt. Shkhara, you become immediately transfixed with its dominant presence. Climb Shkhara represents one of the most wild and difficult mountains of Europe. This is a tenacious mountain full of difficulties and challenges which requires expert climbing skills and perseverance. Taking a professional and IFMGA/GMGA certified guide is essential to taking on this expedition. Majority
Majority of the routes are on the South face of Mt. Shkhara, accessible from the peculiar village of Ushguli. Ushguli province has been inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list since 1996. The settlements in Ushguli Province are the highest point of human occupation in all of Europe.
Here symbolizes a society existing completely barricaded from the modern world. The village houses and medieval towers scatter across the landscape with Climb Shkhara overlooking from beyond. Time seems to stop, or rather go backwards in this magical region of Svaneti. Climbing Shkhara will deeply connect you to the essence of wild mountaineering. As we describe it here, it gives Shkhara no justice. Climbing this mountain is an unexplainable experience which is only understood when climbed.
Shkhara has a very big history of climbing, from the very first ascents to the climbers taking on the challenge to this day. All the routes to reach the summits of Shkhara prove to be tough, and it is no small feat. However, in the same breath to say it’s difficult, we can say its even more rewarding to reach the tallest point of Georgia. The first successful ascent was by a British led Expedition in 1888, soon making way for the Georgian pioneers to establish new routes. The route The Alpine Project will guide you through is the Beknu Khergiani Route, which was first climbed in 1937 and goes directly to the main summit. Objectively, there is less dangers present on this route than others, and is of the most climbable routes available.
The ideal time for climbing Mt. Shkhara via Beknu Khergiani Route is from July until the first weeks of August. Before this time frame, there is heavy snow, making it too difficult to climb. After this time frame, the mountain becomes too dry and there is danger of rock fall. This time frame proves to be the most stable and most safe to climb Beknu Khergiani Route. However, this mountain has a microclimate and attracts bad weather more frequently than others. This is a large aspect of what makes this mountain difficult.
The classical route is the Beknu Khergiani Route and is is technical alpine snow, rock, and ice climbing. You should be able to climb on 6A grade difficulty on rock with mountaineering boots and M5 grade difficulty on mixed terrain. Mt. Shkhara summit requires a tough psyche from climbers, meaning you should not be easy to mentally break. This climb will challenge you physically and emotionally. In addition, you should be acclimatized before the climb. (For this, we can offer a climb Mt. Tetnuldi in Svaneti prior to your Mt. Shkhara summit.) This is a very wild climb, there is no huts. Because of this we will be making the camps and carrying the equipment.
You must have an extremely good fitness level with experience climbing expert to advanced level mountains.
*Please contact us for pricing on groups larger than 3 people
