TRAVEL: Wild and mysterious, enticing and frightening - "Ulagan!" Part 2

Hello Steemit!

The FIRST PART ended in the sunset on the base of Uzun-Köl in the Ulagan district of the Altai Republic. And today we continue to go further:

ROUTE:
Barnaul → Biysk → Srostki → Maima → Manzherok → Ust-Sema → Chemal → Ust-Sema → Shebalino → Seminsky pass → Onguday → Aktash → Ulagan → Katu-Yaryk

The next day we continued our journey and went to the pass Katu-Yaryk. The plan was to go down and stay there for a couple of days, perhaps visit the valley of the Chulyshman River and go to the waterfall Uchar (160m/525ft).

Ulagan district

But, firstly, we are lost. After the village of Balyktyul, we accidentally turned on the wrong road and drove into a godforsaken place. The road was zigzagging from the mountain and led us eventually to some unfamiliar village, where the locals explained where we need to drove) Once back, we took the right course and still reached the pass. By the way, the road to the pass passes through the famous Pazyryk barrows. They are difficult not to notice, because This is a large stone mound right along the middle of the field near the road.

Ulagan district, Katu Yaryk pass, observation deck

Ulagan district, Pazyryk barrows ***

The Katu-Yaryk pass is a special theme. The steep descent has nine turns and only at two turns cars can pass without interfering with each other, that is, while someone descends, it is advisable not to go up and vice versa. The difference in heights is 900m (2953ft), and the total length of the descent is 3700m (2,3 mi). The pass is one of the most difficult in the Altai and is recommended for high-powered four-wheel drive vehicles. Although people descend from the pass on any machine. Below there is a tractor, which then pulls out ordinary cars up. Down in the valley is a tourist base.

Ulagan district, Katu-Yaryk Pass

The view of all this is stunning! But, for some reason everyone, except me, was afraid and decided not to go down) In fact, they are both afraid of heights, which does not apply to me. I'm used to the mountains and can safely walk along the edge of the cliff, feeling the wind oscillations and calmly keeping my balance, while the others nervously ask me to move away from the edge. In fact, I never take risks and, if I'm not sure of my safety, I will not take any chances. Just in the eyes filled with fear, my actions sometimes look risky)

Ulagan district, Katu-Yaryk Pass

But Andrew, having collected his will into a fist, begins to descend from the pass, on an invisible huge truck, judging by the size of the helm :)

Ulagan district, Katu-Yaryk Pass

By the way, I highly recommend this video! Thanks to him, we all were inspired by the pass and went there by car. The video shows many beautiful places in Altai and practically everything that I describe in this article. In my eyes, our mountain world looks exactly like this, and I admire the author of the video for the fact that he was able to convey the essence of it so brightly!
P.S. I advise you to deploy the video on the full screen, because it's an amazing sight!

But, although we did not go down, I still have something to tell you)) Further, in the valley, the Chulyshman River flows into Lake Teletskoye (Altyn Köl - Golden Lake), which is included in the "list of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of UNESCO", and is one of the most beautiful places in Altai! Also, there is a huge cascading waterfall Uchar (160m/525ft), stone mushrooms, an interesting village of Balykcha and many amazing and beautiful species! But about all this, I'll tell you another time, in an article devoted to the journey through Teletskoye Lake :)

Ulagan district, the valley of the river Chulyshman

In general, after an hour of reflection on the pass, having thoroughly rested and photographing everything there is possible, we gathered and drove back.

Ulagan district, Katu-Yaryk Pass

Ulagan district, a lake without a no name

And on this, the second part of the journey is completed :) FIRST PART

Thank you for attention and apologize for my English :)

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