| Mountain climbing in Ukraine | | | | Krylo Lebedya (Swan's wing). 5 minutes on foot from |
| In the Crimean peninsula, referred to as the Crimea, | | | | Koshka and you will find more than 30 routes grading |
| is a beautiful place in the summer months, the climate | | | | from 6a-8a. Route height range from 20-30 meters. |
| and the amount of sunny days makes this a perfect | | | | The cliff is on the beach. As there are three sectors |
| place for the climbers and nature lovers in general. | | | | differently directed, it is possible to climb almost all |
| The Crimean peninsula occupies an area of around | | | | the day long. |
| 26,000 sq.km.The nearest international airport is Kiev | | | | Parus (near vill. Foros). The climbing site Parus is |
| but a closer international airport is located in | | | | situated to the about 2 km west from Foros, which |
| Simferopol. There are 30 curative lakes, 120 thermal | | | | is around 50 km from Yalta, 15 minutes walking up |
| medical springs, 10,000 historical and cultural | | | | from the highway going from Sevastopol to Yalta. |
| monuments in the peninsula. | | | | The cliff looks like a "sail in the ocean of stones". |
| The Crimea (Krim) attracts mountain bikers, tourists, | | | | There are about 30 routes grading from 6b-7c. Near |
| rock-climbers etc. 3 main ridges are found in the | | | | to Chelebi, that is a big wall site. There are some |
| mountains of Crimea. The main one reaches a height | | | | multi-pitch routes (4 pitches) leading to the top (crux |
| of 1545 meters above sea level, the Internal, | | | | up to grade 6c+). This is the real "place of the |
| represented by separate rocky massifs which heights | | | | power". |
| are ranging from 500 to 600 meters above the sea | | | | Bakhchisarai. There are about 100 bolted rock climbing |
| level, and the External with insignificant heights. The | | | | routes grading from 5A up to 7C in 5 different |
| Southern coast is known for its mild climate. That is a | | | | sectors. And there are up to 20 routes in each |
| narrow ground strip between the Main ridge and the | | | | sector within 15-25 minutes walking distance between |
| Black sea. | | | | them. Route height is ranging from 8 to 23 m. Lime |
| There are at least 11 nice climbing sites with fully | | | | rocks here are quite young, often overhanging, and |
| equipped routes grading from climbing grades 4 to 9a. | | | | resemble much of indoor climbing walls. |
| The most popular sites are situated in the area of | | | | Because of the overhangs it is possible to climb even |
| Great Yalta, from the Foros to Krasnokamenka. It is | | | | if it rains. The rocks here are not sharp, so it allows |
| therefore convenient to stay in one of hotels in the | | | | holding hands in good condition for other sites. |
| city of Yalta and do one-day climbings at the various | | | | It is hot here in summer even in the shade at noon. |
| sites. Most of routes are about the climbing grade of | | | | That is why one climbs here in the morning or |
| 7a. The climate in Crimea allows climbing from April | | | | afternoon. Near to the site there are several shops, a |
| through October months. | | | | small street market and cafes. One can taste here |
| Nikita (5 km. from Yalta) is one of the most popular | | | | Tatars and Uzbek cuisine in one of the restaurants. |
| mountain climbing site in Crimea. Thanks to Andrey | | | | Bakhchisarai is a town well known for its sightseeing: |
| Vedenmeyer who were the world champion in 1995 | | | | Khans' Palace, Cave monastery and Cave town. So |
| for his efforts making the routes in this site. There | | | | there is a chance to combine the climbing with some |
| are about 80 routes grading from 5a to 9a (according | | | | sightseeing as well. |
| to the American grades; 5.9 - 5.14). The majority of | | | | Uarch-Kaya. This is a site, situated between Foros |
| the routes are overhanging. Height of the site is | | | | and Simeiz at about 2 km from the highway |
| 12-25 m. As it is a gorge, one can climb opposite cliffs | | | | between Yalta and Sevastopol. The site is near the |
| all the day long. Some of the routes were made by | | | | old road between Yalta and Sevastopol. The location |
| climbers from France. Very often one can meet here | | | | is about 45 km. from Yalta. Uarch-Kaya is a site for |
| World famous climbers in this site. | | | | rock climbing and multi-pitch climbing. All the routes |
| Nikita is situated nearby Yalta and the fabulous | | | | are well equipped grading from 6a to 8c+. The total |
| Nikitsky botanical gardens and it is near to the | | | | number of routes are more than 50. |
| highway, so it is easy to access. | | | | Sudak. This site is situated in town of Sudak, just |
| Red Stone (village Krasnokamenka). It takes 20-25 | | | | opposite the famous Genoese fortress. One can try |
| minutes by car to the east of Yalta to reach the | | | | about 15 routes grading from 6b to 7c. It is a very |
| climbing site. The nearest villages are Gurzuf and the | | | | small site, actually just a crag. Because of rather dry |
| cliff is situated in the village Krasnokamenka. There | | | | climate in South-East part of Crimea in summer in the |
| are about 100 routes grading from 5a-8c. Often | | | | Sudak is very hot. Best time for climbing is from |
| these routes have prolonged problems. It is best to | | | | September to June. |
| use a 60 meters rope on this site. Shops are rather | | | | The Southern coast of Crimean peninsula from cape |
| well equipped and you can buy for every day utilities | | | | Aiya, situated near the city called Sevastopol to |
| and food there. There is also a small street market | | | | moutain Ai-Petri raising behind the city of Yalta offers |
| here. Many world famous climbers make a trial in this | | | | opportunities for multi-pitch climbing. There are also |
| site as well. The site has a nice scenic aspect as | | | | sites found between the cities Alushta and Yalta, and |
| there is a lake at the east side of this rock. It is only | | | | between the cities Simferopol and Alushta and near |
| 50 minutes walking from the Black sea to the site. | | | | the city Sudak. Most of routes are not well equipped, |
| Simeyiz .This is a small resort village in about 15 km. | | | | so for the ascent one should bring all the gear |
| from the city Yalta. There are 2 crags available for | | | | needed for mountain climbing, such as friends, |
| rock climbing here. | | | | stoppers, wall nuts, and occationally some skyhooks |
| Koshka (Cat). The mountain limits the area of the | | | | and so on. There can be found some fully equipped |
| village. There are bbout 30 routes grading from 5a-8a. | | | | multi-pitch routes with crux grading from 5a to 7b. |
| Route height range from 13-27 meters. You will find | | | | They imply the use of quickdraws only. All the |
| slab at the beginning, overhangs (niches, cornices) in | | | | multi-pitch routes are in limestone. |
| the above sections. Lots of juniper trees are found | | | | Sites to visit would be Chelebi, Foros, Uarch-Kaya, |
| at the foot. A 4-pitch route with crux up to 6c+ | | | | Marcheka (El-Cap of Crimea), Shan-Kaya, Ai-Petri, |
| leading on the top. | | | | Paragilmen, Angarka, and Sokol (Falcon). |