Climbing Achishkho and the Black Pyramid. Excursion lift on the cable car "Gorki City Height black pyramid
The Black Pyramid beckoned me for a long time, but in the summer I never reached it. And then when heavy snowfalls began, I looked at her from the office window and my light bulb turned on above my head. Why not?! The snow-capped peak of one of the most beautiful Peaks of Mount Aibgi! Gorgeous! It remains to find a company. And the company itself found me - a comrade in PVD Electronic Dolphin he asked if I had any plans for Saturday. All right, let's go!
On the morning of November 14, we met at the station. Esto-sadok and moved to the mountain carousel lift. The cable car just started working after maintenance work, so we were the first to get into it already at 09:00 in the morning, from elev. 1460 to el. 2200 lift did not even have time to turn on, but literally after 3-4 minutes it still worked. So, we are at elev. 2200, here the first surprise awaited us - the helicopter is throwing cargo up the mountain! It made a great impression on me, I have never seen a helicopter so close, and the wind, along with fresh snow in the face, is very refreshing before climbing! :)
After looking at the views from the “viewing 2200”, we realized that the Circus-2 cable cars were not working and therefore carefully moved on foot, while descending to Circus-2, rescuers on skis drove past us on fresh “velveteen” ... eh ... this feeling when you yourself want to ride, and in front of you they do it, like a child was taken away a candy and eaten ... ahem ... but something I deviated from the topic. 
We got high from the mountain-climatic uniqueness of Circus-2 and moved higher to the cable car at el. 2300, from which the ascent to the Black Pyramid actually begins. There was a lot of snow, the climb was not the easiest, in places it fell almost to the waist. It is good in places where it is very difficult to stretch the rope, which you can grab onto and climb with it much easier.
Well, here's the last effort and we're at the top! An indescribable feeling, so I'll just post some of the photos and you'll understand everything! 
At the top, we decided not to linger much, the sun went down below the mountains, although we reached it very quickly and it was only about half the first day. Going down to elev. 2300, drank tea from a thermos and walked back to el. 2200. At 15:00 we were already at the lower level of the Mountain Carousel.
It turned out to be a chic walk, the first ones inherited the fresh snow at the top and got a lot of impressions!
Thanks to Zhenya "Electronic Dolphin" for the company and moral support during our short but insanely interesting trip!
P.S. A huge request, if you are not confident in your abilities, do not repeat! In such deep snow, not everyone can climb this peak. Assess the situation realistically, the mountains are not a toy!
We gathered somehow with a friend to go to the top of Mount Black Pyramid, on the Aibga ridge. Went there many times.
Gathered spontaneously. Although the Aibga ridge is within the border zone, they did not make passes, knowing that the border guards go from Alpika-Service towards the Turyi Gory and practically do not look into the Aibga circuses. We decided to climb the ridge with the help of a cable car. The Alpika-Service ski resort was not even considered, because we climbed there many times. I wanted to climb the "Mountain Carousel".
We packed our backpacks, bought groceries, and arrived at the foot of the Aibga. They did not test their fate, they turned to the head of the "security service", with the question: - "... and what about the border guards?" A man with a military bearing asked: - "... for what purpose are we interested?" We explained everything to him, and about the desire to rise, and about the "improvement of the nation", and about the Constitution of the Russian Federation, about photographing landscapes ... and so on. To which we were told: - "... get up, but you can’t go beyond the fences at the upper bypass station, otherwise we will be in trouble." This option did not suit us, we wanted to go further, especially since we were going with an overnight stay .... As a result, when they saw us in backpacks larger than a camera bag, they didn’t even let us onto the lift. They said that: - "... with backpacks is impossible." Although at that time there were Downhill competitions and athletes climbed with bicycles.
Why am I telling this? Probably, once again convince yourself and warn others that in connection with the status of the "Olympic capital" it is necessary to take a lot of passes and permits. This applies not only to Aibga, but to all other districts (Pseashkho, Aishkho, Kardyvach, etc.). Maybe they are hiding something from us?
Literally a week after the described incident, I climbed the Black Pyramid with children aged 8-10 (then a video was shot, which I already posted in the Aibga-2 topic). Pograntsov did not meet, but found on the top, a lot of people who want to wander along the ridge. I doubt very much that they had passes to the border zone, or at least to the territory of the SNP.
Already in the late afternoon, after long “negotiations”, we decided to climb, at least somewhere ... The choice fell on the Achishkho ridge. They proceeded it far and wide. And what to do, time left night, yes day. On the "UAZ" we climbed to the lakes of Khmelevsky. On the same day we reached the Achipse River (Bratya). We spent the night and climbed to the top the next day. On the same day we went down to Krasnaya Polyana.
We were lucky, we did not meet anyone on our way, although Achishkho is also divided between the SNP, the Sochi Reserve and the KGPBZ.
Question for travel lovers:
1. Do you take passes to nature protection zones?
2. If you go without passes, what do you do when meeting with employees of all the same nature protection zones?
3. Is the same about the border zone?
Below is a short photo report of the trip.
Lake Khmelevsky - "Big Lake". The lakes are named after the landowner V.F. Khmelevsky, a member of the Caucasian Mountain Club, a researcher of the flora and climate of Krasnaya Polyana at the beginning of the last century. 
There are many lakes on the ridge, from swamps to normal lakes.
Another one of the overgrown lakes.
Achishkho in the clouds.
There are many well-trodden paths along the ridge.
The area of the former weather station. The Achishkho meteorological station was founded in September 1929 and was closed in 1988. For several years, the two-storey house of the weather station was used by tourists as a shelter, then it was destroyed, leaving only the foundation of the building. Before the weather station, there was a farce of the Crimean-Caucasian mountain club.
Lake Mirror. One of the most famous and beautiful. A place of pilgrimage for tourists and the so-called "mushroom pickers" (by the way, they will soon have the season of climbing the ridge).
The village of Krasnaya Polyana from one of the horizons. In the area of Lake Zerkalnoe there are many horizons from which beautiful views open up.
The source of the Achipse River is the Brothers waterfall. The Achipse flows into the Mzymta.
First circus. Cows graze without a shepherd.
Chugush massif. One of the three thousandths. It is the highest point of the Republic of Adygea.
In the second circus.
Snowflakes hang almost all summer.
Here is a structure found in the second circus. Who knows - what is it? and who built it? Isn't it "mushroom pickers"?
Second circus. Assara is in the background.
Rhododendron. In Russia, it occurs naturally, mainly in the Caucasus.
Aibga - all vertices are visible.
A drying lake on one of the spurs.
View from the Achishkho pass (in the classifier of passes of the Krasnodar Territory it is designated as a pass - 1A). Mount Zelenaya, in the distance the Lago-Naki plateau. In the circus, the Rybny stream winds like a snake - one of the tributaries of the Berezovaya.
Peak Achishkho - 2391 meters above sea level. View from the pass.
Also the top, but already from the ridge. Below the top is another lake of the same name.
Valley of the Mzymta River. And "scars on the body" mountains.
After lunch at the top almost always addictive. Achishkho is one of the wettest places in Russia.
You can see almost the entire ridge, the second circus, the top of the "Rock Castle", a drying up lake.
Snowball.
This is the way back. From the Bear Gate Pass.
Krasnaya Polyana with scree. The scree itself can be seen from the village.
"Rock Castle".
Dolmen on the river Beshenka. There are many of them here.
River Beshenka. Downstream is the Malaya Krasnopolyanskaya HPP.
Finally. Photo from the tower on Mount Akhun. 
This is what Achishkho and Chugush look like from the shore. Above the top of the Chugush - a cloud.
- Dashur -
The Black Pyramid of Amenemhat III at Dashur is 1.3 km east of the Bent Pyramid (as is the White Pyramid of Amenemhat II, 1.3 km from the Red Pyramid).
3D panorama of the Pyramids of Dashur.
Use the mouse to rotate the panorama. Ctrl - move away, Shift - zoom in + cursor keys: , ↓ , ← , →
The Black Pyramid was first visited by John Perring and Karl Lepsius. This happened in the middle of the 19th century. A more thorough study of the Pyramid in 1894-1895. conducted by French archaeologists Jacques de Morgan and George Legrain.
The height of the Pyramid is 75 m;
The slope of the slope of the faces is 57 °;
The length of the side of the base is 105m.
The pyramid of Amenemhat III has a very complex internal architecture, unusual for the builders of the XII Dynasty. Two entrances lead inside the Pyramid. The first is in the southeast corner of the east side of the Pyramid. It leads to the Descending Corridor equipped with stairs. The corridor leads to a labyrinth with many passages and chambers located at different levels of the eastern side of the Pyramid. The burial chamber with a gable vaulted ceiling is oriented from east to west and, like most of the underground chambers of the Pyramid, is made of blocks of white limestone.
The second entrance to the Pyramid is opposite the First, on the western side of the Pyramid, from the southwest corner and leads to the two Burial Chambers of the Queens. It is believed that the first Burial Chamber belongs to Queen Aat, the name of the owner of the second Burial Chamber is unknown.
A series of complex passages connects the Western rooms of the Pyramid with the Eastern rooms.
The pyramid is surrounded by double walls made of unfired kripich around its entire perimeter.
It is believed that Amenemhat III built and then abandoned the Pyramid at Dashur in the 15th year of his reign, starting the construction of a new Pyramid at Hawar. Perhaps the reason was the unstable geological zone chosen for the construction of a megalithic structure near the Nile Valley. The pyramid was built at a height of only 10 meters above sea level. The fragile material of the main walls allowed groundwater to seep into the main thickness of the Pyramid masonry, thereby making it heavier. This led to a gradual subsidence of the main mass of masonry, which provoked the formation of cracks in the bearing walls of the underground premises.
Currently, both entrances to the Pyramid of Amenemhat III are completely covered.
In 1900, during an inspection of the surroundings of the Pyramid of Amenemhat III by the Organization for Egyptian Antiquities, a well-preserved basalt Pyramidion, decorated with inscriptions and images, was found on the eastern side of the structure. Whether it ever sparkled in the rays of the bright sun of Dashur at a height of 75 meters from the surface of the plateau is hard to say ... Time has taken away the original appearance of the Pyramid. Now this artifact is located in the central hall of the Cairo Museum, striking visitors with the high accuracy of its geometric parameters along with the impeccable technique of applying inscriptions and drawings on a basalt surface mirror polished by ancient masters.
It was the fastest and most fantastic trip to the mountains. On the way to work on Monday morning, I had no idea that in just seven days, on Sunday night, I would be lying "without hind legs" thinking about what had happened after all! That's how it was...
This trip to the mountains came about unexpectedly. On Monday I go to my favorite risk.ru and see a fresh post with pictures of Krasnaya Polyana... It's damp autumn in Moscow, and there, in the sunny south, the warm sun and peaked mountains. So many times I wanted to visit these mountains in autumn, and then again I was late ... Or not? We must hurry!!! On Gismeteo, starting from Thursday, all days are adorned with a sun icon and nights with stars. Previously read reports emerge from memory, which told about periods of good weather in the fall! If you take a day off on Thursday-Friday, then you have four whole days at your disposal! My heart was beating at a hundred per minute. Chugush, Achishkho, Mzymta... Familiar names of mountains and rivers emerge from memory.
On Tuesday morning I call Natasha in Sochi. Hello, Natalka, hello! If I arrive the day after tomorrow, will you go with me to the mountains for four days? Natasha is “our man”, but I managed to surprise her too. The boss Katya (I category in mountaineering, climbing the five-thousanders of the Pamirs) cannot but let go, and the persuasion of my colleagues does not leave her a chance. In the afternoon I call Natasha in Sochi and just say that I bought tickets. She says she's coming with me. Great!!! In the second half, I create a post on the tourist forum of the Kuban. Topic: "where you can go for four days." At the same time, I send Natasha a list of equipment.
Climbing Achishkho (2391 m)
I'm back in the mountains. Let's leave the bustle of the Moscow rhythm, empty chatter and unnecessary words. We exhale and relax. Now only pictures...
Beech forest at the beginning of the trail on the Khmielewskie Lakes
After spending the night in a tent at an altitude of 1800, at the dawn of the next day we went to the ascent to Achishkho!
The first of the three peaks of Achishkho appeared
Quite unexpectedly, after the next turn of the path, Chugush appeared. The same mountain that we retreated in front of two years ago, during our multi-hike in the Caucasus and Abkhazia!
Chugush (3238 m.)
Nice place for bouldering!
Less than an hour later, having crossed a small spur, we find ourselves in the Achishkho circus. The waterfalls are noisy, the summit is near!
Weather whispers, time is running out. Why not make a full stop for lunch? =)
The famous Krasnopolyansk tea! =)))
Fresh snow at 2100!
A fantastic view of the sea opens from the Achishkho ridge!!!
On a wide ridge to the top!
Ruined rocks - the last meters of climbing Achishkho
At the top of Achishkho. Behind below - the village of Krasnaya Polyana.
From the last, third, peak we descend straight down the slope...
View to the north. In the distance, on the extreme left - the peaks of the Fisht-Oshtenovsky massif, in the center - Chugush.
East view. It's a pity, but Elbrus is not visible =(((
A small lake in the eastern circus of Achishkho
The day turned out to be beautiful and very eventful. Lakes, waterfalls, snow, a beautiful summit ridge, four-thousanders of the Greater Caucasus... For the last hour we walked along the trail at dusk, and approached the camp in total darkness. In such cases, GPS helps a lot - a backpack with a tent hidden in a dense forest was found without any problems!
P.S. Exactly five years later, in November 2012, I went to Achishkho in one day!
Day 3
We have a difficult day ahead of us today. First you need to go down to the village of Krasnaya Polyana, and this is a little, a lot minus 1200 meters, which is not bad for your favorite knees. But this is only half the trouble! Next, we need to get to the Alpika Service cable car, throw ourselves on it to the top of the second stage (it no longer works, prevention before the start of the winter season) and further, from a height of 1100 meters, climb as high as possible in order to climb the Black Pyramid the next day !
Morning exercise before the start of a hard day
The descent went without problems, although it took decent strength. In the first part of it, there is a very sharp drop in height. The trail is excellent, but the knees were cracking at the seams :) We go down to the village, have lunch in a cafe at the Lukoil gas station and start the second part of our program!!!
Climbing the Black Pyramid (2375 m)
ATTENTION! Unfortunately, a few years after this trip, a cable car was laid through the spur of the Black Pyramid and the route lost its former attractiveness. Now it remains to look at these photos and remember what Polyana was like before the Olympic construction .. (Note from 2012)
The famous Krasnopolyansk peaks. Black Pyramid - in the center!
Shops "Freeride" and "Salomon" in Krasnaya Polyana (now closed. Approx. 2016). But we have everything and we pass by :)
Cableway Alpika Service