Shkhara South, First Winter Ascent via South-southwest Ridge
Georgia, Caucasus
Author: Archil Badriashvili.
Climb Year: 2015.
Publication Year: 2017.
From December 16–19, 2015, Giorgi Tepnadze and I, with the help of Davit Mchedlishvili until the last camp, made the first winter ascent of Shkhara South (4,320m), a small top on the south-southwest ridge of Shkhara West (5,068m). The 2,100m ascent, with a total distance of more than 25km from the village of Ushguli and back, was rated 4A.
Archil Badriashvili, Georgia
Media Gallery
The Shkhara massif in winter from the south. (A) Shkhara South (4,320m). (B) Shkhara West (5,068m). (C) Foresummit of Shkhara West. (D) Shota Rusteveli. (E) Sandro Pass. (F) Shkhara Main summit.
Archil Badriashvili
On the first winter ascent of Shkhara South (4,320m): Giorgi Tepnadze climbs the southwest ridge. The view behind looks east along the range.
Archil Badriashvili
Looking northwest along the Bezingi Wall, past the snowy pyramid of Tetnuldi (right), to the double-summited Ushba.
Archil Badriashvili
Shkhara South (4,320m) as seen during the first winter ascent in December 2015. The route followed the left skyline ridge or the far-side flank.
Archil Badriashvili