Big lab. Big Laba River Big Laba River

On May 4, 2001, the group set out on the route in the following order: catamaran-1, catamaran-2, KNB-1, KNB-2, kayak.

After passing the obstacles where insurance was set, the order of the route was changed due to the fact that, according to the further description, the route was less difficult, and also to ensure insurance for the weakest crew,
having a coup on that day: KNB-1, kayak, catamaran-2, KNB-2, catamaran-1.

Further travel was carried out as follows: kayak-2 personally
insured catamaran-1. The second catamaran-2 was accompanied by KNB-1, a kayak. While moving, there was a gap in the distance of up to 200 m, the leader decided to moor on the island

– to restore visual contact with the lagging crews: KNB-2 and catamaran-1;

– due to the visible complication of the river section (narrowing of the riverbed, increased speed of the river, rock formations).

At the moment of launching the kayak, there was a coup with the kayak being carried out into the stream, the kayaker did not get up,
KNB-1 and catamaran-2 began carrying out rescue operations.

Downstream from the place where the kayak overturned, the leader's kayak-1 caught the kayak with its lifesaver. At the moment of hooking the kayak, the leader gave the command to catamaran-2
moor near the shore and provide insurance for the rest of the group's vessels.

When trying to moor the kayak to the shore with kayak-1 of the leader, it overturned on slanting shafts in the canyon section of the river (Uzkoe tract). Subsequently, the overturned KNB-1 and the kayak were moored to the shore from the place where the kayak overturned - 300–500 m, and the place where KNB-1 overturned - 20–40 m.

With a lag of 2–3 minutes from the keel of the kayak, a capsize occurred upstream of the KNB-2 river. The escort catamaran-1 began performing rescue operations.

As the inverted KNB-2 passed by catamaran-2, a lifeline was thrown and fell within the reach of the crew. The crew did not react (according to the crew member in the hospital, she did not notice either the catamaran-2 or the abandoned Spasconets).

Subsequently, the crew of catamaran-2 was on the shore, observing the approach of the 2nd catamaran-1 with the emergency kayak-2 at a short distance. The crew decided that there was no need for their participation in rescue operations.

When catamaran-1 approaches the emergency area in the canyon section of the river (Uzkoye tract),
kayak-2 up to 5 meters, the lifespan, attached at both ends to the catamaran frame, involuntarily fell out, the resulting loop got caught
for an underwater object in shallow water, while catamaran-1 was crushed by the flow. The captain of the catamaran, after trying to unhitch, cut off the spaskonet, losing time in this process, during which kayak-2 went beyond visibility into the right turn of the canyon section of the river. Subsequently, catamaran 2 was forced to land on the shore due to damage to the right cylinder.

At the moment the emergency kayak-2 passed by the overturned KNB-1 and the kayak, an unsuccessful attempt was made to throw the spaskonets, which was not yet fully loaded.

Then the leader of the group, using the half-flooded kayak-1, attempted to catch up with the emergency kayak-2. When boarding kayak-1, without noticing, he tore off the bypass system of the cylinders, as a result of which air began to escape from the cylinders, water began to flow into the stern, displacing the remaining air in the cylinders to the bow. As a result, kayak-1 assumed a vertical position and, having lost control, became trapped. Then there was a coup with the subsequent removal of the kayak to the shore after 70–110 m. The leader of the group ran out onto the road, stopped the oncoming UAZ and attempted to catch up with the emergency kayak-2. Having overtaken kayak-2 in a car and going ashore, I observed the passage of kayak-2 with two crew members; they did not react to the shouts of the leader and did not take active actions. Then the leader returned to the car and, having overtaken kayak-2 a second time, went ashore and observed kayak-2 rafting with one crew member who did not react to the leader’s screams. The driver and passenger who were next to the leader saw that he waved his hand. Then, getting into the car and proceeding further (the road went away from the river, returning to it after about 1.5 km), where for some time the passage of kayak-2 and a person was expected in the breaking streams. After standing for 10–15 minutes, the manager
I went to the checkpoint of the reserve, where the ranger called the police and an ambulance.

Upon arrival, the police and ambulance proceeded in a car upstream of the river to the location of the group, where they learned that they had found a girl from KNB-2, who had climbed out on her own to the right bank.

Due to the onset of dusk and incessant rain, police and ambulance officers refused to further search for the missing crew member of KNB-2, putting the group in a car (despite the demand of the group and the leader to continue the search), sent them to the village of Kurdzhinovo and placed them in the premises of the emergency hospital help. The next day the group was called by the police to the 800th department, from where they were organized search for a missing person on the river.

The crew on catamaran-2, consisting of a leader and a kayaker, covered a section of the route from the location of the upstream catamaran-2 to the village of Asia. Simultaneously with the checkpoint, an inspection of the banks upstream of the river to the village of Asia was organized.

15–20 minutes before the crew of the search catamaran-2, a group of tourists from Yaroslavl passed through this area, who discovered kayak-2 above the Crooked Bridge and the body of the missing person downstream of the river near the village of Grushevaya Polyana. According to them, they dragged the body to the shore of the island, where the group subsequently discovered it.

Then, with the help of a group from Moscow, the body was taken to the village of Asia, where it remained until the arrival of relatives from 5/5/01 to 05/7/2001.

According to the doctor who made the conclusion, death was due to cranial brain injury. There were traces of blows to the left temple and parietal area of ​​the head.

This text was compiled based on the results of a survey of group members.

April 29, Sunday

We arrived in Armavir at 6:04. In the Armavir PATP on the other side of the railway track, we ordered a PAZik together with two groups from Yaroslavl (24 people, 6 of which we).

They agreed to take us only to Kurdzhinovo, because... drivers are afraid of local rules and ignorance of the road (approx. Kurdzhinovo already Karachay-Cherkessia). The price of this part of the delivery is 2716 rubles. per bus (in our case for 24 people, i.e. 113 rubles per nose). We tried to negotiate with the driver about further delivery, but he flatly refused. We arrived in Kurdzhinovo at 11:15. We stopped twice along the way to purchase provisions and meat for barbecue.

We reached the place at 14:45, camped in a clearing on the right bank, about a kilometer from Zagedan. This part of the delivery cost us 100 rubles. per person, total 600 rub. per group.

It is better to look for transport for the second part of the transfer in Kurdzhinovo, because There is no car just above the barrier, and it’s a long way to Rozhkao.

We had lunch, drank 50 grams “for the success of a hopeless enterprise” and began collecting khat. For dinner - shish kebab from the animal bought along the way. Lights out at 23:00.

April 30, Monday

Rise at 8:00, breakfast. Getting ready slowly first day. At 12:00 we got on the water. The people on K-2-2 and K-2-3 crossed to the other side and climbed onto the hill, from where a wonderful view of the surrounding snowfields opens up. Then everyone did a little training in TVT (to stretch their bones after winter). After about 10 kilometers of quiet rafting (shivers, plums of 0.5 m each), the Sosnovy Canyon begins.

Main landmark: 1.2 km before the first threshold of the canyon, on the high right bank, the remains of a destroyed bridge. Further, after a smooth left turn on the left bank there is a long open clearing (approx. 300 m). At the end of the clearing turn right. We lounged on the pebble stretch on the right bank after the right turn before the first rapids of the canyon Farewell Homeland (about 14:00). The banks are high, the left one is a sheer cliff, the right one is flatter, overgrown with trees, with large stones below. They carried things behind the right tributary. Inspection of the rapids is also on the right bank. The length of the canyon is approx. 1 km.

The length of the rapid is 50-60 m. At the entrance, there is a semi-flooded stone in the center of the riverbed. To the right of the stone is a drain 0.5-0.6 m. There is also a drain to the left, but it is not advisable to go into it, because... further in the center of the channel there is a barrel in which the ship can turn around, and which we went around to the right. The main drain, 1.5-2.0 m high, is formed between two huge stones on the right and left banks. Before the drainage, the river is crossed by an oblique breaker shaft from the stone of the left bank. When entering, you should hit this shaft with your nose, which turns the ship around and carries it through the center of the drain. On the right side of the drain there is a breaker shaft from the right stone. Behind the drain is a barrel. On the left side the barrel is harder, on the right it is more loose and fast. On the left behind the threshold there is a hard catch in which it can twist for a long time.

Insurance was provided by two Spaskons from the right bank immediately after the rapids and a catamaran after the right tributary. All three catamarans passed the threshold relatively easily, only cat-2-2 got caught under the left bank.

Next is a simple rapid 30-40 m long on a straight section of the river, immediately after the confluence of the tributary of the Sosnovy stream. A 1.2-meter drain with a barrel across the entire channel and half-filled stones at the entrance. Next, move along a straight section of the river until the right turn. Before the turn, we first moored to the right bank to view the canyon, then moved to the left bank, from where we carried out a look and carried things around; the right bank is unsuitable for viewing - very high, steep slopes.

The difficult rapid starts at a sharp left turn and is a “pipe” of approx. 200 m long. At the entrance, in the center of the riverbed, large stones form several gates with drains. After the turn, the river narrows to 5-6 meters, and in the narrowest place to 3 meters, the flow speed is high. On a straight section of the river, the water flow is sandwiched between a steep wall on the right bank and a scree of large stones along the left bank. This area resembles a large hill with powerful plums approx. 1.5 m, foam pits, breaker shafts. In two places there was a pile-up of rocks, first on the right, then on the left bank, with protruding teeth. The threshold is called “Gap” or “God Bring It Through”, which is quite true, because little depends on the strength of the crew.

After a tongue-lashing at the exit, the river calms down, and a large catch appears under the right bank (a good place for belaying). The first catamaran went into the threshold with things and without looking, thank God it passed, although it was pretty shaken in the barrels and turned with its stern in the second part of the “pipe”. The rest moored in front of the left bank and carried things from above along the road to the catch.

The shooting of the rapids was carried out from the scree of the left bank (right bank sheer rock), and the belayers were placed in the above-mentioned catch. Cat-2-3 passed the first part of the pipe nose first, but at the end they were slightly pressed against the teeth of the left bank. Kat-2-1 was deployed in one of the barrels. They passed the next barrel with the stern, and then by some force they turned with their bow (just like some kind of waltz). After a slight left turn, there is an easy 100-meter shift on the right turn. The left bank becomes flat and convenient for stranding. This is the end of the first canyon. We set up camp on the left bank at 18:30.

May 1, Tuesday

Day (forced). The guys wanted to ride in the canyon. Well, let's go for a ride. It was fine several times, and then the commanding catamaran was pressed in the “pipe” to the prong of the left bank. Result: broken knuckle and bent length, small tears in the skin.

For the rest of the day, the crew of the command catamaran was repaired in the clearing. Standing with us are the Rostovites and one of the Yaroslavl groups (both of them had one 1st crew on their doorstep). In the evening it began to rain. Lights out around 23:00.

May 2, Wednesday

Rise at 8:00. The weather is cloudy and a cold wind is blowing. Start at 11:30.

At 11:50 we approached the second canyon Maly Blyb. The landmark of the canyon is the right turn of the river with a pyramidal stone-rock on the left bank (a driftwood is applied to the stone). We moored to the left bank and went to explore the canyon. Its length is about a kilometer. At the beginning of the canyon, on the bend of the river between the right and left turns, there is a pile of underwater stones in the riverbed, shafts, and barrels. Passing an obstacle along a stream is not difficult. When looking in the middle of the canyon, we noticed a strong and rather long pressure against the rocky wall of the left bank, but in reality it turned out that it was not at all difficult to get away from it. At the exit from the canyon, the river bed is compressed by rocks to 4-5 m, followed by a left turn. Into our water with a treacherous barrel across the entire channel. In front of the exit gap there is a series of drains and shafts up to 1.0-1.5 m. Then the river emerges from the rocky narrowing, and the tributary Maly Blyb flows in from the left, this is the end of the second canyon.

We walked through the canyon loaded, the Spaskonians organized insurance at the exit of the canyon with a sign on the rock in front of the tributary. Shooting also at the exit in the rocky narrowing, and in the middle of the canyon. Clean time passing obstacles 10-15 min. Next, it takes about 30 minutes of rafting to the road bridge, which serves as a landmark for the Salty Rocks canyon. There are several simple shivers on the site.

Immediately after the bridge, the river divides into two channels, with a pebble sandbank in the middle. The right channel is shallow, in the left there is a powerful rift 150 m long. At the end of the rift you need to head to the right bank with a large clearing, this last place for parking in front of the third canyon. We arrived at the parking lot at 14:30. The Yaroslavl residents came up after us, and in the clearing there were already Rostov residents with cars on which they were throwing the rafting crews up. The weather suddenly deteriorated and it began to rain. We decided to postpone carrying our things and going through the canyon until the next day (maybe the weather will improve for shooting?). We went to see it and returned around 16:00. We set up camp and cooked dinner in the rain. By evening the rain had subsided. It’s fun in the clearing, everyone exchanges impressions, stories about past hikes, and makes plans for the future.

May 3, Thursday

The morning made us happy blue sky and the sun peeking out from behind the mountains. We and the Yaroslavl residents agreed with the Rostovites to drop off our things at the Zatychka threshold; they were just about to go to the end of the canyon to pick up their carriages. Thus, the problem of run-out was solved. We started at 12:00. The length of the canyon is about 3.5 km. The parking lot is in front of the canyon on the right bank, but carrying things and exploring is more convenient along the road on the left bank.

The Salty Rocks Canyon is a continuous chain of rifts with many surface, underwater and semi-submerged stones, 0.5-1.0 m drains, an abundance of shafts, large and small barrels.

Towards the middle of the canyon, the slope of the river increases, and the obstacles become more difficult. Due to the collapse of the left bank rock in March, a kilometer after the beginning of the canyon, a new threshold was formed, called “Brick” by pioneers from Rostov and Cherkessk. The rapid's landmark is a smooth right turn of the river, an area with rocks overhanging the road and two huge red-brown boulders on the left bank. Before the rapids, the current slows down and you can safely moor on the left bank for viewing.

The threshold is the following. The first boulder on the left bank is a kind of dam, blocking 2/3 of the river bed. Between the boulder and the scree on the right bank there is a surface rectangular stone, similar to a brick, dividing the water flow in two. The left side of the stream between the boulder and the “brick”, width approx. 2 m, blocked by a tree trunk impassable. On the right is a drain 3 meters wide and about 2 meters high. Immediately behind the right drain there is a surface stone fang; Most of the flow goes around the “brick” on the right, piles on the tusk, merges to the left into a foam cauldron behind the “brick”, and part of the flow passes to the right of the tusk, pressing against the rubble located along the right bank, and passing through two half-filled stones.

They passed the threshold to the right of the “brick”, merging to the left of the fang, moving away from being pressed against it. The passage to the right of the fang seemed more dangerous to us because of the stones and pressure. They tried to get into the barrel behind the “brick” so that when biting into it, the flow would not turn the ship stern. If the crew is slow, the jet can hit the fang and capsize the ship. This is followed by pressing against the second large boulder and a foam barrel under the left bank. Beyond this, on a section of approx. 150 m before the left turn there is a powerful jet with shafts and barrels. Towards the end of the section, a large stone sticks out of the water on the left side of the channel, on which a log is caught, forming a barrier. You have to go to the right along the stream, but it is important not to overdo it, because... after 10-15 meters there is a big catch for fishing behind a boulder under the left bank. You need to turn off the stream in advance, because... Due to the high flow speed, it is not always possible to moor in the right place.

Cat-2-2 was the first to enter the threshold. In the first flush, they turned around too early and entered the barrel with a half-lag; only the captain’s powerful hooks saved the ship from the keel. To top it all off, cat-2-2 was unable to moor in the catch described above and was carried further down the canyon. Cat-2-3 passed the threshold well, with difficulty getting started at the end of the catch. Then kat-2-1 went into the threshold with the captain of kat-2-2 Vadim Lipgart in the place of the female sailor, because All those who passed the threshold said that passing requires great physical strength. Cat-2-1 passed the threshold perfectly and was the first to berth in the right place. The Spaskonians carried out belaying from a boulder before the catch at the end of the section, and the catamaran was placed in the catch.

While we were passing the rapids, our acquaintances from Yaroslavl approached, who had been thinking about hanging out in the morning, but after looking at our passage, two double catamarans decided to go. One passed without special problems, and the second one overturned in the entry drain. This is where we practiced carrying out rescue operations. While the guys were catching those who had turned over, and Natalya was feverishly wondering if she should cross the threshold or not, the Rostov group - the pioneers of this rapid, who were standing with us in the clearing in front of "Salty Rocks" - came up and asked us to secure them. The repeated cry of “Keel!”, the square eyes of the sailor, who broke away from the deuce and walked the rapids by self-rafting, and our second ship, which left after the victims, finally resolved her doubts: she did not go the rapids.

The insurers safely caught people, ships and some of the oars on a rather difficult section of the river to a clearing on the left bank; The site is characterized by ramparts up to 1 meter, semi-filled stones in the riverbed and several holding barrels (the length of the site is about 500 m). When cat-2-1 (already with a regular crew) reached the clearing (parking there is not very convenient, since the road comes almost close to the river), the Yaroslavl residents stopped there to have lunch and recover from the keel. We went further to the Zatychka rapids (about 500 m, the start of a weak stream immediately after the end of the wooded area on the left bank).

The Zatychka threshold is very beautiful, but, alas, impassable. At the entrance of the threshold there is a clean drain of about 1 meter, then 50 m of fast flow and the main drain through a ridge of stones with a powerful boiler. Logs caused by the flood are wedged in the threshold, which makes it impassable.

They lowered the ships and things brought by the Rostovites right outside the threshold. The descent is complicated by the fact that it is carried out along a steep scree. Start from the threshold at 15:00. On the first kilometer there are barrels that are quite powerful for loaded ships. It took 20-25 minutes to get to the village of Rozhkao. We stood behind the village on the high left bank in a small forest, above a sandy “paddling pool”. After lunch it started to rain and continued until the evening. The Yaroslavl people did not reach us. We stand alone. Sad. We're leaving tomorrow.

May 4, Friday

We got up at 7:00. It has been raining since early morning. Again, the incomparable feeling of pulling on wet neoprene and picking up wet clothes. At 9:45 we got on the water. To the village Kurdzhinovo 2 hours CHO.

At 10:30 we approached the fourth canyon. They walked it without watching, in tandem. The obstacle, about 600 m long, is a rift with shafts up to 1 meter, barrels and toadstools in a rocky corridor, and pressure against rock walls.

Further in the area of ​​the village. Asian areas begin with robberies and man-made obstacles. Rubble and reinforcement along the banks. We were chilling in front of the bridge in the village. Kurdzhinovo. The cold and rain retreated, the sun broke through the clouds.

Anti-stapel. We managed to dry the ships and equipment almost dry.

We left at 15:15 on the Kislovodsk-Labinsk bus.

Laba (Adyghe and Kabardian-Cherk. Labezh) is a river in the North Caucasus, a left tributary of the Kuban River.

One of the most significant rivers of the Western Caucasus, the left tributary of the Kuban. The Adygs call her “Labe”.

A popular river among all water tourists in Russia!

There is no consensus on the origin of the hydronym. The most popular are two opinions. One thing connects the name with the Iranian-language ancient term “alb” (“alb”) - white.

The other is with the Iranian-language topoelement “lab” (“lav”), which in Persian means shore.

basin of the Kuban and Laba rivers

However, other comparisons may also be productive. Thus, one of the tributaries of the Malaya Laba originates from Mount Loba (an Abaza word of obscured meaning), after the name of the Abaza princes Loovs (Loo), and in the language of the Svans - the mountainous Georgian neighbors of the Abaza - the word “labna” means source.

These parallels, he believes. K. X. Meretukov, “maybe they shed some light on the meaning of the name of the river.”

Geography

It is formed by the confluence of the Bolshaya Laba and Malaya Laba, which originate from glaciers on the northern slope of the Main Range of the Greater Caucasus.

The length (together with the Bolshaya Laba) is 347 km, from the confluence with the Malaya Laba - 214 km, the basin area is 12,500 km². In the upper reaches of the Laba and its tributaries there are turbulent mountain rivers flowing in deep gorges.

In the lower reaches of the river the banks are gentle and the flow is calm. The river is fed by mixed sources: snow, glaciers and rain. The average flow rate near the mouth is 95.7 m³/sec. The laba freezes at the end of December, but not every year; it opens at the end of February - beginning of March. Used for irrigation.

On its flat part, the Laba receives many tributaries, most of them are regulated, their flow consists of strings of ponds (from the Krasnodar side) or irrigation canals (from the Adyghe side).

At the same time, the rice paddies built in the lower reaches of the Laba in the 70s of the 20th century are currently not in use.

Laba river near the mouth, Kuban

Main tributaries:

Chamlyk (right); Khodz, Chohrak, Ulka, Giaga, Psenafa, Fars (left).

Settlements on the river

On the territory of Karachay-Cherkessia, before the confluence of the Bolshaya and Malaya Laba, on its banks there are the following villages: Phiya, Damkhurts, Zagedan, Rozhkao, Asian; the villages of Psemen, Kurdzhinovo, Ershov, Predgornoye, Podskalnoe. Then the Bolshaya Laba flows through the territory of the Krasnodar Territory - the first settlement is the village of Akhmetovskaya. At the village of Kaladzhinskaya the Bolshaya and Malaya Laba rivers merge.

Upon exiting the mountain-forest zone, the Laba flows through the flat territory of the Krasnodar Territory. After the urban-type settlement of Mostovskaya, the border of the region with Adygea passes along the river.

On the right (Krasnodar) side are the cities of Labinsk and Kurganinsk, a number of villages: Zassovskaya, Vladimirskaya, Rodnikovskaya, Temirgoevskaya, Vozdvizhenskaya, Tenginskaya, Novolabinskaya, Nekrasovskaya.

On the Adyghe side there are Adyghe auls, Russian villages and towns: Khodz, Natyrbovo, Koshekhabl, Egerukhai, Sokolov, Pshizo, Dzambichi, Saratovsky, Khatukai.

Opposite the confluence of the Laba and the Kuban is the city of Ust-Labinsk.

SHORT DIRECTORY AROUND THE RIVER Laba (130 km).

(The report was prepared by A.V. Krivonos and S.V. Kryukov. Meteorological observation data by A.E. Aleksashia. I.I. Serebrennikov took part in correcting the report)

Kurganinsk - Temirgoevskaya (50 km) - Temninskaya (35 km) - Ust-Labinsk (45 km).

May, September - October, 7.5 points.

Rafting starts from st. Kurgannaya railway Armavir - Tuapse.

Here it is 2.5 km to the banks of the Laba at the road bridge. From the station you can get here by buses going to Koshekhabl, located on the other side of the river; in front of the bridge comfortable spot for assembling the kayak and setting up camp.

valley of the Malaya Laba river

At the beginning of the route, the width of the Laba is 40 - 50 m, the banks are low, the bed is pebbly, the current is fast, the water is clear, and rifts are frequent. After 5 - 6 km the river enters a floodplain forest, which accompanies it almost without interruption to the mouth. The main obstacles on Laba are snags, trees that have fallen into the water, and coastal bushes on which water falls.

From Art. Temirgoevskaya, where the muddy Chamlyk flows into the Laba, the right bank begins to rise and at Vozdvizhenskaya it is a clay cliff 25-30 m high. Downstream it becomes even higher, and the Laba begins to make large loops and calms down. Near the mouth it is already a calm, flat river 60-80 m wide, flowing in a wooded floodplain.

The journey ends on the right bank of the Kuban (along which you will have to walk about 3 km) at the road bridge in Ust-Labinsk. From the shore to the bus stop that takes you to the bus or train station is less than 0.5 km. Ust-Labinsk is connected by bus and train with Krasnodar and Kavkazskaya, which are located on highways leading to the center of the country.

General rise at 6:30.

We left at 8:20 (the car arrived in the evening). In the villages of Kardonikskaya and Zelenchukskaya, they bought food for the trip at the bazaars. Several times we made “technical” stops for 3-5 minutes. At 13:00 we stopped for 5 minutes for inspection at the “Gag” rapids on the Bolshaya Laba River. At 14:30 we crossed the Bolshaya Laba across the bridge near the village of Svinyachiy, 3 kilometers from the village of Zagedan. Guided by reports from previous years, we didn’t go any further, because there were bad parking spots and there were no obstacles worthy of attention. We set up camp on the right bank just below the bridge. Photo 9 shows unloading from a car, with a bridge in the background.

We withstood a visit from drunken lumberjacks. Then they were checked by border guards. A squad of three servicemen armed with machine guns asked to present passports and passes to the border zone. After checking the documents and checking the pass numbers via radio communication with the border post, the border guards left.

We collected the catamarans, prepared for the rafting, and discussed movement tactics for the next day.

Lights out at 21:30. Rafting on the Laba River

Seventh day of the journey. Fourth walking day.

We passed the "barrels", shafts, clamps - "background" of the 3rd category of difficulty. The power of Big Laba in comparison with Aksaut is immediately felt. At 10:50 we moored on the left bank opposite the supports of the destroyed bridge on the right bank. The landmark is very noticeable, it is impossible to pass by. Some driving directions claim that this is the beginning of the Sosnovy canyon. Taking this into account, we performed a review. We found out that the stop at the destroyed bridge was premature, because 700 meters after, behind the left turn, there is a large clearing on the left bank. This is the upper parking lot of the canyon, where several groups camped. At 11:20 the catamarans moved to this clearing and began removing things. The road passes over the river, but because of the trees most of the canyon is not visible.

Behind the canyon we set up camp on a shelf between the road and the river. This is the lower parking lot of the canyon. There are many groups here, and in order to “stake out” the place, tents have been set up.

Taking photo-video equipment and a first aid kit, we began to move up the canyon while simultaneously watching. On the way, we marked a place to install the catamaran for the “lower” belay - beyond the threshold “Bring it, Lord!” Most of the canyon was examined from below, away from the water.

The crew of the maxi catamaran "Red Sun" circled the catamaran and at 14:40 stood on the "lower" belay in the intended place. The remaining crews moved the catamarans to the sandy beach of the right bank in front of the threshold “Farewell, Motherland!” The first to prepare to cross the threshold was “Farewell, Motherland!” 4 catamaran "Raftmaster". To insure a 4 catamaran, one 2 catamaran was not enough. Therefore, the 2-piece catamarans "Raftmaster" and "Krasnoe Solnyshko" mini were brought along the right bank beyond the threshold and installed for insurance from the water. The crew of the catamaran "Kulik" was filming and belaying with the rescue end from the rock above the "barrel" of the rapids "Farewell, Motherland!" In addition, an additional safety belay was installed by a parallel group just below the threshold, but before belay from the water. This group then used our insurance when passing the rapid. The belayer from the rock above the “barrel” simultaneously served as a signalman, since he was seen by both the starting crews and the rest of the belay.

The 4-piece catamaran "Raftmaster" successfully passed the threshold, energetically breaking through the "barrel" off the left bank. Photo 10 shows "Raftmaster" entering the rapids. There is a video recording of the passage.

threshold "Farewell, Motherland!"

We regrouped. The 4-car catamaran "Raftmaster" was belayed. The crew of the 2nd "Raftmaster" took up belaying with a lifesaver, taking photos and filming. We missed several catamarans of other groups. The insurance “caught” the kayaker, who once again failed to get up after the main release.

The catamaran "Kulik" was passing the threshold "Farewell, Motherland!" closer to the cliff on the right bank. In our water in this place the “barrel” was not so “evil”.

Then there was a revolution in the threshold of the catamaran 2 from another group. One of the rowers was pulled out with a lifesaver, and the other was followed by a 4-piece catamaran "Raftmaster". The man was pulled onto the catamaran. "Raftmaster" moored on the right bank in the middle of the canyon, not reaching the place on the left bank, from where they start into the rapids "Bring it, Lord!"

All the ships successfully passed the canyon and moored on the left bank in front of the rapids “Bring it, Lord!” We set up belay with a safety end after the rapid (belay from the water below the threshold had been in place since the beginning of the canyon), two signalmen at the bend in the river, and photography. Later, safety belay was replaced by water belay, and members of other groups were used as signalers. The last crews were not photographed with their own cameras.

threshold "Farewell, Motherland!"

Some crews found it difficult to keep the catamaran on a level course in the narrow rocky corridor of the threshold: the catamarans either began to spin or were pressed against the wall. Vessels that passed the threshold replenished their insurance. "Kulik" helped lift the overturned catamaran of the 2nd group. We finished passing the canyon at 17:20.

Dinner. Then dinner.

Lights out at 10 p.m.

The duty personnel wake up at 7:00. General rise at 8:00. Departure at 10:15. Movement order: “Kulik”, 2 “Raftmaster”, “Red Sun”-maxi, “Red Sun”-mini, 4 “Raftmaster”.

At 10:25 we conceived in front of the Maly Blyb canyon. We inspected the canyon. Carry things around. We brought in the maxi catamaran "Red Sun" and put it on belay behind the canyon. Above the key place of the canyon - a drainage in a rocky narrowing with a “barrel” - they set up a safety belay. Photo and videographers were also installed here. We passed through the canyon one by one, changing insurance and photo and video operators. Photos 13 - 15 show catamarans passing through the Maly Blyb canyon. Rafting on the Laba River

When passing through the canyon, the ships maneuvered from shore to shore to avoid surface and falling rocks and “barrels.” If it was impossible to bypass, it was necessary to break through the “barrels”. The canyon was passed without incident. We finished the passage at 13:20.

Between the Maly Blyb canyon and the Salty Rocks canyon there was a rocky area with swells up to 1 meter. At 13:50 we parked on the right bank behind the Upper Solenovsky Bridge.

At 16:30 we began exploring the Salty Rocks canyon. At the “Brick” rapids, we watched as the crew rescued the remains of a broken catamaran 4, which had fallen under a half-drenched log in the rapids. At 19:20 we returned to camp after finishing exploring the canyon.

salty rocks threshold

Ninth day of the journey. Sixth walking day.

General rise at 6:00. At 8:00 they started removing things. At 9 o'clock the things were left on a small "shelf" between the rapids "Brick" and "Gag" near the rock "Stone Stack" under the supervision of another group.

We began preparing for the passage of the section from the beginning of the canyon to the “Brick” rapids. We installed 4 safety links for insurance. Organized photo and video shooting. We determined the order of passing the first part of the canyon, the order of changing the insurance and photo-video operators. The first aid kit was hidden at the end of the area planned for passage.

The first to pass the beginning of the Salty Rocks canyon was the 4-car catamaran "Raftmaster" (Photo 16). After successful completion, "Raftmaster" became belayed. After this, the insurance was canceled by the Spasconians. Further passage of the canyon section was carried out with a ten-minute interval between vessels.

Laba River, Salty Rocks rapids

Next, the catamaran "Kulik" passed the first part of the Salty Rocks. Then - the mini catamaran "Red Sun". After this, the passage was carried out by a 2-piece catamaran "Raftmaster" (Photo 18). The “Red Sun” maxi catamaran completed the passage of the beginning of the Salty Rocks canyon (Photo 19). The passage was carried out avoiding “barrels” and surface stones. The “barrels” that were impossible to get around were “breaking through.” All crews successfully passed the intended section of the canyon and moored to the left bank in front of the “Brick” rapids.

At 12 o'clock they began to carry the ships beyond the "Brick" threshold. A “Red Sun” maxi, a “Red Sun” mini and 2 “Raftmaster” were surrounded. The crews of the four catamarans "Raftmaster" and "Kulik" were deciding on the possibility of passing the threshold.

At this time, catamaran 4 from another group began passing the “Brick” rapids. After entering the threshold, the crew was unable to work to the left and the catamaran was dragged under a half-covered log. One of the crew members was pinned between a log and the catamaran. The situation was complicated by the fact that, as it later turned out, none of the team had line cutters and therefore there was no opportunity to cut the catamaran’s cylinders and stops in order to free their comrade. It was a miracle that the man was able to fall to sleep, having untied the stops under the pressure of the water flow and freed the rower from the life jacket. All attempts to save the catamaran came to nothing. Subsequently, the wreckage of the catamaran was washed out from under the log and went downstream.

Having observed this (second in two days) accident at the “Brick” rapids and taking into account that it is not the strongest crew members who work on the left cylinders of the 4-piece catamarans “Raftmaster” and “Kulik”, namely from the work of the “left” ones to a greater extent The success of the passage depends on the degree, it was decided to enclose these catamarans beyond the threshold.

Only the crew of the catamaran "Kulik" decided to go through the lower part of the canyon. The remaining crews carried their ships to the parking lot at the "Stone Stack" rock. Behind this rock, a mini catamaran "Red Sun" was installed for insurance from the water. The agreed start time was 13:45. "Kulik" passed the lower part of the canyon, sticking to the right bank. In order not to jump from the large stone slab, which occupies 2/3 of the riverbed, a “ballerina” was made, which was planned during the inspection, near the right bank. In the last dump with a “barrel” near the rock “Stone Stack” a sailor fell out of the catamaran’s supports. The self-rafting was short-lived: the safety catamaran took the victim on board. They helped moor the "Kulik" with a spaskonet.

After this, the mini catamaran "Red Sun" took part in the crossing from the opposite shore of the crew of the broken 4 in "Kirpich".

The crew of the 4-kilometre catamaran "Raftmaster" decided to end their route here.

Lunch at 2:50 p.m.

With our water, the Zatychka rapids were difficult to pass. The probability of overcoming it without accidents for the crews of our group was estimated below 50%. And although there is good insurance posted outside the threshold, they still decided to fence it off.

Until 15:40 they carried the catamarans and things beyond the threshold of the "Gag". While other crews were tying things up, the crew of the mini catamaran "Red Sun" moored the overturned catamaran of another group, sailing without rowers. This "Flying Dutchman" independently passed the "Gag" threshold. As it turned out later, the ship suffered an accident in a “barrel” near the “Kamenny Stog” rock, the rowers were pulled out by the Spasconians.

We started from Zatychka at 16:45. Movement order: “Kulik”, 2 “Raftmaster”, “Red Sun”-maxi, “Red Sun”-mini. We passed a number of obstacles of 2 - 2+ difficulty categories: clamps, toadstools. At 17:00 we passed the village of Rozhkao. At 17:20 we parked on the left bank, not reaching the left tributary - the river. Oil.

Lights out at 10 p.m.

Tenth day of travel. Seventh walking day.

The duty personnel wake up at 7:00. General rise at 8:00. Departure at 9:45.

The order of movement is the same as in the evening of the previous day. We passed the “Fourth Canyon”, rocky sections, “robberies”. Everything went at once. We stopped for 10 minutes. At 11:10 we finished the route in the village of Mostovaya Polyana on the right bank. Opposite - on the left bank - is the southern tip of the village of Kurdzhinovo. Previously, they were connected by a road bridge. Now it is destroyed.

They dismantled the ships, dried and repacked things.

We left for Armavir at 17:10 in two cars, one of which had a trailer. Cars from Kurzhdinovo agreed with the drivers through residents of the village of Mostovaya Polyana. At 19:50 we arrived at Train Station"Armavir R".

Eleventh day of the journey.

Departure of train No. 027 Kislovodsk - Moscow at 01:35. The train goes through Ukraine, so customs and border guards did not let us get bored.

LABA RIVER LOCATION

Potentially dangerous areas (obstacles, phenomena) on the route

In addition to the natural obstacles that are defining for this category of complexity, which are described in section 5 “Defining obstacles of the route” of the first part of the report and in section 6 “Technical description of the group’s passage of the route” of the second part of the report, landslides, mudflows and landslides pose a danger in this geographical area . Yes, from large quantity precipitation, a few days after the group moved from Aksaut to Bolshaya Laba, a mudflow descended into the gorge through which Aksaut flows. In addition, in mountain rivers in general and on the rivers of this route in particular, sometimes there is a sharp rise in water level, reaching one and a half meters. These factors should be taken into account when choosing parking locations.

List of the most interesting natural, historical and other sites (activities) along the route

The nature of the area through which the route runs is very beautiful. At the beginning of May, the mountain peaks are covered with snow, which gives the landscapes a special majestic look. At this time of year, many plants bloom, further beautifying the surrounding views.

On the right bank in the area of ​​the “Two Bridges” canyon on the Aksaut River there is an obelisk - a monument to those who died here in the battles for the defense of the Caucasus during the Great Patriotic War.

In the area of ​​the “Fourth Canyon” on the Bolshaya Laba River you can see the left bank covered with a coating of “rust”. There used to be an iron mine in this place.

In general, the group completed the declared route. Only the most difficult rapids remained unclimbed: “Brick” and “Gag”. At the time of the hike, the difficulty of these rapids exceeded, according to our estimates, average level"five" obstacles.

The hike allowed all participants to assess their real strengths and draw conclusions: what categories of difficulty hikes they are ready for.

At the time of the hike, to be on the Bolshaya Laba above the Damkhurts camp site, it was necessary to obtain passes to the border zone. This should be done in advance in the city of Cherkessk.

Cellular communications do not work anywhere on the rafting sections of the Aksaut and Bolshaya Laba rivers. The only place where at least some kind of connection appears is the village of Kurdzhinovo (Mostovaya Polyana). They say that you can communicate via cell phone if you climb the mountain. But this seems to be a very difficult and lengthy task. Bee-Line, Sonnet and Megafon operate in the region. "MTS" does not work.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND PHOTO:

Team Nomads.

http://www.skitalets.ru/water/

Kokov J. N. Adyghe (Circassian) toponymy. Nalchik 1974, p. 218—219

Meretukov K-X. Adyghe toponymic dictionary. Maykop. 1981, p. 69-70

Dinnik N.Ya., Laba, tributary of the Kuban // encyclopedic Dictionary Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.

Voronov Yu.B. "100 Favorite Kayak Travel Routes." M., "Mir", 1993.

http://club.foto.ru/

Laba is a river that is famous for its unbridled character, rapid flow and indescribable picturesqueness. It is especially popular among tourists traveling in the Caucasus Mountains. Local residents widely use the Laba waters for economic purposes. This body of water can be confidently called the main one, without which the landscape of the European part of Russia would not be so colorful.

Laba (river): where is it located?

This reservoir is one of the most significant in the Transcaucasian region of Russia. Laba - which flows through two regions: Adygea and Krasnodar Territory. It originates from the villages of Krasny Gai and Free World. It was formed by the confluence of two rivers: the Malaya and Bolshaya Laba. Streams that turn into a huge river flow from the glaciers of the Main Caucasus Range.

Laba is a river in the Krasnodar region that flows through flat terrain, in the Adygei region - through lowlands and high mountain gorges.

Two large cities were built on its banks: Labinsk and Ust-Labinsk. From the side of the Krasnodar Territory, on the Labe there are the villages of Phii, Rozhkao, Zagedan, and the village of Asia. In the Adyghe region, there are many small villages and villages nearby: Natyrbovo, Egerukhai, Pshizo, Khatukai.

origin of name

The Adyghe people nicknamed Laba “Labe”. There is no definite version of why the river has such an unusual name. It has been suggested that the word was borrowed from the Iranian language, in which “lab” means “shore”. From the language of the Svans, neighbors of the Caucasians, “labna” is translated as “source”. interprets the word “laba” as a bell. If we draw a parallel and collect all the variants of origin and translation together, we get the literary affectionate “ringing river”.

general characteristics

This river has the following dimensions:

• length - 215 km;
• length including tributaries - 10,500 km;
• depth - from 1.2 m to 2 m;
• width - from 35 m to 200 m;
• pool area - 12.5 km²;
• flow speed - from 0.7 m/sec to 1.2 m/sec.

The upper course of the river is rapid. The tributaries of the Laba, formed in the mountains and at their foot, gurgle noisily and flow through bottomless gorges. The lower reaches, on the contrary, are moderate, with sloping banks and sandy beaches.

Laba is a river that has a huge number of tributaries, their total number exceeds 4000. Kuksa, Chamlyk, Giaga are considered the largest tributaries of Laba.

The river has a lot of water, but in autumn it becomes significantly shallower. With the arrival of spring, glaciers and mountain snow begin to melt, and the Laba River increases in volume. Great importance for a spill has the amount of precipitation. There is snow in the valleys of the gorges even in summer. The river is fed by underwater waters.

There are more than 45 glaciers. In some places, powerful underground springs gush out in the Laba Valley. The surface of the river becomes covered with a crust of ice in the second half of December during severe cold weather. If the winter is warm, Laba does not freeze at all. It thaws in late February or early March.

Laba is a river that for many years served as an irrigation means for flooded fields; in the 70s, rice was grown on its banks. Now there are no fields, but its main function has been preserved: it is used for economic needs.

Flora and fauna

In areas where the Laba River begins to flow, impenetrable spruce forests predominate. Some trees reach several tens of meters in height. Poplars, willows, ash trees, perennial oaks, and shrubs like thorns and hawthorns grow in dense forests. The flora growing along the banks of the river belongs to the steppe species. Typical plants are wheatgrass, mint, and beans. wide, swampy in places. There are small islands, completely overgrown with trees.

The waters of the Laba are inhabited by trout, crucian carp, roach, and chub.

Tourism

Laba is a river in the Krasnodar Territory, a photo of which shows that it is popular among tourists and lovers active rest. It is used for kayaking and canoeing, fishing and excursions.

Highways were built along the river. The largest of them are Psebaya-Mostovsky, M29-Labinsk, Rodnikovoe Highway. The only bridge built across the Laba connects Adygea with the Krasnodar Territory and stretches 4.4 km in length. Access to the river is open and free.

Laba is a river favored by fishermen. Some of them engage in fishing professionally using special equipment. Along the banks of the Laba, hotels, sanatoriums, recreation areas have been built, and beach areas have been equipped. Cyclists have noticed the river and regularly ride along its banks. In late spring and summer, vehicles are available for rent at numerous tourist centers.

Waterfalls

Along this river there are several places that are especially popular. These are waterfalls that have become a landmark of the reservoir. They are often visited by tourists to admire the unique views of nature.

The Kapustina waterfall, located between the villages of Nikitino and Kutan, is the largest in the entire district. The purest water falls from a height of 54 meters. The place where the water touches the cliff is covered with perennial moss, and a stream flows at the foot of the rocks. Visitors to this wonderful place stand under the waterfall and enjoy the powerful splashes of huge water flows.

The height of the Nikitinsky waterfall, the second largest in the area, is 46 meters. The waterfall is located in the valley of the Laba River. Ledges of weighty stones, framed with moss, attract the eye. Its noise can be heard several hundred meters away. This natural object is not inferior to the Kapustina waterfall in terms of attendance. It is hardly possible to admire the beauty of nature alone at the Nikitinsky Falls.

The place is characterized by a fairly dense river network, consisting of the basins of the most branched rivers. For example, this reservoir belongs to the Labinsk network. The benefit of traveling along the water system is associated with the presence of virgin terrain, replete with relict flora and fauna. The ridges along the water's edges are fraught with mysteries for extreme sports enthusiasts.

general description

The length of Bolshaya Laba is 133 kilometers. The catchment area is 1,730 square kilometers. The maximum width is 290 meters (opposite the village of Akhmetovskaya). The depth reaches 2.5 meters. The reservoir passes through the Urupsky district of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic and the Labinsky district of the Krasnodar Territory. The general direction is north, with a large bend to the east in the lower reaches. The average water consumption is quite small. The food is mixed (glacial and rain). Freeze-up does not occur every year. The flood leads to only a 0.5-meter rise in level. However, it occurs 2 times a year. There are no more than 20 tributaries (including streams). The largest ones are Phiya, Sancharo, Makera, Makhmurts, Dakhmurts, Zakan, Blyb and Beskes.

The Bolshaya Laba River was formed simultaneously with the Main Caucasus Range, on one of the glaciers of which it is born. WITH Bronze Age the tribes of the Dolmen and Maikop cultures live here - the forerunners of the current Adyghe peoples. In the first third of the 7th century. Proto-Bulgars-Utigurs (part of the Avar Khaganate) appear on the eastern bank. They assimilate some of the Circassians. The Karachais were formed (from the Khazar dialect - “black”, “wild”, “unsubdued”). This ethnonym was used to name the entire southwestern half of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. However, the Arabic description of the Bolshaya Laba River suggests that the name of the water stream was retained from the Circassians (“Labezh”). After all, they continued to live left hand from the river. Nominally, Karachay and the Eastern Circassian clans were part of the Alan Empire for some time, and then became part of its successor, Kabarda. Since the 15th century, the highlanders have experienced strong Muslim influence from Turkish emissaries and converted to Islam. From now on they are allies of the Ottomans. And in the second half of the century before last, the Bolshaya Laba River was at the center of the Caucasian War, born of 300 years of Russian-Turkish contradictions. From the beginning of the 1860s, the territory became part of the Kuban region Russian Federation. 160 years later, it experiences the counter-revolutionary Kuban uprising, which was tragic in its consequences.

And after another 21 years - the Nazi occupation (it did not last long). It turned out that no economic or transport use of the Bolshaya Laba River is possible. This is a completely high mountain river. It is distinguished by a correspondingly formidable disposition and insufficient water consumption. In the lower reaches and closer to the mouth, the Bolshaya Laba River was populated faster than in the upper reaches (which still have almost no villages). A nature reserve has been organized here.

Source and mouth of the Bolshaya Laba River

The source of the Bolshaya Laba River is located on the Abytskha glacier near Mount Pshish (2,367 meters above sea level). The area administratively belongs to the Urupsky district of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. The source of the Bolshaya Laba River is 0.4 meters wide and is surrounded by ice crusts. Gradually going down, the water flow “receives” increasingly higher coastal ravines.

The mouth of the Bolshaya Laba River is the exit to the starting channel of the Laba opposite the Krasny Gai farmstead in the Labinsky district of Kuban. The reservoir flows into 2 tributaries with a total diameter of 650 meters. There are 2 islands in the garla, consisting of large and small stones. The edge is smooth.

Basin of the Bolshaya Laba River

In the very upper reaches of the Bolshaya Laba River moves relatively smoothly. The height of the coasts is rapidly increasing. The width of the channel is insignificant. The river immediately divides into branches. In the middle fragment, the flow of the Bolshaya Laba River enters the zone of several expansion canyons. At their bottom, it scatters more strongly into channels. Thresholds become significantly lower. The mountains also begin to decline (but only slightly so far). The lower half of the Bolshaya Laba River basin acquires the most “lazy” character. But relative to lowland rivers, the water flow remains quite fast until the “finish”. There's a huge east loop here. And the diameter is no less than 200 meters (at the beginning of the “bottom”, near Akhmetovskaya, it is even 290 meters). The mountains turn into very high hills.

Sights of the Bolshaya Laba River

Threshold "Gag"

A long stay on the Bolshaya Laba River gives the most vivid memories here. And rafters, kayakers and kayakers will test themselves by passing obstacles of the 3rd - 4th difficulty categories. “Gag” meets extreme sports enthusiasts near the tiny village of Svinyachy. Where the water “artery” suddenly changes width: from 30 meters to 20. Here you will have to fly over huge stones at breakneck speed. Moreover, many of them are thrown right in the center. The elevation difference is significant. Next it will also be “hot” (read about rafting). And about the good. Along the shore you can actually find fragrant bird cherry. And not far away, a bridge that once collapsed will become a romantic subject for a photograph.

Reserve "Dakhmurts"

It is here that the flow of the Bolshaya Laba River passes through the eastern buffer zone of the Caucasus state reserve. The protected area is located within the valley of the water stream of the same name, as well as in areas of the Bolshaya Laba adjacent to its mouth. Its entire area is 3,000 hectares. Protected areas include popular high-mountain pyataks with healing mineral springs, waterfalls and deep valleys. Paths lead to the objects from the Kombat recreation center (a “crushed stone” from the village of Rozhkao will take you to it). Deer, Brown bear, roe deer, snowcock and deer will be found here and there. The Beskes, Makera and Neftyanka rivers also flow within the reserve, as if dividing it into islands. Peaks with snow caps are visible from everywhere. Passage for vacationers is free. But it is prohibited to engage in various trades here.

In the end, we note that in the protected area for the last time we will be able to climb to the peaks, the height of which still allows us to enjoy the stratum of alpine meadows (with plants listed in the Red Book), as well as taiga mountain flora - fir, pine, spruce and birch. It’s just that further on the mountain tongues on both sides are already decreasing significantly.

Village Kurdzhinovo

Only here rafting on the Bolshaya Laba River becomes completely safe. The named agglomeration stretches for 11 kilometers from north to south. That is, in terms of its length, Kurdzhinovo resembles a medium-sized city. But this is where the similarity ends, since the rural municipality is a continuous private sector. The building density is quite low. There are no industrial enterprises. Simply paradise! The attractions are more natural in nature (the western quarters go steeply into the mountains, covered with a dense idyllic forest consisting of hornbeam, beech, oak, aspen, wild pear, alder, walnut and yew). The village appeared in 1934 on a point consisting of several small villages. And over time, he headed the entire rural district (which includes old settlements and equally new municipalities). Karachays and local Circassians called Georgians “Kurja”. This is where the toponym came from (it is already Russian). However, no traces of the mentioned Transcaucasian people were found here. After the end of the Caucasian Wars (1864), Karachais, Cossacks and people from Little Russia lived here. The main current difference of the settlement is that the strategic highway A-156 passes through here.

Natural attractions of the village of Akhmetovskaya

At the beginning of the last section, rafting along the Bolshaya Laba River will reveal to you the secrets of the Stone Warrior, Round Lake and the Kunsha settlement (located in the lower reaches of the Bolshaya Laba tributary).

Let's start with Akhmetovskaya herself. On the territory of the local school, a statue was discovered that was made by the distant ancestors of the Karachais. Experts found in it similarities with images of a warrior. And the Turkic tribes liked to install them on the road (the Karachais, by origin, half belong to one Proto-Bulgarian tribe). The “face” of the sculpture has almost been erased. The figure (which is typical for the Turks) has hypertrophied arms that meet on the stomach. One of the aborigines points out that the original location of the “statue” is the remains of an equally mysterious sanctuary. All other excursion points are located near the Garnukha River, the right branch of the Bolshaya Laba. The round lake is located on a small ridge of the Black Sea - in a deep karst hole measuring 240 by 130 meters (and there are no such large closed reservoirs for tens of kilometers around!). The amazingly clear water allows you to view lake trout at a depth of 6 meters. Finally, the last village brand is a settlement at the mouth of the Kunsha stream (this is a branch of Garnukha itself). Settlement complex ( Christian churches, 3 villages and a fortified settlement) was once located both on the indicated stream and on both banks of Garnukha. It remains to add that the nearest settlement to these beauties is the village of Gornoye. There's a path here.

Tourism and recreation on the Bolshaya Laba River

The Bolshaya Laba River is located for the most part in the highlands, where it is cool even at the height of summer. And there is a lot of virgin North Caucasian forest here. As a result, we can say that this river region is more suitable for mountain trekkers, climbers, speleologists and rafters. And also for lovers of tent camping. Fishermen have nothing to do here. The majority of the river route lies in a state-protected zone. The only camp sites (“Big Laba” and “Kombat”) were built within the boundaries of the villages of Psemen and Rozhkao. They are large, with the necessary amenities. You will find housing of 4 categories, a sauna, mobile pools (you can’t swim in the river), as well as gazebos with barbecues.

The rest of the world is connected to Bolshaya Laba only through the “crushed stone” Predgornoye-Pkhiya, as well as through 2 highways - the republican A-156 and the interdistrict Labinsk-Akhmetovskaya. Dozens of dirt roads bend along the tributaries, which pleases cyclists.

Speleological and mountain recreation on the Bolshaya Laba River is the main leisure activity for extreme tourists. water flow cuts through ridges or goes along them. There are “walls” for rock climbing. As well as trails to little-explored caves and waterfalls.

The valley is rich in mineral springs (the streams passing through the Abytskhi, Aishkho and Pseashkho glaciers are ideally mineralized). Therefore, health tourism also takes place in the described area. For example, they make Labinskaya mineral water here. Moreover, on the territory of OK “Laba” they use this water for treatment. True, the hospital is located below.

Eventful recreation on the Bolshaya Laba River is represented by only one interesting festival. In Kurdzhinovo. We are talking about a gathering of fans of sadhu-sanga (a significant number of adherents of Vaishnaism live on the outskirts of the village - here they hid from civilization, thus trying to get closer to nirvana). The Alara Ekadashi festival takes place every year on May 11 and gathers the comrades of local Vaishnavas from the nearest (and sometimes quite distant) urban environment. After all, those are constantly attracted to wildlife. To silence. Ordinary people call the people who gather here “Hare Krishnas”, since they have little understanding of the varied Indian beliefs... By the way, Vaishnaism teachers (“sadhus”) often come here too. These are Indian citizens. Of course, pilgrimage tourism in the village is also associated with 2-3 Orthodox shrines.

Rafting on the Bolshaya Laba River is the second most popular activity here. In addition to the already described “Gag” (before it), “water workers” will have to go through countless “barrels”, shafts and clamps. Past the destroyed bridge. And after “Gag” - the threshold “Farewell to the Motherland!” Even super-professionals land here separately from their craft. By the way, the “barrel” that follows the threshold is made on the left bank. They usually hang out in front of the canyon of the Malyi Blyb River (this is a good spot for a camp). Next comes the Salty Rocks gorge and the Brick rapids. There will also be “Stone Stack” and the Fourth Canyon. On the rivieras there are quite a few places for a convenient bivouac.

Fishing and hunting on the Bolshaya Laba River

The Bolshaya Laba River is popular only for brook trout. Fishing is allowed only in some areas (Karachay-Cherkessia is jealous of its natural resources). But still, fishing takes place. Fishermen get here through Kurdzhinovo (A-156, separating foothill Karachay from mountain Karachay, passes through this settlement). Many are satisfied with their catch (trout is famous not for its size, but for its amazing taste). And what can I say - for some, just a view of the mountains is enough...

On the Bolshaya Laba River, fishing sometimes goes well with hunting (of course, for the most part, already in the lower reaches). Commercial game here includes deer, aurochs, chamois, bear, wild boar, mink, wolf and marten. There is also the ubiquitous jackal (no time limits). And among the winged game in the vicinity of the riverbed, snowcocks, black grouse and colorful pheasants make noise with their wings. You can hear ducks in the water. And in the fields of partridges. In rare hunting grounds, roe deer, hare and fox are also hunted. What's worth remembering? When hunting small or medium-sized fur animals, it is prohibited to use leg traps.

Protection of the Bolshaya Laba River

To this day, the protection of the Bolshaya Laba River is still not relevant. The predominant section of its channel is located in sparsely populated areas. Only from the middle cluster do agricultural enterprises begin to appear that do not cause serious damage to the basin. The lower reaches are much more worrisome. Quite a lot of tourists accumulate in them, and, therefore, garbage. Local residents have to clean up during cleanup days. The water quality is still optimal (IZ – “light pollution”). This is noticeable in its transparency.

The description of the Bolshaya Laba River presented to you provides the necessary information about the method of its recreational use. By the way, the poet Mikhail Lermontov in his works more than once hinted at the tracts located in the river canyon. The Adygs, who had long lived along the western bank, called this stream “Labezh” - “Old Laba”. But this hints at the immutability of the route of the deeply incised river basin...