A unique corner with picturesque nature and clean mountain air is only the first impression of the famous Altai Territory. After all, many people know about it as the most popular ski resort, where lovers come active rest, both from Siberia and from other regions of Russia and even from neighboring countries. This is not at all surprising.
Sheregesh is a ski resort with excellent slopes, pistes with different difficulty levels, depending on the skill level of skiers or snowboarders, developed infrastructure and affordable prices. In addition, the location on the map is quite convenient and can be reached from anywhere in the country.
But Sheregesh is not only famous, there are a lot of other attractions that are definitely worth seeing. One of them is the Worship Cross.
The Poklonny Cross is one of the main attractions of the village of Sheregesh; it is located on Mount Kurgan. And it was installed in honor of the 2,000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ in 2001. The idea of its construction arose when Bishop Sophrony of Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk visited the village. It is worth noting that the construction of Poklonny crosses at intersections of roads and on hills is an ancient tradition of all Orthodox Christians.
From the top of Green Mountain there is a beautiful panorama of the entire Kurgan Mountain and the Poklonny Cross. In addition, if allowed, you can see it when approaching ski center. The monument is quite tall; its height exceeds 15 meters, and if we take into account the reinforced concrete base, then about 20 meters. And its weight reaches 7.5 tons. Due to the fact that the weight and height of the structure were quite impressive, the Cross was installed using a helicopter.
Of course, the appearance of such a large-scale structure was not ignored by tourists or pilgrims. And organized throughout the year. How to get to the main attraction of the center is unlikely to cause difficulties for anyone. If tourists want to walk, they can go from the upper lift station on Mount Zelenaya, which is called “Khlebnitsa”; its location can be seen on the map. And if tourists want to get to a memorable place on snowmobiles or snowcats, then the question of how to get there will not arise.
Sheregesh has amazingly beautiful nature and interesting places that need to be visited.
Worship crossThe Worship Cross was installed on Mount Kurgan in 2001, in honor of the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ. The idea of installing the Cross was born in 2000 during the visit of Bishop Sophrony of Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk to the Tashtagol deanery and with the support of the governor of the Kemerovo region Aman Tuleyev. The erection of worship crosses on elevated places and at road intersections is a long-standing Orthodox tradition.
The height of the cross - according to official data - is more than 15 meters, and together with the reinforced concrete base - almost 20 meters. The structure weighs 7.5 tons and was installed using a helicopter.
With good weather conditions The cross can be seen at the entrance to Sheregesh. From the top of Mount Zelenaya there is a beautiful view of Mount Kurgan with the Worship Cross and camels.
Snowmobile and snowcat tours are organized to the Cross. For lovers walking It is possible to reach the cross from Mount Zelenaya along a road groomed by snowmobiles or on snowshoes from the top station " ".
Built during the existence of the Soviet Union ski resort Sheregesh has now become one of the popular resorts Russia. A phenomenon of rapidly growing popularity ski resort seems hard to explain.
Indeed, the following factors cannot in any way contribute to the popularization of recreation in the Tashtagol region, the place where Sheregesh is located:
- distance from the center;
- expensive air travel;
- landscape with a slight elevation difference.
True, skiers and tourists may be attracted by some unique circumstances, such as:
- no danger of avalanches, which cannot be found in large resorts;
- natural snow covering the slopes already in November;
- opportunity (Bigfoot);
- a series of Guinness and Russian records set recently.
Correctional the colony IR-4
Perhaps extreme sports enthusiasts are also attracted by being located half a kilometer from ski slopes a maximum security correctional colony and a settlement area with almost a thousand places are intended for men who have committed crimes. In the settlement, convicts are unguarded.
You can meet visitors to the colony in the village itself, as well as on the way to it. After all, you can reach the barbed wire in 20 minutes from the ski lift, moving along the left side in the direction of the village. As they say local residents, the majority of the population is closely connected with the correctional institution: some were there by court verdict, some were awaiting the return of a relative or friend, and some.
It is noteworthy that from the windows of one hotel there is a view of the walls of the institution, and the reflection of the inscription “vacant rooms” falls on the building of the correctional institution.
Getting to both the colony and the ski areas is equally easy. Buses, taxis and minibuses run from the local one.
It should be noted that the prisoners of the colony and their relatives were to some extent lucky. After all, the opportunity to find yourself in an ecologically clean area, for which tourists and skiers have to pay significant money, is given to convicts by court decision.
Mount Green
The most popular and visited place for skiers is Green Mountain. It is a real paradise for professionals. Riding on alpine skiing ah here will give pleasure to beginners too. Wonderful snow cleanest air, the mountains will leave many pleasant impressions.
The mountain owes its name to the bright greenery that covers it in the summer. Officially the mountain is called Karitshal, which in the Shor language sounds like edge mountain range, end of mane. The sign on the Karitshal cafe, which is visible when traveling on a rope tow or chair lift, helps you not to forget about this name.
In addition to the 2.5 thousand-meter long track, freeride lovers can ride on virgin soil. Cozy cafes await guests and athletes.
The tracks on the eastern slope of the Green meet the requirements of the FIS world standard, thanks to which world-class competitions and stages of the national championship are held on them.
Zero probability of avalanches
The uniqueness of Sheregesh lies in its almost zero avalanche danger. This is facilitated by the Green Mountain, which resembles an ant house, having sloping slopes and long rollouts. The slopes in the lower part are densely covered with thickets of fluffy fir trees, the snow from which can only lightly shower a freerider rushing past.
Similar slopes of the Elbrus region or Krasnaya Polyana do not guarantee safety from avalanches. Resorts near Moscow can boast of zero avalanche danger. But it makes no sense to talk about riding in the Moscow region, which will bring satisfaction to riders, due to its low altitude.
But fans of downhill skiing in Sheregesh in different seasons are well aware that there are places near the slopes where an avalanche can become dangerous for a person.
This is well known to local rescuers who warn vacationers about the danger that lurks. Skiing can be especially dangerous in the spring after a sharp rise in temperature. November snow that falls on the ice crust becomes dangerous.
Worship Cross on Mount Kurgan
A visit to Sheregesh will be incomplete if the tourist has not visited the Cross of Worship, installed in 2001 on Mount Kurgan. Cross in good weather visible to the naked eye even when approaching the village.
The fifteen-meter cross, according to Orthodox tradition, was erected in honor of the celebration of the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ. The structure weighing almost eight tons was installed using a helicopter. Since ancient times, Christians have erected such crosses on hills and forks in roads.
You can get to the place of the installation of the Cross either on foot along the road, starting on the mountain, or using snowshoes from the Khlebnitsy station.
According to legend, there is an ancient Orthodox tradition of erecting worship crosses on hills and road intersections.
The village of Sheregesh in Mountain Shoria
The village of Sheregesh is located in Mountain Shoria. The village owes its origins to the hunter brothers Sharagashev, who in 1931 delivered stones to geologists that turned out to be iron ore.
After the construction of the mine began and the first ore was mined, the town received the status of a village.
In addition to the mine, the ski complex, which was built for training athletes and hosting the Spartakiad, has become a landmark of Gornaya Shoria since 1981.
The territory of Mountain Shoria is inhabited mainly by Shors, who preserve their traditions and language.
Mount Mustag and "Camels"
After visiting Sheregesh, it is worth visiting some places in this unique region. This is revered by the local population and is the highest in the southern part of Kuzbass.
Many legends have been created about Mount Mustang, among which one can note the legend about a beautiful Shor girl, whose attention two heroes wanted to achieve. The beauty was supposed to go to the hero who defeated his opponent in battle. The battle of the heroes continued for a long time using whistling arrows and boulders, but not one of them could win. The exhausted men fell to the ground, becoming two humps of one mountain. The girl covered them with a shroud and rose up like a cloud, shedding streams of tears. To this day, clear streams flow from the mountains, carrying the power of the heroes in different directions.
The view of the rocky formations of Mount Kurgan from Mount Karitshal is impressive. The magma that emerged from the ground, when solidified, took on the appearance of camel humps. The rock formations are called "Camels".
We recommend visiting the following places. Among the most notable attractions of Gornaya Shoria are the Mednaya rock, the Saga waterfall, and many caves in the Mras-Su river basin. You can also visit national park Shorsev, Tashtagolsky reserve. The Tashtagol Museum of Nature and Ethnography is located 21 kilometers from the resort, and the Tazgol Museum of Ecology is 60 kilometers away.
Guinness Record - Descent in swimsuits from Mount Zelenaya
The ski resort is famous for its flash mobs and record-breaking events. Thus, from year to year the number of people participating in setting a record for inclusion in the Guinness Book increases. The first record was when about seven hundred people dressed in swimsuits made the descent. The record became the property of the Guinness Book, gaining popularity among the fans of the Book.
This year, 1,815 people in swimsuits took part in breaking the previous record. The event took place in April during the Grelkafest festival.
Here, a record was set for the Guinness Book by Novosibirsk pilot Alexander Orlov. The paragliding pilot took off from the slope, taking five companions. The flight became the most popular paragliding flight.
There should be a single ski pass
A serious disadvantage of the resort is the abundance of lift operators in the absence of a single ski pass. According to tourists, dividing the trails between different owners often leads to misunderstandings. Having purchased a ski pass for one slope, you will be able to ride on another slope if you only purchase another card. The problem may also arise when going to a ski lift from another company. You have to either spend money on buying another card, or walk down the mountain. Moreover, unused money is often not returned.
The cost of a ski pass for a day, depending on the sector, ranges from 800 to 1000 rubles, and a VIP will cost 4000 rubles.
A consolation for tourists of the new season may be the intention of major ski lift owners to unite and create a single ski pass. The owners of twelve of the eighteen lifts agreed to the merger. Six operators refused.
For the merger, a single cash settlement center will be created, the development of which will take a couple of years. In the meantime, you will have to use the turnstiles of the Cascade group.
Equipment rental
When visiting a ski resort, it is not at all necessary to bring skiing or snowboarding equipment with you. There are several companies operating in Sheregesh that offer equipment rental at different prices. But the largest network remains Ryder rental, which includes various points where you can get equipment for both experienced skiers, snowboarders, and beginners.
Freeriders who want to ride in any weather, even when the lifts are not working, can fulfill their desire by renting snowmobiles at the lower station, which will help them get to the slopes of Mount Mustang, “Camels”, and the Poklonny Cross.
Taiga gifts of Gornaya Shoria
The path to the parking lot from the ski lifts passes through a spontaneous market. Here, local residents offer visitors the gifts of the taiga in the form of badger and bear fat, honey, fox tails, and fir oil. Tourists are offered herbs that grow only in this area, tree bark, and fir oil. It is unlikely that you will encounter such taiga rarities in other places.
When leaving the village to the ski lifts, hotels will not be able to pass by “Kukuruza”. This supermarket, which exists only thanks to visitors, is the largest retail outlet in the village. There is a taxi rank nearby. Here you can also meet grandmothers renting out apartments to visitors.
Despite the availability of hotel rooms, it is more economical to rent an apartment from a private owner. You can get to the ski lifts by taxi. The distance is approximately five kilometers.
Long flight
You can get real pleasure from visiting Sheregesh by spending a significant amount on a flight to Novokuznetsk. The airport closest to the resort is located here, accepting flights from Moscow. Buses run from Novosibirsk to Sheregesh.
Conclusion. The fabulous sensations you get in Sheregesh are difficult to convey in words. The mountain slopes covered with the purest snow, the dense forest surrounding the tracks, the blue sky remain in the memory for a long time and make you want to come back here again and again to experience the pleasure of speed, level of comfort, and the friendliness of the local population.
If you are planning a trip to Sheregesh, be sure to plan in advance which places you would like to see. Despite the fact that it is a small quiet town, there is really something to see! Today, guests are offered a variety of excursions, including a trip to such a significant place for all Christians as.
The history of the emergence of the Worship Cross in Sheregesh
More recently, at the beginning of this century, it was decided to create a monument dedicated to the 2000th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ. The place for him was Mount Kurgan chosen, which was always revered by local elders. The idea itself arose during Bishop Sophrony’s trip to the Tashtogol deanery. And a year later this monument was created. The custom of installing crosses has long roots.
The monument is very tall and reaches 20 meters. Due to its fairly large weight, the structure was installed using a helicopter.
In clear weather, the cross can be seen from afar. That is why it quickly became the calling card of Sheregesh for vacationing tourists.
Today, for an excursion to the Cross, you can take a snowmobile tour or a ride on snowcats. Those who prefer walking can climb or walk to the place along a road well-groomed by snowmobiles.
