We suggest your trekking the path "The way to the pure lake
Baikal". Since 1995 the path has been maintained by the children
ecological community "The active touring laboratory" together
with the Zabaikalsky National Park.
You are sure to enjoy your trekking. Everything, that you could possibly
meet and see on your way, will be described on the information stands
and plates, posted along the path.
Trekking along the path is a good way of family rest. The path was
tracked by children, so people of any age can manage the day-trekkings,
provided on the path. Besides, the path's location permits to halt
whenever you need.
Total spread of the path is 54 km. There are 7 appointed camps along
the path.
Description of the path (notes from the diaries). The first kilometers
the path runs through a wonderful forest, among big, shapely lodge,
where it twists and continues along the creek "Gremyachy"
through an aspen forest up to the first stop "The winter lodge".
There you can nestle down, cook dinner and have a rest to get up steam
before crossing the Barguzin Range. You are to master 3 km until you
reach "The winter lodge" stop. Then the path runs north-west.
After a 300 meter's walk it reaches a bridge across the creek and runs
now on the right bank, from time to time, up to terraces then down to
the creek, repeatedly crossing it. The ascents are sleep, bosky and
grassy. On the ridges there can be seen sharp rocks.
The valley
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gradually broadens and the forest gives place to a mountain pine
thicket alternating with splendid alpine grasslands, lUsh greenery
and bright spots of flowers. A pull uphill is over and you are now
at the highest point of the path (1600 m above the sea level). The
next stop "Plateau" is right there. On the notch there is
a big pyramid-like marker made of stones. There - from it is possible
to climb along the path and admire the impressive view of the Ikatsky
Range, the bottoms of the river Barguzin, the Barguzinsky and Chivyrkuisky
Bays, the Svyatoy Nos Isthmus, the lake Arangatuy. Weather permitting,
the Olkhon Island can also be seen. Atop of the mountain there is
a geodesical directional sign.
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From the stop "Plateau" the path runs through the carpets
of reindeer mass, the mountain pine : thickets down to the bottom
of the creek "Khozaly". After a 2 kilometer's walk one can
see a small picturesque waterfall on the right of he alpine grasslands.
Further on the path repeatedly crosses the creek "Khozaly".
On the path there occur glades, time and again it is crossed by small
springs. 6 km away from the notch there is another stop "The
giant on the taiga", having received its name thanks to the giant
cedars, growing around. It's a good place for camping.
Further on after an 8 km's walk the path comes out to the bank of
the river Bolshoy Chivyrkuy (The Greater Chivyrkuy), where there is
another stop "Passage". There you can rest in a rather good
winter lodge
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(the hut is for 4-5 persons). At the place you should cross the river
Bolshoy Chivyrkuy, whereas further on the path runs down to Baikal,
along the opposite bank of the river, through its bottomland. Please,
be careful, when crossing the river. It is not deep, but it is cold
and fast. 8 km away the passage , having passed over the river Dubary,
at the influx of the river Dubary into the river Bolshoy Chivyrkuy,
on a dry sunny terrace there is another stop. It is known by the same
name - "Dubary". It's a good place for camping. Further
on the path runs up to bypass a cliff and comes down to the river
Bolshoy Chivyrkuy, flowing along the picturesque canyon. The path
runs along the river, where numerous cliffs and stony deposits occur.
Be careful when making your way through the stones, especially in
case they are wet. The path here is marked by small stone markers.
8 km more to go and one will face another big right tributary -
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the MarkUshkina river. Having crossed it over and passed another
2 km on the very bank of the river Bolshoy Chivyrkuy you can nestle
down for a night at an appointed camp, which is named "Master".
Further on the path runs through the riverside terraces, covered by
the thick taiga. You are sure to admire the way the river Bolshoy
Chivyrkuy from a small rivulet passes into an affluent river, discharging
its pure waters to the sacred Lake Baikal. After a 7 km's walk one
can watch the river to come out of the mountain narrows and overflow
into several arms. This is the forest borders on holm grasslands.
Here you can find the stop "Holm grasslands". In summer
it's a "mosquitoland". Having come out to the grassland
the path turns to the right. Crosses two small rivulets and further
runs along a woody slope. After a 3 km's walk one comes out to an
old forest road. The cordon of the Bolshoy Chivyrkuy is just 6 km
away.
The last kilometers the path runs through a thicket of aspen and alder
forming a shady alley. At the cordon you should be checked in by the
park's huntsman. It is possible to continue your travel by sea only.
That's why you should have a preliminary arrangement with the administration
of the National Park (or any other owner of a boat) about its boat
to pick you up at the cordon and take you over the Chivyrkuy Bay to
the place Monakhovo.
From there you can go by hitch to the village Ust-Barguzin. There
is another variant: you can stop at the zmeinaya creek, where you
can bathe in medicative thermal springs. There is no other place in
the National Park as popular among its visitors as zmeinaya hot springs.
From the zmeinaya creek you can take an 18 km's trekking to Monakhovo
or go there by boat.
