Upper reaches of Shaurtu Glacier

Ascending Shaursal Pass in the ridge between Shaurtu and Atsyz peaks. In 1987, our FA group named the route Shaursal since it connects Shaurtu and Salynan glacier, but in the later years a slightly more Southern variation gained popularity under a route name Atsyz. The route links Chegem and Bezengi areas of Central Caucasus while bypassing the formerly more popular connecting glacial routes on the South side of the Main Range of the Caucasus, and thus avoiding possible complications with Georgian national border.