Urup

Pkhiya, at the end of a new road from Arkhyz (partly asphalted by 2024), has parking by the border-guard post and mobile coverage only near the village shop. Walk up tracks and paths to a dilapidated shepherds' hut at the foot of the Zagedan ridge (a long half-day from the village). Above it, cattle paths soon fade into knee-deep grass: climb several steps straight up to the ridge above the upper Bolshaya Azhoga valley, then follow the crest right to the Azhoga (Urup-Azhoga) pass, 2,648 m, unclassified, and descend to the Atsgara 'Five Lakes' (Pyatiozerye). A 2024 party took less than a day from Pkhiya to the lakes, about 10 km, with no path for much of the second morning. From the lakes, follow the wind-swept northern spur of the Zagedan ridge north, alternately gaining and losing height; the crest narrows to a few metres in places. Pass the easy Urup-Zagedan pass (2,700 m, 1A) and drop to the Urup lakes, a cluster of tarns below Zagedan (3,095 m); camp at the upper lake. Urup rises to the east over Sedaya (3,102 m). Urup has two tops. A 2018 group climbed from a camp on the bouldery slope at its foot directly up a steep rock-and-scree slope to the south top and judged the 200 m crossing to the higher main summit too dangerous in rain. Allow a long morning for the ascent and a full day back to Pkhiya, or return over the Zagedan ridge to the Atsgara lakes.