Russian and Mongolian Students Raise National Flags on the Top of Munku-Sardyk for the Two Lakes Cup

As part of the "Two Lakes Cup" international ball hockey tournament, Russian and Mongolian students and alumni reached the highest point of the Eastern Sayan Mountains and raised the national flags of the two countries. The ascent took place on the day the Soviet-Mongolian Soyuz-39 crew returned to Earth and preceded the second stage of the tournament.

Due to the bad weather forecast, the instructor of the INRTU Sport Tourism Club - Alexander Ekimov (INRTU graduate) decided to postpone the ascent to Munku-Sardyk until March 30th and to make an acclimatization trip to Obzorny Peak (2863 meters above sea level) on March 29th to get used to the altitude.

The route to the training summit was about 7 km from the parking lot, with an elevation gain of about 1000 meters. In conditions of snowfall, strong wind and low cloud cover, the team made the daily ascent of almost 2000 meters.

On March 30, a team of four members from Mongolia, led by INRTU student Sabir Bolotov, started the ascent from the village of Khankh on the shore of Lake Khubsugul. From the Russian side, six tourists, including students and graduates of INRTU, went to the summit.

Early in the morning the group started the route from the Tunkinskaya Valley side of the Buryat Republic and independently reached the summit of Munku-Sardyk, the height of which is 3492 meters above sea level.

The route to the summit led through a picturesque icefall, the valley of the Muguvek River, past the mountain lake Ekhoi. After meeting the team from Mongolia, the tourists took a photo with flags, called INRTU Rector Mikhail Kornyakov and the first cosmonaut of Mongolia, hero of the Soviet Union, organizer of the international tournament Zhugdardemidijn Gurragcha. Rector Kornyakov and Mr. Gurragcha congratulated the participants of the ascent on a significant event dedicated to the 43rd anniversary of the Soviet-Mongolian space flight.

The tourists, starting from the Russian side, covered about 15 kilometers per day, with the altitude difference of more than 3000 meters.

During the climbing days, the sunny weather was accompanied by strong winds, but despite this, the teams were able to successfully complete the ascent

INRTU student Sabir Bolotov:

"From the Mongolian side, climbing does not require special skills and equipment. What is required from the participant of the ascent is a willingness to climb to the top and not to give up under the wind. Climbing to the summit was interesting: the path on deep snow and the lack of experience of such climbs with some participants – however, we were favored by the weather and with such a friendly company we managed to successfully climb to the summit".

"Great hike! The four days allowed for the proper timing for a safe ascent of the mountain. The group members are generally well prepared. The day before the ascent, we were instructed in the use of special equipment, so that we "remembered" how to use it down below, not on the mountain. The whole ascent and return to camp took 15 hours. I think that this is not a bad result for a group of students," shared his impressions Alexander Ekimov, an INRTU graduate, instructor of INRTU's Students' Union.

The Coordination Center took part in the organization of the climb.

Here you can see the video:

https://vk.com/video-139054627_456240021