Guide to Sheregesh. For those who are going to ride for the first time – Blog "Sport-Marathon"
Useful information and tips for riders who want to ski in Sheregesh – the most famous and popular ski resort in Siberia!
Guide to Sheregesh. For those who go skiing for the first time
Sheregesh is one of the most famous and most visited ski resorts in Russia. Its demand by riders is due to the early start and long skiing season, as well as relative transport accessibility and good infrastructure. And of course, Gesh is famous for its unique loose snow, which has made it a real mecca of freeriding.
When to go to Sheregesh?
A stable snow cover in Sheregesh is established quite early – already at the end of October. Snowfall is accompanied by a real hysteria in social networks, which is actively fueled by hotel owners, ski lifts and tour organizers. The nerves of many riders can not stand it, and they go to Sheregesh at the end of October – even before the official opening of the season. One can only dream of normal skiing during these periods, so such trips usually bring together party lovers who want to quickly celebrate the onset of the winter skiing season.
The official opening takes place in the middle – the second half of November, and the exact date directly depends on the weather conditions – when a sufficient amount of snow falls. Practice shows that even in the snowy season it is worth going to Sheregesh only after November 20-25. At this time, you can definitely safely ride on all the tracks and safely roll out the powder within the resort, without being afraid to peel off your favorite projectile on barely powdered stones. The only exception to this rule is the anomalously snowy winter of 2011/2012 for Sheregesh.
It is rather problematic to name the optimal dates for a trip to Gesh: the weather is not stable from season to season, and therefore it is difficult to guess with good dates. Many riders believe that the best months to ride in Geshe are February and the first half of March, while the New Year holidays are the peak of cold weather. In fact, frosty days can be caught already from the end of November and throughout the winter, and on New Year's holidays, on the contrary, there may be a peak of magnificent snowfalls and a temperature comfortable for skiing. So if you are planning your trip well before the start of the season, then you need to be prepared for anything.
For a wide range of riders from all over the country, Sheregesh is most interesting from the end of November until the New Year holidays. At this time, far from all resorts open the season, and in Geshe, snow is almost guaranteed to fall abundantly. It is enough to cover all the slopes and main spots for off-piste skiing, but not so much to completely hide the interesting micro-relief, which is appreciated by freeride enthusiasts. Therefore, the end of November and the beginning of December is a favorite time for collecting freeride parties.Adherents of all -in -line skiing from all over the country and near abroad flow into Shereges. So this is the most suitable time to “walk” your new Gore-Tex coach and test freshly bonded freerid skis.
If you do not like the lifting lifting lifts and the crowds of riders on the tracks, then it stands on weekdays and in a low season. In the case of Sheregesh this:
- The last week of December, when the lull comes before the New Year holidays.
- A long period that stretches from the end of the New Year holidays to mid -February.
It is believed that in January and February the risk of frost is increasing, but in reality they happen infrequently. At the end of February – early March, holidays are in, in addition, March itself is a real “velvet season”. The weather is quite warm, especially on sunny days, but at the same time the condition of the snow is still excellent and frequent snowfalls. There are enough riders on the slopes, but still not so many in comparison with the peak of the season.
April is the time of festivals at the end of the season, when skating becomes only a small addition to party and festivals. Grelka Fest, with his famous descent in swimsuits, is just carried out during this period. Finally, at the end of April – early May, the official closure of the season is required. There is almost no question of skating, and the script of October is repeated – lovers of parties and festivals come to the resort.
How to get to Sheregesh?
Sheregesh is quite removed from large settlements, so the road there takes a lot of time and is a significant share in the budget of the trip. There are two main directions that are optimal in price and time on the way.
Through Novosibirsk
, on a taxi, with fellow travelers or on a regular bus Novosibirsk – Tashtagol from the Novosibirsk bus station. The latter runs daily. You are traveling all night, arriving at Sheregesh in the morning, so you don’t even lose the day of skiing. But on the road, this regular bus is the longest – a little more than 10 hours, as it stops in almost all large settlements along the route. And the path from Novosibirsk to Gesha is already unlucky-530 kilometers, which are usually overcome by charter buses or by car in 7-9 hours.
Through Novokuznetsk
You arrive in Novokuznetsk by plane/train. About 170 km are separated from Sheregesh, which are overcome by vehicles in 2-3 hours. The plane lands very early in the morning, so you do not lose the day of skiing. You can get to the Gesh from Novokuznetsk in three ways. If you fly by plane, a transfer can organize a receiving side to you or you are going by taxi.
Those who arrived by train will be able to get to Gesh on the same bus Novosibirsk – Tashtagol, which leaves from Novokuznetsk at 6:40 in the morning. The transplant will not cause problems – the railway station in Novokuznetsk is located a stone's throw from the bus station.If you do not have time for him, it does not matter. The next regular bus to Sheregesh follows at 12:00. The road time will be 3-3.5 hours (by taxi-2 hours). Also from Novokuznetsk, several regular buses run to Tashtagol, from where Gesha can reach the 101st bus, but this is still a plus of 1 hour on the road, and the day of skiing will definitely be lost.
In both cases, you can get on the way, for example, using the BlaBlaCar service and specialized groups on social networks. This option is often even cheaper than regular and charter buses.
Where to stay in Sheregesh?
Rent an apartment
Renting an apartment in the village for a large company often involves more favorable and, as a rule, more comfortable living conditions than in most hotels at the foot of the mountain. The ability to cook in the kitchen and purchase in village stores also contributes to savings. But you will have to spend money on a taxi every day or try to have time for a free regular bus that runs from mountains to corn store
. Immediately note that relying on it is not worth it. It is profitable to rent an apartment in the village only with a relatively large company of 3-6 people or if you plan to stay in Sheregesh for a long time.
When searching for housing in the village, you must be sure of the reliability of the landlord, as there are frequent cases of fraud. The most popular way to deceive is to place non-existent apartments or apartments on Avito or on social networks that are already busy with someone and ask for an advance payment. After receiving the prepayment, the fraudster disappears, so the most reliable is not to give any money forward or book housing through reliable services.
Hotels
There are several hotels in the village, mainly economy class, the cost of which includes a free transfer to the resort. Usually these are a couple of buses/minibuses that run from mountain to hotel strictly on schedule. Not all riders are conveniently traveling to them, and there is always a risk of being late for departure, so if you book a hotel in the village, you still lay money on a taxi in the budget.
Those who do not want to spend time and money on a daily transfer to the resort are advisable to settle in one of the hotels at the green foot, since there are a lot of them. All of them are in walking distance from the lifts, and the cost of some numbers is often immediately included in the ski pass on a certain cable car. True, such a service has literally a few hotels.
The hotel rooms are designed literally for any wallet: from 700-800 rubles per place in a 6-seater issue to 2-seater apartments for 30,000 per day-and the last is not the limit. Local luxury hotels, in addition to comfort and comfort, as a rule, also offer an exclusive kitchen, which will appeal to gourmets, and the economy class number does not mean devastation and low quality of service.It provides the necessary minimum for a comfortable residence, although the numbers are designed for the settlement of 4-6 people. Such hotels are focused on a young audience and economical freeriders, all of which are invested in equipment. Contrary to the common myth, they are cleanly made, normal repairs and not as noisy as they sometimes tell. At least on weekdays and low season. We will not advise a specific version of the hotel – it all depends on your preferences and the limit of funds for rest.
Remember that in most cases, hotel rooms are devoid of kitchens, and constant nutrition in cafes and canteens can become a serious article of expenses. Therefore, if you are driving a large company by car, we recommend taking a slow cooker with you – it will allow you to quickly prepare breakfast or dinner. Also, when choosing a room, specify whether it will have a kettle or microwave in it. As a rule, they are included only with the price of the room above the average. The economical riders who get a room without a kettle will recommend taking a thermos with you and fill it with boiling water at the reception or in the dining room.
Guest houses
Another housing option is guest houses that are suitable for large companies of riders and family vacations. There are more and more such proposals every year, and options can be found both in the village and in the immediate vicinity of the mountain and lifts. The scatter of prices here differs in the same breadth as in the case of hotels.
Hostels
Option for the most economical riders. There are at least three hostels in Sheregesh: “Yes!”, “V Korobke” and “Bear Hole”. The price in them ranges from 500 to 900 rubles per day per person, so they can rightfully be considered the most affordable housing for catalmen. Everyone is located in the center of the village near the Maria-Ra store, next to which many taxi drivers will always be on duty, so organizing a mountain transfer is not a problem.
Food in Sheregesh
Most of the cafes and dining rooms are concentrated in sector A, and only here their diversity reaches its maximum. You can eat tasty and inexpensive, or you can dump for a modest plastic cup of tasteless tea as much as 50 rubles. As a rule, the closer the catering point is to the lift, the higher the prices in it, but there are exceptions.
We recommend that you first study the reviews about the institution and get acquainted with its kitchen. Among the most popular places with relatively democratic prices and delicious cuisine:
- cafe Perekati-field;
- cafe mittens;
- ROOKS bar;
- Cafe Yurt;
- buffet on the ground floor of the Sugrian Hotel;
- Cafe Susanin at the foot of the mountain in the sector E;
- Freedom cafe on the landing from the Freestyle cable car.
The most famous points with which the riders associate the entire Sheregesh catering are the Grelka and the “springboard”, as well as the “bullet” cafe. A tolerable lunch on the mountain will cost at least 250-500 rubles, while you should not wait for this money a classic complex set of three dishes.
In most cases, food on the mountain will be more expensive than in canteens or cafes with hotels, and it is definitely unprofitable if you prefer to cook yourself. Those who want to save money are recommended to have a tight breakfast, and to take a small thermos and a snack on the mountain – to eat with relative comfort almost always at the tables that stand right next to the cafe. Usually this “fuel” is enough to roll the day and have dinner at home.
Places of skiing and ski passes
The entire territory of the resort is customary to divide into three sectors, which almost accurately indicate the boundaries of the three largest cable operators:
- sectors A and B (operator Cascade, but also presented several more small independent cable operators from the Olga, Sporter and Freestyle hotels);
- sector E (operator Schoria-Tour);
- The sector F – the Panorama and Sky Way (Malca operator) located between the sectors A and E.
The scheme of the tracks and lifts of the Sheregesh by sectors. The right column indicates the cost of one-time ascent for the 2019/2020 season © Sheregesh.su
Most of the tracks and lifts in Sheregesh are located in the A and B sectors, and here is the maximum concentration of cafes, parking lots, rolls, souvenir shops, ski services and hotels. For these reasons, most riders who have arrived at the resort ride in these sectors, and the lifts on weekends collect lines of maximum length. Six large chairs of the Cascade operator work here, but the Mustag cable car is not yet stable and often idle. In sector A are the most famous tracks of the resort – the famous “forehead”, “Elena” and “dollar”, but due to the large influx of riders and weather vagaries, they often do not have time to prepare them properly. So in Sheregesh you need to be able to roll tubers, especially in the low season, when the frequency of preparation of the tracks decreases.
One of the most famous and complex routes of Sheregesh is the “forehead” in the sector A. At the same time shows the afternoon state of the slopes. View from the lift Blue supports © Alexander Denisov
The sector E is located on the southwestern slope of Gorny Mountain. It is equipped with a comfortable gondola lift, from which two wide, well -prepared tracks are available, one of which is the longest in Sheregesh – 4 kilometers. Both are characterized by a rather gentle slope with a pair of relatively complex areas, due to which they are in demand among beginners and connoisseurs of calm skiing. The most problematic is the beginning of the tracks – the wind at the top blows the snow, exposing stones and a strongly compacting slope. But recently, this problem has been actively solved. In preparation for the 2019/2020 season, at the beginning of the sector routes, 100 bales of hay were laid, they made snow retention, cleaned this site from stones and plan to supplement all these measures with artificial equipment-there is a snow generator for these purposes.
The sector is gradually developing: a training slope and snowpark were added to the main routes, the throughput of the gondola rolled has grown significantly, which can save riders from the queues. And the most anticipated is the launch of the lift to Mount Utuya. Circles of the tracks have already been laid on it, but only freeriders can ride on them with abandonment.
Between sectors A and E is the section of the mountain, which is served by the Malca operator. It is officially called the se sector, but it is so noted only on the development plans of the resort. Two large lifts work here-a gondola-pending “panorama” and a gondola Sky Way, which is also known as “red-haired” or “red cabins”, for the bright color of the gondol. The tracks in this area of skiing do not differ in the same variety as in sector A, but still interesting for many riders. There is a steep descent, gentle rolls for learning beginners and the famous “Tomsk Forest”, where you can get a shock portion of a puffy, located on the territory between the Sky Way and Panorama tracks.
Sometimes the weather does not allow to prepare the tracks in a timely manner, and then the next morning all skiers and snowboarders who go to the slopes of Sheregesh involuntarily become freeriders © Sector E
Subscription prices for all operators differ slightly. Only the only located in the sector and the Freestyle lift, which is called Satan, located in the sector and the “Satan” is called uninterrupted work even in bad weather. It also has the lowest prices. The cost of a ski pass is 500 rubles for 4 hours or 700 rubles per day. At the same time, from 8:30 to 9:00 you can climb it for free – the morning chubby of the resort and local riders roll it out precisely from it. At the same time, there is a 10 percent discount on the purchase of subscriptions. The advantages of Freestyle also include the availability of the Long highway and the slopes of Panorama, as well as its relatively stable work even in frankly bad weather conditions.
The cost of one -time ascent varies greatly from the operator to the operator. It should also be noted that during the New Year holidays the price of ski passes significantly grows. Children under seven, eight or 10 years can use lifting lifts for free, depending on the operator of the cable car. In the sector, children at the age of 8-14 are given a discount on subscriptions.
You will have to add another 100 rubles per card to the price of subscriptions. This amount is irrevocable, so it is better to save plastic for future trips. At the moment, in Sheregesh, there is also a conditionally “single” ski pass, which so far does not cover the entire territory of the resort. For 1700 rubles, you can get a daily subscription for all the lifts of the Cascade operator and the lifts of the sector E. Panorama, Sky Way, Freestyle, Sporter, alas, are not included in the “Coating area” with a single ski passage.
Rains in Sheregesh
The rental allows you to get to the resort lightly, try out new models of skis and snowboards, and also not to worry about the weather forecast and not carry several shells with you at once. If there are not enough snowfalls, you can test the skis for the track, and if you piled a puffy, take a freeride model.
There are many roller cans in Sheregesh – in them you can find shells for both beginners and experienced riders. Those who are chosen into the mountains infrequently or are just learning to ride can rent an entire set of equipment – a mask, protection, sticks and mittens/gloves. And in some cases you can even dress in a good ski costume! The rental points also often provide storage room services – here you can leave a backpack, snowshoes or other equipment.
Freirade
Sheregesh is famous for his out -of -class skiing. Various freeride schools are regularly held here, and several freeride-tours operators also work. There are many locations for skiing outside the tracks, and the key difference between them lies in accessibility. Some freeride spots can be rolled directly from the lifts, and in order to get to the rest, a mechanized abandonment or a full-fledged outbuilding is necessary.
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