Northern Caucasus TRIP, August 2011

[Oakwood]

My dearest forumists!!! Just returned from Northern Caucasus (Karachayevo-Cherkessia Republic, Russia) where I was climbing the mountains around Arkhyz village (1450 m), situated on Great Zelenchuk river! I put here my pics of visited places in this area, please, enjoy!  
1. Arkhyz vicinities - Abishira-Akhuba ridge, 2400-2500 m. Bulbs seen: Lilium monadelphum, Muscari sp., Fritillaria collina, Fritillaria latifolia, Crocus scharojanii, Allium kunthianum.

[Oakwood]

2. Kizgych river valley and Tchigordali river and Tchigordali fall. It is very native valley, not far from Arkhyz. The fall is really weak but situated in a narrow gorge. We also passed The Dead lake - beautiful water meadow.

[Oakwood]

Sofia river valley and Sofia falls - it is just on border between Russia and Abkhazia. In this valley Crocus vallicola abundantly flower at the end of September.
It is not Epilobium a pink one, this is Chamaenerion angustifolium.

[Oakwood]

Small Dukka river valley (1700 m) and Small Dukka high-altitude lakes (2200-2500 m). Bulbs seen: Crocus scharojanii, Lilium monadelphum, Fritillaria collina, Corydalis conorhyza.

[Melvyn Jope]

Hello Dimitri, fantastic location and plants, makes me feel envious of your ability to travel there so many thanks for sharing with us.

[Oakwood]

Crocus scharojanii biotope in the Small Dukka river valley, 1700 m

[Oakwood]

Beriu-Aush Pass, 2400 m, on Abishira-Akhuba ridge. Bulbs seen: Fritillaria collina, Muscari sp., Crocus scharojanii, Lilium monadelphum.

[Paddy Tobin]

A beautiful place, Dimitri, and wonderful flowers.

The photograph of the "cocks" of hay brought back childhood memories because it was the children's job to bring these into the farmyard where they were built into a "reek" for storage as winter fodder.

Paddy

[Oakwood]

Apparently, Crocus scharojanii, growing on alpine meadows, vegetates all over the year. In the same locality on Beriu-Aush Pass I saw flowering plants, the last season leaves, and last year seed pods with fresh viable seeds I heard crying me "Where are you, HUBI???!!!"   This Crocus species corms never loose the roots...

[Oakwood]

Just last pic - Kuban' river view near Ust'-Dzheguta city. This area is very rich in Narzan mineral water sources. When you mix a bit of narzan water with fresh cow's milk, you get the local soured milk drink - AIRAN! 

[Oakwood]

Thanks, Melvyn, thanks, Paddy! I'm happy to share with you my Caucasus memories))))

[ashley]

Fascinating to see Dima; thank you.
Is that a rhododendron (R. caucasicum?) in your first Dukka photograph?
Are these grassy hillsides above the treeline, and are they grazed (e.g. by sheep)?  If the latter then maybe not very intensively.
Wonderful crocus

[Oakwood]

Fascinating to see Dima; thank you.
Is that a rhododendron (R. caucasicum?) in your first Dukka photograph?
Are these grassy hillsides above the treeline, and are they grazed (e.g. by sheep)?  If the latter then maybe not very intensively.
Wonderful crocus

Hi, Ashley, yes, it is this rhod! and these hillsides are really intensively grazed by sheep....(((

[ashley]

Thanks again Dima.  Great to see a little of this beautiful area that's very hard for most of us to visit, as Mervyn says.

[Maggi Young]

Super photos, Dima.... you must have really enjoyed this trip.... I am certainly enjoying the pictures here... thank you!