Kazbegi, on the Russian border in S.Ossetia
Trip Start
May 28, 2006
1
13
162
Trip End
May 17, 2007
Loading Map
Kazbegi,
Georgia
Friday, June 16, 2006
Ossetia is a breakaway region in the Caucasus so we were a bit nervous when we decided to head up there in Daphne our truck. Our nerves weren't helped by the Lonely Planet's reassurance, who felt it necessary to let us know that war is "unlikely"! Getting up there involves driving up the Georgian Military Highway - also described in colourful terms by the LP.
Church on the way up to Kazbegi 2
Luckily the highway turned out to be absolutely spectacular (if bone-jarringly bad) and the mountains up there are stunning. We bush camped just outside a small town called Stephansminda and got up early to walk up into the mountains.
In Stephansminde near Kazbegi
We were aiming for a church high up in the hills above. We were accompanied by a small dog who followed us all the way up there - and then continued walking with the hardier members of our group who hiked further up the valley. Apparently this dog is a local legend - he is a bit of a mountaineer but nowadays will only go trekking with foreigners, not Georgians, who he identifies first thing then sticks with all day. He has even climbed a local 5,000m plus peak - twice. The views from the top, once the mist had cleared, were brilliant.
