Gergeti Glacier Hike (Stepantsminda loop)
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 10.58 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,907 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 4,465 ft
- Max elevation
- 10,727 ft
- TrailRank
- 41
- Min elevation
- 10,727 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Moving time
- 7 hours 8 minutes
- Time
- 9 hours 4 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1224
- Uploaded
- July 23, 2021
- Recorded
- July 2021
near Gergeti (Georgia)
Viewed 1140 times, downloaded 66 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
This is the Gergeti glacier trail! Started from Stepantsminda (recording started from the Church). Beautiful trail and weather was amazing. This is my first hike in 2 years and yet I was able to complete the 20km hike with substanial elevation in 10hrs so I would rate the trail as moderate and certainly doable in 1 day.
I would definitely recommend summer climbing (Jul'21 for me) as the cool breeze and the sun work very well together and make the hiking experience fairly pleasant and comfortable.
Went to the glacier via the left trail (through the valley) and came back via the ridge. Amazing views from the ridge and the descent is much more gradual and manageable. Some hikers were literally just running down to get back to town ASAP but I would recommend taking is slow and soaking in the views. The way down via the ridge is very easy and has a lot of spots for great views of the Kazbeg mountain and the other side (Trinity Church with the majestic mountainous backdrop). So take it slow (plan for 3-4 hours of descent) and enjoy.
1 hour from the town to the church. Then roughly 4 hours from the church to the glacier. Then 4 hours all the way back to the town. A lot of rest stops and a lot of photos so we took it really easy.
Alti hut folks even filled up our water bottle for free! Loved that!
Lastly, carry some churchkelas. Amazing snack on these hikes. Apparently the Georgian army carries them as hiking snack as well.
Good luck and enjoy!
I would definitely recommend summer climbing (Jul'21 for me) as the cool breeze and the sun work very well together and make the hiking experience fairly pleasant and comfortable.
Went to the glacier via the left trail (through the valley) and came back via the ridge. Amazing views from the ridge and the descent is much more gradual and manageable. Some hikers were literally just running down to get back to town ASAP but I would recommend taking is slow and soaking in the views. The way down via the ridge is very easy and has a lot of spots for great views of the Kazbeg mountain and the other side (Trinity Church with the majestic mountainous backdrop). So take it slow (plan for 3-4 hours of descent) and enjoy.
1 hour from the town to the church. Then roughly 4 hours from the church to the glacier. Then 4 hours all the way back to the town. A lot of rest stops and a lot of photos so we took it really easy.
Alti hut folks even filled up our water bottle for free! Loved that!
Lastly, carry some churchkelas. Amazing snack on these hikes. Apparently the Georgian army carries them as hiking snack as well.
Good luck and enjoy!
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