Kurortnaya Mountain

Kurortnaya Mountain is a 1,621.4-metre peak in the eastern spurs of the Sikhote-Alin range, in the Terney municipal district of Primorsky Krai. It belongs to the Kema-Amgu mountain knot and stands at the headwaters of the Maksimovka River, about 35 km west of the village of Amgu, the nearest settlement.

Nature

Kurortnaya sits on the watershed between the Amgu and Maksimovka rivers. Its slopes give rise to numerous mountain streams, creeks and waterfalls: this whole stretch of the Sikhote-Alin is known for turbulent rivers, waterfalls, hot springs and high ridges. Blueberries and lingonberries grow on Kurortnaya's slopes. Near the neighbouring peak of Tuman, 1,488 metres high, stretches a hard-to-pass belt of dwarf Siberian pine that makes travel along the ridge considerably harder. The mountain and its surroundings are still considered little studied, with few detailed accounts of the local flora and fauna.

Getting there

The ascent to Kurortnaya can be made along the left tributary of the Amgu River. This route passes through a canyon whose walls form rock outcrops up to 30 metres high. The classic climbing route starts from the Svyataya Elena (St. Helena) hot springs, a local landmark that also serves as a starting point for several other routes in the area. Another approach runs through the Ustaly creek, past rock remnants, and comes out onto the watershed, from where a path leads on to the summit. The longest and hardest route goes from the St. Helena springs through a canyon vividly named "Devil's Maw" and then traverses both Kurortnaya and Mount Tuman along the way.

Good to know

According to locals, hidden paths known only to them lead to the summit of Kurortnaya. In this little-studied, hard-to-pass terrain, with a belt of dwarf pine on the approaches, it is easy to get lost, so the route should be carefully planned in advance, allowing several days, and ideally undertaken with a guide who knows the area.