Aktashsky Retranslyator

Aktashsky Retranslyator (Akhtash Relay Station, URS 08609) is a radio relay station in the Ulagansky District of the Altai Republic, 18 kilometers northeast of the village of Akhtash. It stands on the slope of Mount Verkhnyaya, locally also called Lysukha — a peak of the Kurai Ridge rising 3,038 meters above sea level. A 70-meter antenna is mounted on the mountain.

History

The radio relay station was built in 1981 to provide communication links across the mountainous areas of the Altai Republic. Today it is known less as a piece of infrastructure and more as a destination for travelers: the antenna and service buildings themselves draw less attention than the view from the platform at their base.

Viewpoint

Mount Verkhnyaya offers a panorama over the valley of the Chuya River and the Severo-Chuysky (North Chuya) Ridge. On a clear day, the peaks of Aktru, Kurkurek and Maashey — among the best-known summits of the Altai Mountains — are visible from here. The height and open position make the site one of the best viewpoints in the area around Akhtash.

Getting there

The road to the relay station starts in the village of Akhtash and runs as an unmaintained technical access track. Over its 18 kilometers it includes difficult sections where the vehicle's wheels lift diagonally off the ground, so the climb is only possible with a properly prepared four-wheel-drive vehicle with high ground clearance and locking differentials — such as a UAZ, a Land Cruiser 80–100, or a Nissan Patrol Y60–Y61.

Those without such a vehicle can hike up from Akhtash instead. The climb takes about 3 to 4 hours one way, and the descent takes roughly the same. The route crosses open mountain terrain with no shelter from wind or sun, so it is worth planning clothing, water and timing carefully to get back down before dark.

Aktashsky Retranslyator remains one of the less publicized but notable stops along the Chuysky Trakt: a rare case of a Soviet-era technical facility on a mountaintop turning into a popular viewpoint in the Altai Mountains.