First BASE expedition to the Caucasus

Mountain Erydag - the most southern point of Russia, its height is 4000 meters, on the plateau of the mountain the border with Azerbaijan, dividing the mountain into two parts. Our goal - to find the exit to jump wingsuit, difference can be up to 1500 meters. To do this, we will have to pass through the Republic of Dagestan. We warn that Dagestan - the most dangerous place in the Caucasus, but say those who have not been there, and who was told about the unprecedented in the Russian hospitality. For two months we have been preparing for the trip and are now ready to hit the road.

Ingushetia, Dzheirakhsky district, the starting point of our trip to the Caucasus. From Ekaterinburg to Dzheyraha 2,800 km, on the road spent four days, there were not any problems. Gasoline spent 7,500 rubles, slept in motels, bed with shared shower - 300 rubles, the average bill in a cafe - 150 rubles. Dzheirakh met good weather. Our task - to pass acclimatization and training to make friends jumping cliffs.

Mountain mints-Loam, the first rock, which was a complete leap in Ingushetia, in February 2013, beysdzhamperom Gleb Vorevodinym. I'm going to fly here a new line above the right shoulder. For the team it is a great opportunity to disperse and test equipment in extreme conditions.

Temple sanctuary mints, sat down, his age more than 1000 years. The elders spent here charges and bring sacrifices. The temple is located 500 meters from the exit, it is possible to rest and prepare for the jump, and what kinds here - ochumet. One of the most beautiful places on the planet.

mints-Loam.

Wingsuit - a suit of special shape that allows to travel long distances over the horizon in a free fall.

The height of the exit 2292 meters, the flight time of about 45 seconds.

During a trip to Ingushetia we visited the tower complexes Vovnushki and Erzi. Ingush towers - stone towers, built in the period between the X and XVII centuries AD. Ingush ethnicity as a mentally inextricably linked with its tower culture. This fact is best emphasizes the self-designation of the Ingush - GIalgIay, which translates as "people of the towers." Tower in Ingush "GIal".

There are three basic types of towers: residential, poluboevye (some sources - poluzhilye) and combat. The residential towers have been used to stay second and third floors of the tower, on the ground floor are usually kept livestock. Poluboevye tower used to have a footprint smaller than that of residential towers. Martial tower structurally different from the residential and poluboevyh: they were much higher and narrower. Entrance to the battle tower is located on the second floor, thus depriving potential enemies the possibility of using a battering ram. Usually turrets consisted of five or six floors above the ground and rose to 25-30 meters. This height is subject to threats stone walls even with a small earthquake. Movement between floors carried by internal ladders. The first floor was used as a warehouse for storing food and other essentials, there were isolated stone premises for keeping them captive. The third and subsequent until the last floors were used as in the economic and defensive purposes. On the top floor, called "Falcon Tower", kept the stones, bows and arrows, guns. Rather large loopholes on all four walls outside were covered with stone shields. Also, the tower had a signal value during the attack of the enemy signal from one tower to another passed.

In Ingushetia there were whole "tapes" (name), specializing in the construction of tower buildings. They were known outside Ingushetia - in Chechnya, Ossetia and Georgia.

In the village of Guli, we met with the oldest man in Russia, listed in the Guinness Book of Records, Appazov Aliyev. His age - 117 years. The old man kept the clarity of mind to old age, apparently, because he lives in the mountains, eat right and maintain an active lifestyle. All my life Appazov Iliev was engaged in agriculture, while working as a tractor driver. Every day he walks in their village. 117-year-old elder raised 8 children, 17 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even have great-grandchildren. I shook hands with Appazov Iliev and felt strong energy.

In the Middle Ages in every Ingush village was a "city of the dead." "Solar burials" are located near residential buildings, "so that people thinking about the eternal world and perfecting his soul." I was surprised that it all survived, despite the fact that the walls are broken in some places.

Crypts were the family, and now every kind of Ingush have his ancestral graveyard. During epidemics ill went to live in a "solar burial" until his death or full recovery. Kindred gave them food on long poles. Before Islam afterlife Ingush represents a continuation of the earth, the sun was shining for the dead at a time when it is hidden from the living. According to the Ingush-known ethnographer Chah Ahriev, after harvest in the Ingush families arranged a special dinner - "Mars-PORR", in which the lady of the house, touching the dishes tongs, kept saying: 'Let there be food (such and such a dead man). " Thus bypassing all the dishes, it is poured out of the cup, which was in her hands, Braga near the hearth, then to all members of the family were taken for the meal. This wealth of material for researchers, each burial 20-30 skulls. The festivities ceased at the beginning of the XX century in connection with the adoption of Islam.

Mysterious Mountain Tsey-Loam, translated from the Ingush "beautiful mountain". According to legend, the Ingush, here was crucified Prometheus. The first BASE jump was made in February 2013. Gleb Vorevodinym, a few seconds to jump the stone on which stood Hleb, has fallen off a miracle to hold on to a nearby ledge, Gleb fell. Three months later, he died here our friend Maxim Malanchuk. In 2002, in the fog with a rock facing the Mi-8, killing ten people. There were also several accidents among climbers. We met with the elders, to learn more about the mountain Tsey-Loam. Abajo, 117-year-old Ingush who was born and raised in Guli village, said that the Gentiles organized on the mountain gathering and bringing sacrifices of his ancestors said that this is a good mountain accidents among extreme associated with a greater risk of their occupation, as they say, themselves on the rampage. But there is another view among the Ingush - someone considers this enchanted mountain. Whatever it was, we are going to climb a mountain, I want to fly on a rocky bastion nearby hill, in the previous two jumps I did not succeed.

We woke up at five in the morning, had breakfast fast food puree, bread and butter and cheese, and began the ascent up the mountain. Halfway behind the operator Denis, he slept at night one hour he had a bad dream, and he is now a bad feeling. We continued to climb further together with Eugene.

At an altitude of three kilometers saw a rocky overhang and below masonry lined with stones, where we found the horns of animals, and under a layer of earth was ashes. Most likely, here we made sacrifices, well, or grilled kebabs, after this joke, I stepped on his sunglasses and broke them.

There pagans organized collections and made the sacrifice, the height of 3000 meters. Ideal for meditation, this place is easy to discard all husks of life and focus on the great.

Continued their way further, Jack talks about his feelings during the climb: "The place uncomfortable, mysterious, I heard the voice, the sense of the height of kilometer precipice, just to get back."

We are on the ekzite. Put on equipment, walk up to the edge - stones stagger cornice does not inspire confidence. During the flight, I want to fly rocky bastion, I failed in the previous two jumps, I was able to turn away from the cliff, I feel that now I will do it.

is separated from the cliff, 4-5 seconds can feel unusual turbulence, give feet and fly straight to the shelf, half-way there is a desire to turn away, to assess the situation and perebaryvat in itself this desire, continue to fly further. Shelf delightful: see each stone, the snow on the edges, similar to the feeling of ecstasy, dive and find themselves in the dark. Part of the mountain behind the shelf is in the shade, through the eye changes the second exposure, and I see in front of two huge rock pyramid, a flight of fancy, you can fly wherever you want, it feels a flight in space. Delve deep into the canyon, the river flowing beneath me, the pyramid on the right side, left a huge wall to give full gas and fly out of the canyon, flying a kilometer, open the parachute, landing next to the ancient towers.