Great Hike in the Stepantsminda Area

Our goal, top of the left mountain.

The view from the top looking back from whence we came. 

Gergeti Trinity Church at the summit.

Who is shining in?

A couple of small churches in the quaint town of Sno.

St. Michael The Archangel Church at the Georgian/Russian border.

Gergeti Trinity Church lit up at night...

seen from our hotel.
 

Saturday, May 17th.

Today we delved deeper into the heart of the Caucasus Mountains, venturing to the stunning Kazbegi region. The landscape was breathtaking, dominated by the majestic Mount Kazbek, and offered a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage. It was a cool morning but the sun was shining and the skies were blue. Eight of us took the opportunity to hike to the Gergeti Trinity Church, a picturesque religious site perched high on a hilltop. The hike was challenging, rising 400 metres over a 5kms. The rest of the group were driven up in 4x4’s. We did not hike up the road but on trails, paths and some wooden stairs that protected the slope from being too muddy, through town and up through the woods. From there we could admire the panoramic views of the snow-capped Mount Kazbek and the surrounding valleys. We stayed up there for an hour exploring the monastery and admiring the views. Then we were shuttled back to the hotel to change our gear. We boarded the bus and headed into town to buy a few supplies for lunch on the run. Then we drove to the small picturesque town of Sno where we found a couple of little old churches and an old watch tower. Then we drove again on the Georgian Military Highway through the Darian Gorge, to the Georgia/Russia border where Georgia has built a brand new large new church, St. Michael the Archangel Church, on a cliff overlooking the Georgia border crossing to Russia in the Darial Gorge. This church is a patch of peace in a sea of political turmoil. The nuns live in a cloister on the hillside opposite the church. The monks enjoy nice digs in the monastery. Actually the church is at the border and Russia is four kilometres away on the other side of the neutral zone. Then we drove back the same route to our hotel for a bit of free time and dinner and an early night.