FATMAP by Strava

Freeriding in the Milioni Valley

In Gudauri, this is the fastest and surest way to find perfect snow with a vertical drop more than a kilometer with the use of ski lifts.

Ski Touring Moderate

Distance
11 km
Ascent
523 m
Descent
1.4 km
Duration
4-5 hrs
Low Point
2 km
High Point
3.1 km
Gradient
35˚
Freeriding in the Milioni Valley Map

The Milioni Valley lies directly after the Kobi Valley from the back, on the northern side of the Gudauri Ski Resort with the northern slope exposure.

Description

There are several options for descent along the edges of the terrain, and because of this local freeriders call the route "Alaska." The route ends near the village of Kobi on the Georgian Military Road. The steepness of the slopes is 30 - 37º.

The descent to the Milioni Valley is one of the best routes for those who want to find perfectly untouched powder with the help of ski lifts. Due to the need to traverse a little bit and ascend to the crosspiece of the nearby valley (50 m ascent), the route is the least crowded, since freeriders with ordinary skis and snowboards can’t get here. A skitour or splitboard set are essential to reach the beginning of the descent, with only half an hour of easy traverse. The route is very picturesque, and the descent lines are some of the best in the region.

Since 2019, after the launch of new ski lift lines to the Kobi Valley, returning to the resort has become easier. Now, if you descend from the Milioni valley to the Kobi village with a cushion time of at least 40 minutes, you can return to the resort by ski lifts (which is very convenient if the Cross Pass is closed and traffic through it is stopped). Using two gondolas from Kobi, you can ascend to the Kobi pass and descend from there to the resort point you need.

Before starting a route to Milioni, make sure that the cable cars on Kobi are working, check their working hours and try to descend to Kobi with a large cushion time of at least 40 minutes – the time required for a walk from the end point of the route to the start of cableway to Kobi.

Returning to the resort by car, you can make a stop a few minutes before Gudauri near the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument, which has been there since Soviet times, in honor of the 200-year friendship between Georgians and Russians. In addition to this interesting fact, even better are the incredible views from this area on a half-kilometer precipice, a volcanic plateau, and a mountain lake (artificial).

Difficulty

Moderate

Slopes become slightly steeper at around 25-30 degrees.

Medium Exposure (E2)

2 out of 4

As well as the slope itself, there are some obstacles (such as rock outcrops) which could aggravate injury.

Remoteness

3 out of 4

Little chance of being seen or helped in case of an accident.

Best time to visit

between January and April

Features

  • Alpine

Equipment required

  • Skins

Similar routes nearby

Guidebooks in this area