Kozelskij volcano

Overview

Beginning of volcanic range north-east from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskij is volcano Kozelskij. Its slopes started smoothly from the Pacific ocean coast. The crater of volcano opened to the east is destroyed by strong erosion. No one erruption is known in historical times here. Small glacier starts from the crater to the east.



Reaching the summit nice panoramatic views are opened at the Pacific ocean and its coast, at Avachinskaja sopka, and to the south the group of volcanos Viljuchinskij, Mutnovsky, and Gorely.

Getting There

Flights to Kamchatka are described at the pages for Viljuchinskij volcano and Klyuchevskaja sopka page. From Elizovo airport you can take a 4WD car to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskij to the cross-road with the village Radygina.Take one of the forest road to the north or go along the stream Kozelskij to the base of the volcano. From the south side volcano starts with sharp rocky summit.

Red Tape

Similar to other volcanos at Kamchatka. You need valid tourist Russian visa, registration at OVIR for all foreigners within three days after you fly in Kamchatka. Moreover, a special permit for Avacha national park (also called National park of three volcanos) including permit for border zone is necessary. All of it can be managed through several Kamchatka's travel agencies.

Camping

Kozelskij volcano is accessible over the whole year

Mountain Conditions

There are many routes on Kozelskij graded 1b plus of the Russian scale (see Johan Heersink pages for explanation of this grade system).
You can chose between fully snow and ice climb in winter, spring and beginning of summer, and rock climbs.

Many routes are all around the volcano and its slopes. Majority of them are nice snow and rocky climbs with possible ski and snowboard descends during the winter, whereas only rock climbs are during the summer. This mountain is also very popular for quided heli based skiing and snowboarding.

Kozelskij is great peak for skiing and snowboarding, and it is also popular for guided heli based skiing and snowboarding. Just be carefull of possible huge slab and wet avalanches at slopes opened to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskij in spring. However, avalanches can fell down in couloirs and other slopes too, but not so huge.

Several maps of Kamchatka are accessible at:
Map server
Vladimir Kopylov's map

Info about ski-alpinism at Kamchatka's volcanos is at:
Kamchatka's skiing 2002

Equipment

Good weather and snow conditions enable not using crampoons, axes, and helmet, but if the conditions are getting worse, these equipment is highly recommendable! Obviously, full avalanche protect equipment is necessary during the snow.

External Links

• Kamchatka ski expedition 2002
  
  
• Ski-mountaineering at Kozelskij volcano
  A group of skiers and snowboarders from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskij went for a summer weekend skiing at Kozelskij volcano (summer 2004). Two crazy members of group took part with Xcountry skis. The page with many photos is written in Russian.
  

Images

View Kozelskij volcano Image Gallery - 8 Images