Croatian Aplinists First in 25 Years to Scale Siberian Golden Mountains

Croatian alpinists from the St. Bernard Club in Zadar have become the first climbers in 25 years to reach the summit of Golden Mountains of Altai in Siberia…

The five-member team of Bogdan Brakus, Dražen Tomljenović, Boris Zupčić and Marino Grgurev, accompanies by two Russian alpinists, battled temperatures which dropped to -35 degrees as they scaled two peaks in the mountain range – Kupol (3,556 metres) and Jubilej (3,602). The Croatian alpinists were the first expedition there in over 25 years.

The alpinists, who set off on 25 January and are expected back in Croatia on 11 February, said that is was an honour to climb the peaks in the company of two of Russia’s best alpinists and said that their achievement was important one for Croatian and Russian mountaineering, says Monitor.hr.

The Golden Mountains of Altai is a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of the Altai and Katun Natural Reserves, Lake Teletskoye, Belukha Mountain and the Ukok Plateau. (photo / Dmitry A. Mottl – Wikimedia Commons)