Max Walrath Janapar travelogue
From Janapar
November, 2007 hike report - hiked Shushi to Azokh
I took the marshutka to Shushi and was let off at an intersection in the middle of town. A janapar marker was on the street light directly in front of me. The walk started up a hill for the first .5 kilo or so. Just after the top of the hill, the paved road ends and I walked along a dirt road for a bit. Immediately after re-joining the paved road, the trail veers off to the left onto another dirt road (at a power transformer). The trail then leaves the road altogther, although I almost missed the turnoff due to a bent sign (a metal sign on a tree that was folded over itself). The trail markers going down the hill to Karintak were less numerous compared to well-marked Shushi. I stayed in Karintak at a homestay.
Leaving Karintak, before the trail gets to the river, there also needs to be another sign or two. This area has tons and tons of walking/animal trails. The trail stays fairly close to the river for a while as you travel through the gorge. This is a really spectacular area and a highlight of my hike. There is a very nice waterfall/log bridge area. The trail continues along the river for a while, and when you approach a stone bridge (as you walk along the right side of the river), you begin your ascent up the gorge. The ascent is relatively easy. At the top you will have a decent view of the valley below. Once you reach the top, you are soon on the road to Mkhitarishen.
On the walk through Mkhtarishen, you walk along a road without much scenery, facing people's fenced-in back yards. As you leave town, there is a pretty steep ascent for almost a kilometer. From here you should have a nice view of Stepanakert and Shushi. As the trail levels off, you make a left and follow a dirt road through some fields for a while. You get a good view of the gorge you walked through earlier in the day, and you get to see Karintak from above. This road ends at a "T" intersection, and you make a right onto a rockier, muddier road. You follow this road through the woods for about 2 km and come to a mountain pass with terrific views. You walk down the road on the other side of the pass, and come to another "T" intersection. From here you make a left and an immediate right, and follow the trail through some grassy fields. Soon after, the trail goes back into the woods along another road. This road twists and turns up a mountain on a really gentle slope. Once you start going downhill again, you will cross a few fields, but generally follow one or two roads down gentle slopes. The roads cross a few very small streams, and run next to a farm or two until you reach Avetaranots.
As you leave Avetaranots you see fields. Leaving town, you follow a road that is relatively flat, and has the occasional car, for a while. After some time you start to lose elevation, and come to a stream. There is a really nice waterfall on the right. After following the stream for a few hundred meters, you cross it (the road crosses it as well) and continue. After some time, the trail leaves this road and ascends a fairly steep dirt path/road to the left. It goes towards a paved road you can see cars travelling on. You travel along the paved road for about a kilometer before veering off to the left. From here the trail follows some great dirt paths through farms and orchards. You will pass a very old tree and watering hole as you begin the descent down into Karmir Shuka. The path/road comes to a "T" intersection that is unmarked....go right and you are soon in town. Diko's house is very soon after re-joining the paved road.
As you leave town, you travel through some perfectly flat fields for a while with terrific views. You soon veer to the right and begin an ascent into a small village. On the way you will pass a small lake on your left. Once you hit the village, you will see a gas station on your left, and you make a right. This town is fairly steep, and you basically go straight up to the mountain above. As you leave roads for paths, you make a sharp left turn (sign vandalized, bent back over itself) and walk up a rocky area. There could be an extra mark or two here to indicate the sharp turn and keep a hiker on the path. The path soon becomes easy to follow, and you continue up the mountain. Soon after you reach the top, and begin the walk down into Azokh. You follow what looks to be a water drainage area for the mountain. You will pass a cemetary on your right. On your left you can see some rocky areas on a mountain...these are the caves of Azogh. This hike was really short...I left at 11:15 due to rain, and arrived a little before 3:30, even with a half hour break in the village. The hike to Azogh and the caves can be done in one day.
