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Art. Vydrino — r. Snezhnaya — r. Selenginka — vdp.

Grokhotun on the stream. Gramotukha — lake Sobolinoe — r. Red, vdp.

Fairy tale — lake Sobolinoe — r. Snezhnaya — st. Vydrino.

The length of the route is about 60 kilometers, duration is 3–4 days. This unusual route was taken by 28 tourists from Ulan-Ude of different professions and ages — from 9 to 54 years old, from a beginner who set out on the hiking trail for the first time to an experienced tourist instructor. Vydrino railway station. From here begins a three-day route up the Snezhnaya River to Sobolye Lakes.

Immediately behind the village there is a forest. The unique smell of summer emanates from the strawberry meadows and mown grass. The path lies along the right bank of Snezhnaya. A good path goes along the shore among centuries-old poplars.

In the twilight shadow of this old poplar grove, as if in a fairy tale, mighty trees overgrown with moss and lichen appear. Only two people, holding hands, can grasp the trunk of a giant poplar. Under their crowns, thickets of ferns rise like giant vases. From somewhere above, white flowers of the Siberian princeling liana hang from the green interlacing of branches; at times it even seemed as if we were surrounded by a tropical jungle.

About fifteen kilometers from Vydrino, the Selenginka River flows into Snezhnaya. Workers of the Irkutsk Control and Rescue Service built a suspension bridge across the river. But don’t rush to cross to the other side. It’s better to drop your backpacks near the crossing and run lightly to the nearest waterfall.

The rumbler has cut a wide trench into the rock, through which a powerful shaft of water crashes into a stone bowl with a roar, the water bubbles and foams, like in a cauldron. A beautiful sight. The trip to the waterfall takes no more than an hour and a half. Having crossed the Selenginka River, at noon we approached the Sobolinye Lakes.

The lakes are very picturesque, there are two of them, connected into one by a narrow channel. The length of the lake is about 2.5 kilometers, width — up to 600 meters. This mountain wonder is hidden in a frame of high peaks with alpine terrain. On the second day we explored the local waterfalls.

The path to them lies along the lake, to the upper reaches of the Selenginka River and its tributary of the Krasnaya River. The river slides down, rumbling along the faults and hanging foamy laces on the rocky debris. The ascent becomes steeper, the river valley is gradually drawn into the canyon… Finally we are at our goal.

Skazka Waterfall is a rare, amazing natural phenomenon. The elastic water shaft, hitting the stone wall from the run, turns sharply and falls to the bottom of the canyon. In sunlight, when every drop and stream begins to reflect the rays of the rainbow, a striking color effect is created. There was one more waterfall left to explore, and without delay we went to it.

Here, a stream of water from the height of a five-story building fell to the bottom of the gorge with a roar and crash. Forgetting all fatigue from the long walk, we stood enchanted by the unusual spectacle of a sparkling ribbon of water. During three days of hiking, we were wet, tired and hungry, but not a single one was dissatisfied! After all, each of us received a huge charge of vigor and desire to get back on the hiking trail.