GEORGIA SKITOURING

Impressions from a Caucasus ski trip.

The road to Ushguli is an adventure in itself. Winding through a narrow, dangerous gorge, it eventually opens onto a snow-covered valley dotted with four ancient shepherd villages. A remote and magical corner of Svaneti, where the wild Caucasus feels close enough to touch. We arrive eager to explore the mountains. As snow begins to fall, we set off on our skis, climbing towards ridges suspended in white. At the top, an endless panorama of untamed peaks unfolds before us. Then everyone chooses their own line, skiing back down towards the dark stone towers of the villages, and an après-ski soundtrack of Georgian rock.