Ushguli

High 5000-metre peaks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and remote ski touring and freeriding opportunities: The Georgian region of Svaneti in the wild Caucasus combines two ski worlds with cat skiing and ski touring.

Ialakha is a remarkable ski adventure film that was recently released. It tells the story of a 60 km long and 4000 metre high traverse in the Caucasus in Georgia, on skis of course and with a few spine walls in mind. We are delighted to gain even deeper insights into the project in an interview with Heli Hoffmann, the author, and Sammy Theurer, the film maker. The two were accompanied by Eva Stribrna (photos), Yessica Kurock, Levi Seiferheld and local Zura Phaliani. They were also supported by other locals from Ghebi and their horses and were occasionally followed by dogs.

Today in our Videos of the Week: The imaginary battle between EAST & WEST: Relatively interesting films from Japan and Georgia fight for your favor with two films from the USA. Have fun!

A travelogue in diary form by our reporter Irian, who traveled to Georgia as a snowboard guide. Somewhere between potholes, powder, the warm hospitality and the spectacular landscape, he fell in love with the country:

Georgia is a magnificent country with an impressive mountain world and super friendly people. A wild country, Kinkali, Tcha Tcha - and a huge playground for mountain lovers and alpinists in summer and winter. These are, first of all, a few short words that summarize our experiences during our two-week trip from Tbilisi to Ushguli...

Using my hands and feet and the few words from the Georgian book that I have learned in the meantime, I try to ask Temuri, the father in our host family, what he does for a living. He tells me that he is employed at the border police station in the region. What does he have to do at the station? With a mischievous smile, he simply says: "Ruski, bang bang!" Aha, as if a Russian would ever cross the Shkhara massif to get to Georgia. However, the border post is important for the village, as 13 of the 15 fathers of the family are employed by the border police and this provides them with a small regular income in a fairly deserted area.

The Georgians call their country "Sakartwelo" the land of the Kartvelians and derive their origins from the mythical progenitor Kartlos, who they believe was one of Noah's great-grandchildren. The Kartvelian tribes are considered to be the original inhabitants of the Caucasus, with their own script and language. Located on the border between Asia and Europe, Georgia is a mosaic of different cultures and religions. Important trade routes such as the Silk Road ran right through the middle of the country and brought Georgia into contact with the cultures of Egypt, Persia and Europe.