Gakh: Practical Information

Gakh: Practical Information

 

When To Hike

This route goes through forested mountains, which generally do not experience dry seasons. Winter often means significant amounts of snow at higher elevations, and unmarked routes in deep snow will require extra precise attention from hikers. Summers can be intensely hot. 

Getting To & From The Trailheads

To get to the district of Gakh, you can take a taxi from Shamakhinka (Şamaxınka), a bus or taxi from the Baku International Bus Station (Bakı Beynəlxalq Avtovağzal Kompleksi), or a train from the Central Railway Station of Baku (Bakı Dəmiryolu Vağzalı).

If you are beginning the trek from Gashgachay, you can to the village by taking a car from the district center of Sheki, to Ilisu from Gakh, and to Mamrukh from Gakh or Zagatala. Taxis can be ordered from local taxi service companies for a company-set price (see regional contact sheet), or be found by bus and train stations. 

You may also reach the other points of the trek by taxi or local minibus (marshrutkas) from the district centers.

Local taxi services in Gakh include *0066, *0222, and *5577.

Where To Stay

There are hotel options in Gakh and Ilisu, and simple cottage stays available in Gashgachay. 

As in most places in the Caucasus, wild camping is largely tolerated, though you may be visited by inquisitive locals if you set up your tent in a conspicuous location. Please be a respectful visitor and practice Leave No Trace habits so that we can continue our good relationships with people along the trail and so that future hikers can enjoy the experience.

Supplies

There are no stores with hiking/camping equipment in Gakh. It is recommended that you bring all necessary supplies, including gas canisters from Baku. In Baku, you may visit Mountain Shop, as well as Yonja Outdoor Store, Dagchi Shop, or Outdoor Store for any supplies and equipment you may need to purchase or rent.

Villages host small markets/convenience stores, but there are no large supermarkets directly on the route. The food options in these markets are often limited. If staying at a guesthouse, hosts provide home-cooked meals from local ingredients. You may ask for food for the road, and there will always be staples such as bread and cheese from local families. It is recommended you bring a sufficient supply of trail snacks and food before you set off on your trek. 

Water

As in many parts of the Caucasus, you can find some springs along the route, and water that is piped into villages is safe to drink. Spring water fountains are often found near animal troughs by shepherd shelters. Other water sources along the route, such as rivers and streams, should generally be filtered due to the presence of livestock in the region. Carrying a water filter is recommended.

Language

Azerbaijanis speak Azerbaijani of the Turkic language family. In the areas you will pass through, some people may speak Russian and/or Turkish, in addition to the language of their ethno-linguistic group, such as Tsakhur and Avar. English is not very common. It is recommended you carry a dictionary or translating app, and/or learn basic phrases that may help you get around. 

Some useful phrases when backpacking:

  • “Where can I fill up on water?” ⇒ Suyu harada doldura bilərəm?
  • “Where can I find X’s guesthouse?” ⇒  Xın qonaq evi harada yerləşir?
  • “Where is the market/cafe?” ⇒ Mağaza/restoran harada yerləşir?
  • “May I get some food for the road?” ⇒ Yola yemək verə bilərsiz?
  • “May I get some bread and cheese?” ⇒ Yola pendir çörək verə bilərsiz?
  • “I would like a taxi from here/A to B.” ⇒ Mənə buradan/Aan Ba taksi lazımdır?
  • “I need directions to X.” ⇒ Xa istiqamət verə bilərsiz? / Xa yolu göstərə bilərsiz?

Health and Safety

You will generally find nurses in villages, but for more direct medical care, you would have to visit a district center. In Gakh, you can find the Central Municipal Hospital about 14 kilometers from Ilisu. The district police station is located hereThere are multiple pharmacies in Gakh as well. Sheki, about 40 kilometers east of Gakh, and Zagatala, about 30 kilometers west of Gakh, are larger towns if you need more options.

Communication Availability 

In Azerbaijan, Bakcell and Azercell are the most popular cellular service providers. In Zaqatala city and most villages along the trail, you can expect reliable service, making it easy to stay connected and access GPS navigation or local resources. As you venture further into the mountains, ridgelines, and forests, coverage can be intermittent. Cellular service remains surprisingly good in most places, but it’s always wise to download maps and trail information offline in case of spotty coverage.

Hazards

Dogs

Aggressive dogs can be by far the biggest animal threat to TCT hikers. Many villagers and shepherds keep guard dogs for security and train them to bark at potential intruders. Dogs often accompany livestock herds as protection from predators, and you should monitor their behavior closely. If they show aggression, it means they consider your presence a threat to their herds. If you proceed calmly, without sudden movements, trying to avoid entering the zone of their herd, they will usually back off once you are far enough from their area.

While the sight and sound of one or more barking dogs running towards you can be frightening, the correct course of action is to stand your ground and wait for the shepherd (who will usually be nearby) to call them off. If possible, grab the attention of the shepherd before the dogs notice you, so he may have a chance to keep them calm. If the dogs come close enough, shout forcefully and throw stones or wave your trekking poles to assert dominance. Do not run away, as this will trigger the dog’s instinct to chase. 

To avoid these encounters in the first place, try to skirt around grazing herds at a wide distance, or, if there are shepherds around, to seek out them as quickly as possible and approach with a friendly greeting. 

We also recommend a precautionary rabies vaccination, remembering that this does not make you immune to the disease but does give you more time to receive treatment.

Giant hogweed
Keep an eye out for giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), a relative of cow parsley, whose stem juices rid your skin of its ability to protect itself from sunlight, resulting in severe burns on exposed skin and potential blindness if it gets in your eyes. Learn to identify this plant and either avoid it or move gently through patches to avoid breaking the stalk and releasing the juice inside. If you get hogweed juice on you, wash your skin as soon as possible and cover it from the sunlight. 

Storms 
Storms in the Caucasus can be sudden and extremely intense, with lots of lightning and often hail. You should be familiar with best practices for choosing a campsite to minimize the risk of a lightning strike, stay attuned to the weather while hiking, be prepared to get to a lower elevation or to shelter if necessary, and be familiar with first aid practices for treating lightning-related injuries.

Heat
In midsummer, the heat can be intense. Make sure to carry plenty of water. Shifting your schedule to compensate, such as starting very early in the day and resting in the afternoon, is a good way to avoid the worst of the heat. Make sure you are familiar with the symptoms, prevention strategies, and treatment for dehydration and heat stroke.

Emergency Information

Most villages have a local nurse, but the district centers have larger medical centers and hospitals. Below are emergency numbers useful throughout the country:

  • Emergency Situations: 112
  • Firefighting service: 101
  • Police: 102
  • Ambulance: 103
  • Emergency and urgent medical aid: 113

Other Practicalities

Shepherds: Shepherds herd in the mountains between late spring and early fall, depending on location and climate. Some shepherd stations have drinking troughs that fill from a hose that carries spring water; other stations are not located near a water source, and the shepherds have to bring their supply of water. Shepherd stations can be a source for water replenishment, but hikers should avoid depending on them in areas without a natural water supply nearby. 

Making calls: The area code in Azerbaijan is +994. If you are dialing locally, without the area code, you must replace them with a zero (0) before dialing the rest of the number.

Other literature/resources 

Check out the Azerbaijan Tourism Board’s website for more information about what to do in Gakh.

Next: Gashgachay to Ilisu →
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