Crossing The Caucasus | hiking across Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan (short film)
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- In 2018, Richard Hartfield set off alone into Russia's North Caucasus Mountains. His plan was to follow a 1200km backpacking route that he'd made on his phone. It led through tightly-controlled border areas in Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. But this self-shot, solo hiking adventure soon evolved into something else: A celebration of human kindness, set within regions more often perceived as divided and volatile.
Crossing The Caucasus premiered as part of the Kendal Mountain Film Festival in 2021.
Filmed and edited by Richard Hartfield: www.richardhar...
Instagram: / richhartfield
Music by Edamame: www.edamamebeat...
As an Azerbaijani, I enjoyed your Great Caucasus journey. You’re always welcome here, especially in Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 ❤
Thank you! 😊
As an Ingushetian, I must say that this video is really impressive. There are very few trips to the Caucasus like this one on UA-cam. There are also very beautiful historical ruins in Ingushetia. There are 8th and 13th century towers in Dzeyrakh, Egikal, Galashki and Sunzha .How beautiful, isn't it!
Thanks for your lovely comment, that’s great to hear. A soldier I met working on one of the mountain checkpoints was from Ingushetia, he was telling me the same thing about the ruins and how stunning it is there. I was gutted to miss out on it!
This took an extraordinary amount of courage to complete! You've done something incredible to be proud of. Amazing work, thank you for taking me with you in your video.
Thanks very much for the kind words Brandon!
Bravo; sir. All men are animated in all forms but few truly get to live. You’re really living, brother.
Wow what a trip! You are one brave guy. I'm from North Caucasus (Russia) and growing up with such nature been a blessing. Thank you for sharing your journey and showing such incredible views !
That’s awesome, which part are you from? Thanks so much for watching!
This documentary deserves so many more views!!
Cheers! Feel free to share it around :)
What a journey! Gonna do some hiking myself when I'm in Georgia in September.
Multidimensionally inspiring mate. I think this is the new pioneering frontier, navigating an intense political landscape along with the physical one. So illuminating. Really great brave work, thankyou for sharing.
Thanks very much!
What an inspiring trip man! Absolutely amazing experience you must've had there. Just wow!
Thanks very much, it was something I’ll never forget. It took so long to plan, and also to edit the film, but it’s great to look back on and remember!
Hi Richard. I've loved watching ALL your videos. They really genuinely inspire me to undertake my own long distance hikes. We haven't seen you recently, so I only hope that you've been doing some great inspiring journeys to share with us here and/or in TGO etc. Maybe you just deserve a well-earned rest!
All the best Rich.
Cheers dom that’s really lovely to hear! My video editing skills are a lot slower than my hiking unfortunately! but I crossed the whole alps last year and did another 10 day hike this summer, so lots of footage to get into over winter! I’m always putting stuff on Instagram as well. Good luck on your future hikes! :)
@@RichardHartfield Nice! I don't do IG or any other social media for that matter. So I'm really looking forward to any UA-cam stuff, and best wishes with your excellent articles too!
@@domo3552 cheers!!
I tip my hat to you, Richard... a very sincere, modest and generous account of your trip (incl. of the people you met) - I found it quite moving. Like you, I have a serious case of wanderlust and whenever possible would have reveries about (and even sometimes plan and do!) madcap adventures (though admittedly not quite as epic as yours here - esp. when undertaken independently), but due to poor health/mobility over the last decade or so haven't been able to fulfil that part of me. I've never really been able to adapt to that (permanent) loss of freedom. Still, experiences such as yours, as well as your ability to capture them so thoughtfully and competently in this format, has lent a vicarious boost. Thank you for sharing your endeavours, and good luck for the rest of your life (travel-related or otherwise).
Thanks Nathan that’s really kind of you. I’m so glad the film resonated with you so much. I hope you can still go out on your own adventures, even despite the challenges you face.
Richard, such an amazing video! Thanks for sharing
Cheers for watching!
This is an impressive journey you did. Congratulations. As a Georgian citizen and a woman, I find it challenging to replicate similar trip. Still, I hope one day the region will have enough peace and prosperity for its residents to enjoy living there at its fullest and at peace with each other.
Thank you very much Natalia. I think many, many people share these same sentiments. I really hope that the situation improves over the coming years.
Respect! One of the most impressive things I've ever watched. Wonderful journey!
Thank you very much!
Very amazing thing you have done! Bravo, In 2017 I’ve been to a place north east of Murmansk called Teriberka, to photograph the northern lights, I too had to experience the FSB :/
Cheers!
Beautiful all the way through, from outside to inside.
Thanks for watching! :)
Wow what kind and cool people live there
What a journey, truly amazing!!!
Cheers for watching! :)
Just stumbled across this. Very interesting. Thank you for sharing your adventure!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it :)
Amazing! I'm astounded. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks very much for watching :)
amazing journey. What a beautiful place.
It really is! Cheers for watching :)
Amazing trip well documented. Real adventurer!
Cheers! :)
Awesome mate. Nothing but respect and admiration!
I've been looking forward to this since you mentioned you had filmed and were putting it together a couple of years back.
It's an amazing advert for the regions in general as well as the generosity and hospitality of the people, oh and the Notch :P
Thanks so much mate! I really hope it comes across how awesome the people there are. and yes the Notch is king! :D
What a video!
Cheers for watching!
Incredible journey, brave to say the least! Inspiring.
Thanks very much for the kind words Liam
Ijast find out about your Chanel it’s amazing I will fallow your all videos , thanks a lot for quality videos
Thanks for watching :)
Cooool film! Amazing mountains… Greetings from Tilburg
Well done mate, very brave and determined, good for you, great video, loved it, keep it up, amazing 👏
Cheers! :)
Best place on earth
Wonderful trip, congrats! Specially i appreciate your modesty!
Thank you very much!
Well played Richard!
Amazing video Richard! Super well done for the solo hiking adventure. I didnt know there are muslims in Caucasus but the azans and mosques as evidence! Thank you again for sharing your journey 😘🤩
Thanks for watching! I didn’t know either until I started reading about the North Caucasus whilst planning the trip. The whole region is full of different cultures!
@@RichardHartfield Great Stuff Richard! 💯
This video was awesome man!
Cheers for watching!
WOW! thnak you for VIDEO!
20:31 what mountain peak is this? I have never seen a peak so cool... very amazing.
That’s Mount Shahdagh!
I did a trip across Georgia 🇬🇪 last year but missed out on the mountains. What an epic experience! Thanks for sharing!
Sounds like a good excuse to go back! Such a beautiful country!
@@RichardHartfield ua-cam.com/video/4dw_2pflhTA/v-deo.htmlsi=5l-doHzzMRky10D4
@@RichardHartfield longer video ua-cam.com/video/FQdMGYidKq0/v-deo.htmlsi=KRZD5DygunTHvBMA
This is my dream trek, amazing job!
Cheers!
I loved this!
Thanks very much for watching!
That looked amazing! Scary at times but incredible nonetheless. Michael Manger sent it to me…..he said you were a bit crazy, I wholeheartedly agree. 😂😂
Thanks! Say hi to Mike 🤣
I liked this trip so much. It is interesting to see an English man crossing those mountains. It was nice to see you in my country Azerbaijan👌👌
Thanks for watching! Lots of interesting things about azerbaijan, especially the love of chai! I wish I could get some of that super sweet jam everyone has with it in the U.K. 😂
Wonderful place
Yeah the Caucasus is a special place!
Truly amazing my friend, thanks for sharing your adventure with us. Bet you're already preparing the next one :) If so, good luck!
Thanks! Got a few ideas bubbling away!
Great experience indeed. What a journey. But i was a bit disappointed as you skipped my country Georgia. Watching your film i was hoping to see you hiking along Kazbegi--Tusheti trails via Khevsureti region which are well marked on the hiking maps.
Thanks very much for watching, and sorry for not featuring more of the section in Georgia. It was really hard trying to structure the film without making it too long, and my footage in Georgia wasn’t very engaging! 😢
Sorry to hear it was not engaging. Maybe it was not as challenging as Russia ? You are a brave man!
@@teonatravelyeah I think I just felt really tired, and also deflated because I’d had to leave Russia early and skip a bunch of my route. so I didn’t film very much. It just felt lonely!
So yeah, nothing to do with Georgia itself (which is awesome!), but more to do with me being knackered and sad 😅
What an amazing journey! 🔥
I'm really curious, do you know why they refuse to let you into the Western Caucasus Nature Reserve? 🤔
It's too bad you missed Dagestan though, you would've loved it there ! But in my experience, very little chances to get a border zone permit in Chechnya ... 😅
Cheers Noémie! I’m still really not sure about the western reserve, I got different excuses from different people. It was really confusing. And yeah I’m determined to get back to explore Dagestan and Chechnya one day. Could be a long wait for that though! 🫣
@@RichardHartfield Don't forget Ingushetia, it's amazing there too 👌
@@NoemieY yeah true it looks awesome!
Simplygreat what was the texture of mountain do you find it strange in any way
You were right to be scared, 11 mths ago that was rather close to being summoned for war
We, as residents of the Caucasus, also suffer from these military and police. This is Russian policy, and ordinary people suffer from this.
Was just in Cherchessk/ the mountains 2 months ago to visit the misses, surprised by how many Russian tourists there were(city foke from Moscow). It is the Russian equivalent of Scotland.
Ah amazing! Was there snow high up? Id love to see of these places in autumn!
10:25 he said "go like this, go straight, i'll come there in a second"
That’s great! Thanks for the translation!
What? So you end up having to go through Georgia for longer than anticipated but you only show a few seconds of it?
Yeah my footage was rubbish 🙈
sad@@RichardHartfield
❤🎉
The police and military are wondering how he left with the impression the Caucasus feel like home
Awesome!! This must have at least 300.000 views!! Not 3000!!!!!
Cheers!! Feel free to share it around! :)
whst sites did u use to look st satellite images and paths? what range of temepratures did u equip urself for? subzero or not?
I mostly used Gaia GPS, and I was prepped for temps just below freezing. You can find more info by watching the gear and planning video that I made about this trip :)
I would like to see the Ural mountains that actually separate Asia and Europe but i guess it's impossible right now. PS why are you surprised, Russia and Britain are now at enmity and therefore they will check you every time.
Have you actually seen the highest peaks of the high Caucasus?
Yes! I hiked right past Elbrus and Shahdaag, and also close to Kazbek!
Это очень круто. Ты молодец. Но я не понимаю почему тебя не пропустили в некоторые регионы
Great film! What did you shoot it on, was it an iphone? What other filming kit did you take, e.g. tripod..?
Thanks! It was just filmed on my iPhone X and I had a tiny tripod with me, which I used for the walking shots. I should’ve used it way more for some of the landscape stuff as well!
@@RichardHartfield looks great. very inspiring, I look forward to seeing your Alps film
Presente her
Bro, I am from the Carachaevo-Chercessia and it is so nice of you to come and visit our magical places. If you want to come again in the future, please do contact me so I can help you on your jorney. I speak fluent english, so the communication problem will be excluded. Thank you so much, we hope to see more foreigners in the future. Again, contact me if you need anything. God bless, bro)))
Thanks so much Amin! It’s a beautiful place! Can you please email me so that we have contact? My address is rich.hartfield@gmail.com
I find it quite strange that you did not walk through Georgia as you could have followed various mountain passes through caucasus… 🫤
I did walk through a bunch of eastern Georgia, but I also wanted to explore the North Caucasus in Russia and it was AMAZING! 😊
At first I thought why go into Russia when planning this trip, but why wouldnt you, it's an extra country to add on to the list.
@@RichardHartfield How long did it take you to travel across, appreciate your replies.
@@Freyia935 yeah you just have to look at the map to see how much of the range lies within Russia. I knew straight away that I had to find a way to hike there!
@@Freyia935 my trip was just over two months, but I had to take transport for some sections because of lack of permits/mapped trails!
As a Muslim, I know there are many Muslims in Caucasus, and I knew a little about the natural beauty of Caucasus. But after watching your journey, I get more info... Thank you a lot... This video should have millions of views...
Thanks very much!
@@thetej2227better you look into islam...
❤
what a fucking trip dude.
thanks for sharing it with us!
i cant even explain how much respect i have for your bravery. i wouldn’t even dare to dream of such a thing. this is fucking inspiring.
beautiful shots taken as well.
and i just want to point out that even when things didn’t work out or you got a
major stepback, you still kept going. and that all alone? like what the fuck dude.
and what you got in return were some beautiful kindhearted people.
thanks again for sharing this crazy adventure with us and i’ll keep an eye out for your video’s! have a good one homie x
Thanks so much for the kind words :)
This video is incredible!
Im in love with this region and plan on going there in the future as soon as Ive got the time and money. Its just sad when I watch the news and the only things you hear about the region are ongoing conflicts for centuries. But this video beautifully shows that the people there are extremely kind and it looks like it makes them very happy that someones coming to their country. The way they proudly present you their dances, music, food, culture etc. makes me smile a lot.
Thanks for the great video, keep it up!
Thanks very much, and best of luck with your own trip!
As if the hiking itself isn't challenging enough, you had to deal with so much bureaucracy, uncertainty over routes and permission, constantly changing plans and the mental toll this takes, plus you were filming it all. A great effort, and well edited to tell the story of your journey. I can't imagine how tricky that must have been to cut it all down to 23 minutes! You've mentioned you might edit an extended version for UA-cam, would love to see that too! We've hiked and filmed a lot of trails from Svaneti to Lagodekhi over the last couple of years, a few border permits to get here and there, but thankfully no tense encounters with the authorities or underlying fear following us. Well done! Kim
Thanks for that Kim! It was definitely exhausting at times trying to capture everything whilst dealing with all the challenges, but I’m really glad I tried my best, and came away with a fair bit of useable footage. Watch this space then I guess for a longer version sometime down the line! Enjoy your future hikes :)
Damn I cant stress out how good of a video this is, and super inspiring as well. Id definitely want to try the Caucasus mountains at some point. Thank you for this glimpse of your adventure
Thank you, that’s really kind of you. It was a lot of hard work to make, with lots of failing along the way! I definitely recommend you go there at some point, it’s an incredible part of the world!
thank you for filming this surreal journey, I've always loved hiking and watching this truly reminded me of when I was hiking across the Himalayas in Uttarakhand :)
thanks for watching!
hi Richard! you've done a great job! just a wonderful video.
I'm from Russia and I feel very sorry for the situation that has happened to you there. you know 99% of Russians are still afraid of traveling there but you've done it!
thank you very much
Thanks so much Anne, I’m so glad you enjoyed the film! Which part of Russia are you from? I hope you can visit the North Caucasus one day (if you haven’t already of course). I’d love to go back but I’m not sure if it will be possible for a very long time :(
@@RichardHartfield I'm from the border of the Urals and Siberia, close to the border with Kazakhstan (Chelyabinsk), but currently live in Moscow.
I hope you'll be able to come back as soon as possible, let's believe in wonders. I'd personally recommend you to have a look at Altai, Karelia, and the Golden Ring (even if you can do it just on the internet)
That is some adventure mate, hiker's paradise. The locals are so friendly. Shame the Russian authorities couldn't just leave you be, it would attract more hiking tourists. Good choice of tent too, but I'm not biased. 😁
Yeah the Notch is a great tent! Kept me sheltered on many a trip! :D
Epic adventure man! Exploring these mountains is something that's been high on my list for a while and you've done an amazing job at showing them off!
Cheers Tristan!
Woah, what an inspiring video and trip! You are very very brave, this video certainly deserves a sub! It’s nice to see you met some friendly people along your way as well, it sounded a very very surreal trip. Much respect, you smashed it!
All the best - Cheers Joe
Thanks very much! The people were incredibly friendly, I would’ve been too scared to carry on if they hadn’t helped me!
Omg Richard !!! Congrats on such an epic journey Your editing and narration is just perfect I felt like I’m watching professional production, stunning views, you dealt with everything and managed to stay calm and…yourself Hat off 👍 been worth of waiting for your movie
Thanks so much, that’s really heartwarming. It was such a lot of work, but a really rewarding process, learning how to edit and structure a story from so much random footage! I’m glad it’s nice to watch :) thanks for waiting!
Absolutly beautiful! one of the greatest travel documentaries i ever watch. well done my friend
Thanks!
Long live all of Azerbaijan
I love Georgia. I've been a bit scared sometimes, alone in the mountains, it's so wild ! After that i chose to hike with other travellers ! You courageous :)
Thanks, I was scared a lot of the time as well! The people I met often made it feel a lot more welcoming, and reminded me of friends and family back home :)
Woah dude, the Caucasus Mountains ranges are the historical homeland of the Caucasian people that happened during the climate change of the last Ice Age sum 20K+ years ago.
The Science of Pheomelanin history is a huge history that affected many peoples around the entire Planet. 👁️⚫️🕳️🌍🌎🌏☮️
This is such an insane trip Richard and its so well documented! I am really overwhelmed, also I know how much passion you put into that bit of film. So so nice to see it online!
Ah thanks so much man! See you soon hopefully
Thanks for taking us along. Transcendent scenery. Love the people you met. Uncomplicated, generous, seem genuinely happy despite oppressive situation. Thanks again.
Thanks for watching!
Like the video, looking for information about Transcaucasian hiking trails and this video is very helpful, greetings from Indonesia 😊
Cheers for watching!
I’ve been waiting for this for a while, what a trip, brilliant! Some of that scenery is truly breathtaking. Like you say it’s the people along the way that make a trip even more special. Well done on putting this together and thanks for sharing it 👍🏻 Where next?
Thanks very much for watching. Yeah the people really made it so much more impactful for me. They were often willing to drop everything just to help me out. I did a two month hiking and mountaineering route across the Alps this summer. So my next project is editing that into another film :)
@@RichardHartfield Good man I’ll look forward to that one. I know what you mean and the people, the amount of generosity that is out there in the country is really special. My experience is that mountain people anywhere in the world seem to always be welcoming and it is their honour to help, feed or guide you, long may it stay that way. I’ll be forwarding your vid to many, cheers 👍🏻
@@bccochrane1 This is so true. People in the mountains often seem to understand the value of helping strangers, maybe because of how harsh the environment can be there.
I could have watched for a few more hours. What beauty!!
Same thing with the USA. People almost never welcome a traveling or exploring stranger into their home or any other type of stranger for that matter. You'll get the cops called on you 100 times before someone lets you into their home and hasn't already known you for a while or something. Love the U.S.A. in many ways and wouldn't want to live in a socialist or communist country. However, i hate the obsession with people calling the cops here and being so estranged from neighbors, although i can scarcely blame people now with a monthly mass shooting
Maybe it’d be different if it was a foreign traveller hiking alone in a really rural/harsh part of the states? I bet local farmers etc would be more welcoming in those circumstances!
When did you do this fabulous hike? Whats the weather like? Temperatures?
It was in summer of 2018 from late June to September. There’s lots more info in a separate video I made about my gear, navigation, planning etc!
To my Indo European ancestors who came from here🥰
Here might be gog magog prison between those mountains
Amazing track, congrats !
cheers!
Hi Richard. Do you reckon you could do this trip without speaking a bit of the language? I noticed you knew how to speak with a lot of the people you encountered. I’d love to do the same trip but not sure if I’m as well equipped as you in that regard. Also how did you charge your batteries to film for so long? Amazing video. Not many people have even come close to doing this journey from the uk. And the peaks are huge! Incredible video
Thanks jack. I think it’d be real hard without learning some very basic Russian like I did! I carried a big USB power bank to keep my phone topped up!
You know how to pick em, it could have ended as the soldier said. What's next Somalia, Syria or North Korea? I loved your film ,real adventure when it's not mapped out , you don't speak the language and just get on with it. Full marks Richard.
Cheers eddy, I’m glad you enjoyed it! I’m not sure where’s next at the moment, there’s a long list of future hikes!
Greetings all, this video has been a delight to see indeed, I'd wish to go on travels there to find the iron copper wall by the king Dhal-Quarnayn. the story of gog mogul
Glad you enjoyed it!
You lived a life bro
Wow what an amazing journey! How did you manage to have food and clean water during the hole trip? I guess the local people helped you a lot with that.
Thanks very much! I was given food by local people and shepherds a lot, and I carried a sawyer squeeze water filter and purification tablets. I also made a thorough gear video after the trip which is on my channel, if you’d like to learn more. Cheers for watching!
Beautiful man ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Tbh I just would have stayed in Russia. The north caucuses is the true motherland. It looks so beautiful. It's home.
Yeah it was amazing! I wanted to stay but I couldn’t get permission to walk in the other republics unfortunately.
Challenging for regular Brit across this region, seeing your bread grow and you made it. Entertaining content
Yeah beard and monobrow got pretty out of hand!
epic
Great presentation - most enjoyable. I've grown increasingly curious about this part of the world since exploring my DNA (25% South Caucasus)
Thanks very much! I hope you can visit the region one day, you’ll love it!
This should have a million views
So incredibly inspiring and heartwarming. What an incredible experience that must have been. Thank you so much for documenting it and sharing it with the world :)
Thanks so much Nile, it was a truly heartwarming experience, and it feels great to be able to pass some of that magic on from the people who helped me! :)
you are laughing, but my friend from Russia, upon entering France, was asked “how do you feel about Putin” . Thanks for adventure 🧡
Oh wow! Thanks for watching!
Amazing! So happy to have followed your trip and see so ever briefly some of the wonders that you saw and the kindness you were bestowed upon and to witness your optimism and great courage to wander through completely foreign lands! Thank you and keep it up!
Ah thanks very much, that’s really lovely!