Location and surroundings
Ulun belongs to the Badzhal Range, part of the Bureya Region in the Sikhote-Alin Area of East Asia. It is in Verkhnebureinsky District, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia. At 2,222 m, it is the highest named peak in the range and the main high point for this part of the mountains.
The mountain sits in a rugged upland landscape typical of far eastern Siberia: long ridges, steep slopes, and broad areas of forest below the alpine zone. In summer the upper slopes are likely to be wet and cool, while in winter the terrain is dominated by snow, wind, and deep cold.
Neighbouring peaks
Ulun is surrounded by a cluster of close peaks, several of them only a short distance away. The nearest summit is its lower twin, Ulun, Vtoraya Vershina, which is just 0.1 km to the northwest. Other nearby peaks are spread around the ridge system, with most of them between 1 and 2 km away.
- Ulun, Vtoraya Vershina — 2,209 m, 0.1 km NW
- Morion — 2,125 m, 1.0 km SE
- Khabarovsk Alpinistok — 2,165 m, 1.1 km N
- Pik Fregat — 2,140 m, 1.3 km SE
- Klever — 2,119 m, 1.5 km E
- Ermolaeva — 2,173 m, 1.8 km NE
- Tsoya — 2,125 m, 1.9 km N
- Severnaya Ermolaeva — 2,162 m, 2.1 km NE
Compared with these neighbours, Ulun is the highest point in the immediate group and rises only slightly above the closest summit, but clearly above the surrounding peaks.
The view from the summit
Within 25 km, the highest peak listed is Mount Oolong at 2,221 m, about 20.2 km to the east. Another major high point is Omot, 2,194 m, 7.3 km to the west. Several ridgeline summits of the Badzhalskii Khrebet also lie in the wider view, including peaks to the east and southeast at distances of roughly 13 to 19.5 km.
From Ulun, a summit view would therefore be dominated by nearby Badzhal ridges and a chain of high, close-set peaks rather than isolated mountains. The surrounding high ground is close enough that the skyline is likely to be busy in many directions.
The range
Ulun is the highest mountain in the Badzhal Range, which has 76 named peaks. The range’s high point is Badzhal Range itself, and Ulun is the summit that reaches that top elevation. In the range hierarchy, it is the leading peak of this mountain group and the reference point for the surrounding ridges.
The Badzhal Range lies within the broader mountain system of East Asia and the Sikhote-Alin Area, in the Bureya Region. Ulun’s position at the top of the range makes it the key summit for anyone looking at the highest ground in this part of Khabarovsk Krai.
Climate and weather
Climate estimates from NASA POWER for 2001–2020 suggest that the summit is cold for most of the year. The warmest month is July, at about 8 °C, while January is the coldest month, at about -29 °C. Mean temperatures above freezing occur only in June, July, and August.
Precipitation in the surrounding area is about 900 mm a year. July is the wettest month, with about 190 mm, and January the driest, with about 10 mm. Expect snow, rapid weather changes, fog, and wind on exposed ridges, with wet ground and slippery rock in the short summer season.
Best time to visit
The best window for a visit is the short summer period, when the summit is above freezing in June, July, and August. Even then, conditions can stay cool and unsettled, and snow patches may remain on shaded slopes and in gullies. Outside this period, cold, snow, and wind make travel much harder.
For most visitors, midsummer offers the most workable combination of daylight, milder temperatures, and lower snow cover. The wettest month is July, so a summer trip still needs rain protection and warm layers. Early season snowmelt and late-season frost can both affect footing.
Nature and wildlife
The mountain belongs to a remote range in far eastern Russia, where lower slopes are typically covered by forest and higher ground opens into stony ridges, alpine scrub, and patches of tundra-like vegetation. In this kind of terrain, the growing season is short and plant life is adapted to cold, wind, and snow.
Wildlife in such mountain country can include forest and alpine species that move between the valleys and the higher slopes, with animals using the cover of the taiga and the open ridges seasonally. The exact mix changes with elevation, but the overall setting is one of cold, sparsely populated mountain wilderness.
Guides and organised ascents
For a peak like Ulun, a certified mountain guide is sensible if you are not already experienced with remote, cold, and route-finding-heavy terrain. In Russia, the national guide association is the Association of Mountain Guides of Russia (RMGA), which is not an IFMGA/UIAGM member. The national alpine body is the Russian Mountaineering Federation.
Visitors in Russia also commonly look to established guiding companies such as Alpindustria Tour in Moscow for mountain travel in the country. A guided ascent usually depends on the number of days, group size, hut nights if any, and the equipment needed. For Ulun, plan independently unless you have local knowledge and solid winter-mountain skills.
Safety and preparation
Ulun’s height, cold climate, and remote setting call for proper mountain clothing, navigation tools, and the ability to travel in poor visibility and on snow or wet rock. Even in summer, the summit area can be cold and exposed, and the approach may involve long distances in a sparsely developed region.
For emergencies in Russia, the mountain rescue number is 112, the unified emergency number. Mountain rescue is run by MChS (EMERCOM). Groups are advised to register their route with the local rescue unit before setting out.
Interesting facts
Ulun is the highest of the 76 named peaks in the Badzhal Range. Its nearest higher-looking neighbour is actually lower: the closest summit, Ulun, Vtoraya Vershina, is 2,209 m and lies just 0.1 km to the northwest. That makes Ulun the clear top point of its immediate cluster.
The range high point is Ulun itself, so there is no higher summit within the Badzhal Range. The mountain also sits in a part of Russia where high peaks are close together, which gives the ridge system a compact, crowded skyline.
FAQ
How high is Ulun? Ulun rises to 2,222 m.
Where is Ulun located? It is in Verkhnebureinsky District, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia, in Asia.
Which range does Ulun belong to? It is part of the Badzhal Range, within the Bureya Region and the wider Sikhote-Alin Area.
What is the highest peak near Ulun? The highest peak listed within 25 km is Mount Oolong, at 2,221 m, about 20.2 km to the east.
Is there water on the way to Ulun? In this cold mountain terrain, 1.5–3 litres for a day is a sensible range, depending on heat and route length.
When is the best time to climb Ulun? The most workable months are June, July, and August, when summit temperatures are above freezing.
Will my phone work on Ulun? Coverage in the hills is likely to be patchy and depends on the operator. On open ridges it may be better, but it often fails in valleys and behind ridges. 112 reaches emergency services over any available network, and maps should be downloaded before you go.