Peaks and pass's, the Alps of Kyrgystan
Pik Semionova 4895m from Uchitel 4530m in the Tien-Shanskogo. This spectacular mountain range rises directly more than 4 kms vertically above the Capital - ,Biskek.
Going Alpine in Kyrgyzstan
Although the high point of the trip was the Pamirs what really impressed was the sheer amount of Alpine country in Kyrgyzstan - in almost every place in the country even the lowest valleys glaciated mountains were visible. The variety of mountain scenery was incredible as well, some days one could find oneself in the European Alps or the Rockies, maybe here in New Zealand or on the Tibetan plateau! There were peaks, valleys , lakes, rivers and streams of all descriptions and often on crossing a pass one went from one alpine world to another. This is not a comprehensive post to either my trip or the Alps of Kyrgyzstan , rather I have just picked out some moments/memories of interest to me on the trip. As the journey progressed so did the scratch's on my camera lens hence the increasingly poor images.
First pass and first mountain attempt, Teo -Ashoo pass on the old road , an almost 3000 m climb to the pass at 3586 m. Above are the 2 mountains (left side of picture) I was to attempt.
Looking down to the North from the summit of Teo -Ashoo Pass.
Have no idea what these peaks are named , I called them Teo Ashoo 1 and 2 , around 4000 m in height. They looked straight forward but here was to experience what was to become somewhat normal for many of the subsequent mountains I climbed - they weren't as easy as they looked - especially with most unstable rock and slope's. Climbed the closer easier peak but gave up on the knife edge loose ridge leading to the main summit. The following day attempted to circumnavigate the smaller mountain to the easier southern side of its larger neighbor but this proved to long - apparently I still had a big day on the bike ahead.
Soiuth side of Teo Ahoo pass.
on the way down
Ala Bel Pass - looked like Switerland
summit Ala Bel pass 3184 m
Dipchik pass 4185 m, in the Alay range , the highest and most difficult pass I crossed , took several bike relays over the pass in centre picture.
I called it Dipchik 1 , this non- descript pile of rock of about 4400 m proved the most difficult of the 9 different peaks I climbed. It almost compared in difficulty with that mass of moving material I climbed near Nanga Parbat once in sheer looseness of rock and scree. Like that pile I didn't have the nerve to retrace the ascent in descent and found a much easier way down , just as loose but not so steep. As I had carried nothing but a rain-jacket and left late the dying rays of the sun meant I was kept nervous to the very end in finding my campsite!!
Miles of bike pushing on the descent of Jip Tik pass
a couple of budding explorers!!
In Osh I meet up and had dinner with this very friendly group of Russian mountaineers who came from the Southern Urals and just completed a very interesting 5 week traverse of the Alay mountain range
Dry pass, no water to be had here. many pass's like peaks have no names - so I liberally gave them appellations of my own.
There was a brook at the bottom of dry pass - saved me a thirsty night.
Possibly the hardest pass I actually rode all the way up was this one into the basin that forms Lake. Son Kul - unnamed but there is a slightly lower trekking pass called beside it. called Kortika pass , 3200m.
Loveliest camp[site was this mountain Alp above Kalmak Shou pass of about 3400m, A nice walk can be had over the peaks behind , the highest not visible in this picture being.roughly 4000 m in height The night was very cold , a sheet of ice covered the tent in the morning.
Bokonbaev, from here thru to Karakol on the Northern shores of Lake Issy Kul was probably my favorite part of the trip -the lower parts of the Tien Shan mountains running along the lakeside.
Before I left, Nathan Faarve had said Kyrgyzstan remineded him of British Colombia , this area must have been where he went.
Heading up the mighty Barskoon pass - when there is a name like Barskoon on the map its certainly a lure to find out what it denotes
Despite its size the Barskoon was one of the easier pass's I went up - reason being it was well maintained, apparently for a Canadian mining firm and i was passed by these long lines of tankers more than once - note the zigzags thru the snow above,.
The Tibetian like plateau above the Barskoon on the way to the Suek pass.
apart from miners vechiles and a couple of shepards it was empty country up there
Riding south across the plateau I selected a mountain to climb and it seemed that the furthest peak , the white glacier center right of picture, was highest and by good fortune the one directly over the Suek pass.
Campsite on the Suek pass 4230 m- looking out the Tent door into the Main Tien Shan mountains close to the Chinese border. The night was surprisingly mild
My only other camping companion the whole trip was Vitek from Czechoslovakia. He was on an interesting biking mission and set up camp close to me. He also had a map which seemed to confirm that the highest mountain in the area was off the glacier above us so I made a quick dash to the top.
Nice view down the Glacier and out into the plateau but the highest point of the range was an unlikely looking pile of scree further beyond, perhaps about 80 meters higher than the one I stood on (approx 4600 m).
Last trip was to the Ala Archa National park , just outside Biskek. This is the Ak-Sai Glacier just above the Racek pass. I had meet Mike from Switzerland that morning and he told me of his prposed day trip to the Ala Archa National park so I jumped on board his plan. As we drove in to the car park at 2100 m (quite a difference driving to a mountain rather than riding to it) I spotted a likely looking peak to climb and made an all out bid to get up and back in the remaining daylight hours - summit fever so to speak. I had no idea what the mountain was or the height but finding a map later it turned out to be Ucitel 4530 m which left me rather pleased , a 2400 m ascent and descent in 7 1/2 hours. The payment came later though, 2 days of very sore legs and feeling rather exhausted.
Climbing Uchitel
Climbing Ucitel
Big Plunge from the summit of Ucitel to the Ak Say Glacier 1300 m directly below
Summit Uchitel
The steepness of the walls of this Glacial cirque is evident here
and here
Camping site not far from Biskek
Good bye - partinfg shot