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THE ASIAN PATAGONIA
An amazing trek in the picturesque Turkestan ridge region (Pamir-Alai)
that looks like Patagonia in South America. A mild and sunny climate,
crystal-clear creeks, alpine meadows, ancient glaciers surrounded
by five-thousand meter summits and abrupt mountain walls attract experienced
climbers and a great number of tourists from all over the world.
| Day
1 |
Arrival in Tashkent. Meeting
at the airport, transfer to the hotel. |
| Day 2 |
Transfer to Uzgarish (250 km, 8 hrs). Camping on the bank
of the picturesque river Akmechet (1300m). |
| Day 3 |
Route along Ak-mechet river till the confluence
of Ak-Su river and Kora-Su (10 km; 6 hrs; + 1300 m.) On the
way, inspiring views of Ak-Su and Iskander peaks. We go by an
abandoned car road. Camp in a glade of juniper trees (2800 m).
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| Day 4-5 |
Acclimatization days, walking without packs to the cirque
of the Ak-Su peak (5355 m), the highest summit of the region,
a favorite place of tourists and mountaineers alike (6 km; 3
h). This snow covered summit creates an impression of absolute
inaccessibility. It-s a wonderful place to take pictures. The
pyramid-shaped summit has on its northern face a precipitous
wall of 2 km . To the right from the summit rises a beautiful
two-headed peak - Iskander (5163 m.). Views of neighboring mountains
are very picturesque. Good path along the right bank of the
Ak-Su river. Ascent to the Ak-Su cirque lies through a moraine
glacier between heaps of stones. Camp. |
| Day 6 |
Crossing of the Ak-Tubek pass (4390m). Descent
to the valley of the Orto-Chashma river (15 km, 8 h, + 1590
m, -1190 m). Camp. |
| Day 7 |
Crossing of the Kosh-Maynok pass (3260 m). Descent to the
river of the same name (8 km, 4 h, + 200 m, -260 m). Camp on
the river bank (3000 m). We cross the Orto-Chashma river on
horses and then continue going down by a good path till the
start of the ascent to the pass. A serpentine path takes us
via a juniper forest to the saddle of the pass. Short and easy
descent to the camping spot. |
| Day 8 |
Cross the Karasu pass (3760 m) and descend
to the Karasu river valley (8 km, 4 h, +760 m, -640 m). Camp
near a water spring on a large glade at the upper border of
the forest (3120 m). We go up straight from the camp. An excellent
path on a grass slope leads in zigzags to the pass. The last
100 meters of the ascent go through gently sloping scree. The
pass itself is a double saddle. The descent in the upper part
is steep and then by a serpentine path we go down to the alpine
zone. We continue till the Karasu river and along the river
till the forest border. We can take a walk to the foot of the
peaks ? 4810¦, ?Asan-Usen¦ and ?1000 year anniversary of Russia-s
Christening¦. |
| Day 9 |
Walk in the gorge of the Aksu river to the peaks Slesov, 4810,
Kotin, Ruskaya Bashnya, 1000 years anniversary of Russia-s Christening.
Descend to the confluence of Karasu and Aksu rivers and then
down along the Karavshan river (16km, 6h, 0, +1000m). Camp in
a birch grove. By a good path through a juniper wood we go up
to saddle of the spur that divides the two river valleys and
descend to a primitive bridge across Aksu. Ascent via a mixed
forest to the upper flow of the river. Rest by a spring at the
forest border. Impressive views of rocky summits with vertical
walls of hundreds of meters. Down to the junction with Karasu
and farther via the ruins of the ancient settlement Karavshan
to the camp. |
| Day 10 |
Approach to the Uponim pass (15 km, 7 h,
+800 m). Camp at height 2950 m. We descend to the junction with
Kindik and proceed to another tributary, the Uponim river. We
go up along the Uponim river. We cross a juniper forest and
stop for the night by the upper border of the forest. |
| Day 11 |
Cross the Uryam pass (3200 m) and descend (8 km, 3 h, + 250
m, -600 m). Camp at 2600 m. An easy ascent by a good path to
the pass. The first 200 meters of the descent lie via a steep
scree slope. Then by a good path via several saddles and alpine
meadows to a juniper forest. Camp by a spring. |
| Day 12 |
Descend to the Boljuma river (9 km, 4 h,
-900 m). Camp at 1700 m at Uzgarish village. The second half
of the descent goes by an abandoned mountain road. |
| Day 13 |
Transfer to Tashkent. |
| Day 14 |
Departure. |
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