Western Kokshaal-Too Range (Summer 2008)

Return to Kyrgyzstan 2008 main page

This trek took us to the Northern side of the beautiful Western Kokshaal-Too range in the South-East of Kyrgyzstan. This range, which includes at least 7 peaks above 5000m, such as Peak Dankov (5982m) and Peak Kyzyl-Asker (5842m), has nasty and unstable weather, even in the summer. It is home to Marco Polo sheep, as well as wolves, though seeing them is rather rare. We accessed the area by 4WD car from the town of Naryn. We started our trek shortly after the last (3^rd) military post shown in the maps below. Our trek lasted 12 days.

Access map of the trek (green line)

Itinerary of the trek (red line).

For full-resolution topographic maps of the trek area click: 500K-Kokshaal-Too, 100K-Kyzyl-Asker, and 100K-Dankov.

In a restaurant along the road toward Naryn

Views of Naryn (Naryn is certainly not a beautiful city, but it is not as bad as it looks on these pictures, and the surroundings are gorgeous)

The Western end of the Kokshaal-Too range, with the graveyard of the Atbachy village in the foreground

Near the beginning of the trek

The Kokshaal-Too range around Kyzyl-Asker

Peak Kyzyl-Asker (5842m) at different hours of the day

Peak Dankov (5982m) on the right

Looking north toward Kjubjurgenty pass

Smaller range on the North side of the Kotur valley (east of Kjubjurgenty pass)

Crossing Djurek pass

Valley of the Uzengi river just north of Peak Dankov. Unfortunately, the river was too big to cross.

Uzengi river (seen from point A in itinerary map). Peak Dankov is visible on the left side of the river (right bank)

Closer views of Peak Dankov

View from point B in itinerary map

View from point C

On our way to point D

Views from point D

Marco-Polo sheep on our way between points D and E. They are not easy to approach ...

... unless they are dead

Views from point E

One of several rivers we had to ford

Vyacheslav and Maksim warming their feet after the crossing

Usual weather in late afternoon

Peak Kyzyl-Asker viewed from point F

River running from peak Kyzyl-Asker

Kosh scenes on our way back (point G in the itinerary map)