Terskey Ala-Too Range
― North-East Kyrgyzstan (August 4-11, 2011)
After our traverse
of the Turkestan range, Maksim, Slava and I decided to go to the opposite, north-east end
of Kyrgyzstan, the Terskey Ala-Too range, south of
Issyk-Kul lake. This mountain range is very different
from the Turkestan range. It feels much less remote and wild, and not as
mysterious. Due to the proximity of the Issyk-Kul lake it receives much more
rain and looks like the Alps (but with higher peaks). It also attracts more
climbers and hikers (mostly from Russia) than the Turkestan range.
From the village of Kyzyl-su, located
35km east of the city of Karakol, we drove along the
Chon-Kyzyl-Su river to the Dzhyluu-Su health ′resort′ (hot spring), where
we started hiking. We hiked for 8 days, crossing 4 passes (marked 1, 2, 3, and
4 in the topographic map below). We also crossed two main rivers, Dzheti-Ogyuz and Karakol, before
reaching Arashan river. Then
we hiked down along Arashan river
until we reached the Altyn-Arashan health ′resort′
(another hot spring). From there we returned to the city of Karakol
by car. In 1998 I had done a large fraction of this trek in reverse, as an
acclimatization trip before going to Khan Tengri (link).
Location of our Terskey Ala-Too trek, in
red box:
Topographic map and itinerary: on foot in purple, by car in green.
Each square in the map represents an area of 2x2km.
Breakfast stop along the road from Bishkek to Karakol:
here, our driver.
The section of the Terskey
Ala-Too range where we hiked. The photo was taken from the north
shore of the Issyk-Kul lake. Karakol
peak (5218m) is approximately at the center.
In the valley of the Chon-Kyzyl-Su
river above the Dzhyluu-Su health ′resort′.
Maksim crossing Chon-Kyzyl-Su
river on a precarious bridge.
View while climbing Archa-Ter pass
(marked 1 in the map above).
East side of Archa-Ter
pass (~3800m).
The Asan-Tukum valley
descending from Archa-Ter pass. It is roughly
perpendicular to the valley of the Dzheti-Ogyuz river (at the bottom, not visible).
Valley of the Dzheti-Ogyuz river.
We did a one-day side-trip to the end of the Dzheti-Ogyuz
valley. The highest peak here is 5181m high.
Evening light from our campsite below Teleti
pass (marked 2 in the map above).
Teleti pass (3759m)
View of the Teleti valley, with Teleti pass in the very far background. Karakol
valley is at the bottom. The photo was taken while ascending Panoramic
pass (marked 3 in the map above).
Another view during the ascent of Panoramic pass.
Karakol valley is again at the bottom, with the end
of Teleti river visible on
the other side.
Karakol peak (5218m) as seen
while ascending Panoramic pass.
Panoramic view from Panoramic pass
(looking south). Karakol peak is in the middle of the
photo on the left.
Ala-Kel lake seen from Panoramic pass (~3700m)
Two views of Ala-Kel lake,
a few minutes apart, showing how quickly the weather can change in this region.
Again two photos of the lake taken a few minutes apart while
ascending Ala-Kel pass (marked 4 on the map above).
Starting our descent from Ala-Kel
pass (3860m) in sub-optimal weather.
Reaching Arashan river
below Ala-Kel pass, with a beautiful late afternoon
light.
Trees strangely growing on rocks near the Altyn-Arashan
health ′resort′, the end of our 8-day trek.
The beautiful Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity
cathedral in Karakol (completed in 1895).
A street in Karakol. The city has
an amazing number of pharmacies (аптека).
Inside a shopping mall. Many products, but few customers.
An old soviet factory while leaving Karakol back to Bishkek.
