Toward Abdukagor Pass
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After our interrupted
attempt to cross the Fedchenko Glacier from the east,
we quickly (in only 2 days) drove to Poimazar village
at the end of the Vanch valley (a place that I had
already visited in 2009).
Our goal was to reach the Fedchenko glacier through Abdukagor pass (5054m), at the top of the Abdukador glacier. Unfortunately, by lack of time and
because the Abdukagor glacier was much more broken
than expected, we ended our ascent slightly below the pass, again without
reaching the Fedchenko glacier. Nevertheless, the
ascent was worth doing, thanks to the magnificent sceneries around the Abdukagor glacier.
Topographic map: road
access in green dots, trekking route in red dots.
Vanch valley near Poimazar.
Around Poimazar
village.
Our trek started at the
last bridge across the Vanch river
near the RGS glacier. The local truck that drove us from Poimazar
to this bridge had to cross a couple of streams on the way, like the one below.
The lower end of the RGS
glacier.
Ponds near
the bridge over the Vanch river.
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The upper
Vanch valley (view toward the north).
Reaching
the relatively small Bear (not sure about the name) glacier.
Crossing
the glacier: first photo, Victor; next, myself, Alexei, and Maksim (from left
to right).
Other
views of the Bear glacier.
Other views
toward the north. The highest peak in the background is Mt. Garmo (6602m). An
old road (from the Soviet time) is visible on the left side of the valley. It used
to lead to a now abandoned
quartz mine.
For a
while the trail was an alternation or rocky and grassy terrain.
Our first
camp in a rather nice spot.
The abandoned quartz mine.
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Looking south before
turning left toward Abdukagor glacier.
Our second camp.
Reaching the base of Abdukagor glacier.
Along the lower section of
the glacier. (I took the third and fourth pictures below during our descent.)
One of our camps near the
glacier on a small patch of grass.
Alexei, Maksim and Victor
enjoying their dinner.
Peaks along the Abdukagor glacier.
Interesting garnet-colored
rock along the way.
By far my favorite
climbing position (at a lunch rest).
Eating pure fat may sound
disgusting to many, but it gives much needed energy.
On the upper part of the
glacier.
Higher on the glacier we
occasionally used ropes.
More views.
Our last camp below Abdukagor pass.
Evening view from the camp.
On the last day of
climbing. Our camp visible is at the center of the first photo.
One last view before
starting our descent back to Poimazar.
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