Uzbekistan (April 2018): Day Hike to Little Chimgan
Return to main Uzbekistan 2018 page | Return to my mountaineering/trekking/travel page
On the last full day of this trip Boris and Slava took me for a day hike to the Chimgan mountain area (at the eastern end of the long Tien Shan range, which extends from eastern Kyrgystan into western Uzbekistan) some 70km east of Tashkent. From the village of Chimgan we climbed Little Chimgan (2097m) and descended to the lake (reservoir) Charvak. We did not have much luck with the weather. It was cloudy the entire day, with much wind and some rain near the summit of Little Chimgan (Мальıй Чимган) and during the descent. Anyway, it was a great hiking day for three old men who share the same love for mountains and Central Asia.
Aerial views showing our approximate itinerary (line drawn in cyan). The hike has the same starting point as the hike I did in 2012 to the Gulkam canyon, also with Boris and Slava (see here). From the village of Chimgan we climbed to the pass between Big Chimgan on the south and Little Chimgan on the north. But, at the pass, instead of going down into the canyon, we went north along the ridge that leads to the summit of Little Chimgan. From the summit we walked down another ridge before crossing pasture lands to reach the road near Lake Charvak.
|
|
|
[Itinerary line and 3D Google Earth view created by Boris Karpov.]
Boris (left) and Slava (right). Here are more photos of the day in Boris′ Facebook page.
|
|
|
At the start of the trek, looking north.
View of Big Chimgan (3309m) from the pass.
Left: Gulkam canyon seen from the pass. Right: View toward the east from the pass.
|
|
|
Left: Another view of Big Chimgan from the ridge leading to Little Chimgan. Right: Climbing up the ridge.
|
|
[Photo by Boris.] |
Slava, with Little Chimgan behind and Lake Charvak in the background. The lake (actually, a reservoir) was not completely filled, as most of the water comes in late spring and early summer.
The area is home to a type of red tulips that are said to grow only here.
|
|
|
|
Further up near the summit of Little Chimgan.
[Photo by Boris.]
Reaching the summit.
[Photo by Boris.]
At the summit.
|
|
|
[Photo by Boris.]
Lunch break below the summit.
[Photo by Boris.]
Descent on a rocky ridge.
|
|
|
[Photo by Boris.]
[Photo by Boris.]
Further down, looking toward Lake Charvak.
Looking back toward Little and Big Chimgan.
Pasture land near the end of the hike.
[Photo by Boris.]
Across a grove of birch trees soon before reaching the road.
[Photo by Boris.]
Return to main Uzbekistan 2018 page | Return to my mountaineering/trekking/travel page