Travel

Hi there, Can anyone give me any info on peaks in the Tien shan range south of Bishkek (Kyrgystan)? Im off there in Oct 04 and would be interested in any climb diaries,Equipment advice,or any advice at all from anybody that has visited/climbed/treked in that area

Thanks Nath -(H.M Forces)

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yeah cheers mr wollyce

The Tien Shan Range are the planets most northerly high altitude mountains, with 40 peaks over 6000m, and two of these over 7000m. The range are predominantly in Kazakhstan though the highest peaks stretch along the China - Kyrgyzstan border and translate as "The Heavens Mountains".

The region is popular as a heliskiing area and a training ground for Russian, Kazakhstani and Ukrainian mountaineers, with Anatoli Boukreev probably the most well known mountaineer to have emerged from the region.

I know that there was a Singapore expedition there round about 2001, and believe that they have an online expedition report somewhere.

The Altay mountain range, part of the Tien Shan range is one of the main lower level attractions with forests, lakes and alpine meadows. in abundance. The area is excellent for both walking and demanding treks. The 80 Km Charyn Canyon and Turgen Gorge are well worth a visit and the The Aksu-Dzhabagly Nature Reserve, home of the endangered snow leopard has been a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1934.

For information on the area you could do worse than get a copy of the Central Tien Shan Map and Guide by Andrei Kroussanov - available from Amazon.

HTH

Thanks a lot dave much appreciated

Hello there,
I spent the summer of 2003 in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakstan walking but didn't make it to Ala Archa I'm afraid. Peaks looked great from the balcony of the South GH in Bishkek! I had planned to walk there but, unfortunately, I ran out of time. There are some good trekking peaks in the Khan Tengri area and the views are amazing - it is close to China and you need a permit. Kyrgyzstan is a great country to visit - watch out for vodka terrorism!!!
David

Thankyou David,

unfortunately i cant go to the Khan Tengri area, i only have weekends off and i am limited to the area south of Bishkek.How was the weather & at what months in the summer did you visit? I was in northern Kazakstan in June in the lake Burybaye area i return there for September only 1 peak to bag at 900 odd metres, still musnt grumble. I am looking forward to going to Kyrgzstan in early October for 5 weeks - though we wont be to far from the glacier apparently, so plenty of peaks to keep us entertained.

Cheers again, Nath.