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Sergey Shetinin: Issyk-Kul Lake Kyrgyzstan Karakol Novosibirsk - last articles and news in RSS/XML format | Shetinin.com
2010. ALA-KUL LAKE
August 2010. Ala-Kul Lake - from Karakol to Altyn Arashan

August 2010. Ala-Kul Lake - from Karakol to Altyn Arashan

The trekking to Ala-Kul lake was planned a few years ago. Initially Azat, my classmate, asked me to organize the Ala-Kul Lake visiting in 2008. But we didn’t realize this plan because of some reasons – once that was awful weather during weeks, then we had no the group participants gathered together. And at last in this February 2010 when I visited Karakol ski base and met Azat and Ainura we decided to do this trekking in August 2010.

In 17 of August 2010 we planned to have the main meeting to decide about trekking itinerary and see how many people go with us. It’s appeared that instead of us 3 we got group of 9 (nine) people. That was great that our idea interested other guys. Mostly that was because we announced our trekking to Ala-Kul Lake at out classmates’ meeting before.

So the members of the group were:

  1. Azat (Bishkek) – classmate, the one who offered idea of trekking
  2. Ainura (Karakol) – classmate, the most beautiful and kind guide of Kyrgyzstan
  3. Alina (Saint-Petersburg) – pupil of 9th form, niece of Askha
  4. Askhat (Karakol) – classmate, and simply my best frien
  5. Volodya (Karakol) – colleague (Kumtor) of Askha
  6. Janyl (Bishkek) – classmate, she is a friend of Ainur
  7. Larisa (New Urengoi) – classmate, she is resident of north currentl
  8. Lyuba (Novosibirsk) – my daughter, the youngest trekking member (she is nine)
  9. Sergey (Novosibisk) – it's just me

On 17th of August 2010 we meet each other in the center of Karakol, decided what will be our itinerary, what will we eat each day and when to start our trekking. We also rent some equipment some members of group needed and found a driver with good 4WD van to bring us as far to Karakol valley as we need for the first day. So on 18th of August we were ready and after the tasteful lunch in Karakol’s café we started our journey.

The itinerary was:

Day 1. Transfer by 4WD van from Karakol to Karakol valley (20km). Hiking from bridge over Karakol river to refuge “Sirota” (2800m). Overnight.

Day 2. Trekking from refuge “Sirota” (2800m) up to Ala-Kul Lake (3532m). Lunch. Over the pass Ala-Kul (3800m) down to first water and good place for tents. Overnight.

Day 3. Down to Altyn Arashan resort (2300m). Hot springs. Overnight.

Day 4. From Altyn Arashan resort to Ak-Suu resort over the pass Ortok. Back to Karakol.

This plan and itinerary was realized very well. The weather was amazingly good during the whole trekking, in spite of heavy rainfall in the first (while we were driving in van) and last day (when we were driving back to Karakol).

Thanks to all members of group for their endurance and patience in difficult moments. Especially we are glad Lyuba was very strong for her age, that was a first time when she is in such a mountains and such an altitude without any experience before. Also great thanks and many kisses to our beautiful guide Ainura – she is the most wonderful and kind mountain girl I seen before (I can repeat it many times).

Please find the most interesting pictures of our trekking below. Each photograph is followed by our comments and description. Use navigation links under the each photo and you will see how we spent days of our trekking 2010: Karakol (1800m)Karakol valley (2000m)refuge “Sirota” (2800m)Ala-Kul Lake (3532m)Ala-Kul pass (3800m)Altyn Arashan resort (2300m)Ortok pass (2300m)Ak-Suu resort (1900m)Karakol (1800m).

If you have any comments, questions use my email to contact me. Sergey Shetinin.


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After half an hour, when dinner was ready, Lyuba jumped out from the tent and was running around us like she was not so tired before. The temperature was not so cold but we all used our warm clothes in this camping under Ala-Kul pass.
Dinner in camping Ala-Kul. Lyuba alive again
We got up when the sun was already shining this day. While our equipment was sunburning we were cooking the breakfast and gathered our rucksacks to be ready fo the next part of our way - from Ala-Kul pass camping to Altyn Arashan resort
Morning time in the camping under Ala-Kul pass
This romantic flower edelweiss is usual in Kyrgyzstan at altitude over 2800-3000 m. Our camping was surrounded with fields with different flowers and edelweisses were there also. Photo of Edelweiss on the background of Ala-Kul pass
Edelweiss and Ala-Kul pass
We took a lot of photographs with flowers growing around our camping under Ala-Kul pass. Unfortunately I don't know the names of all flowers, but they were beautiful indeed.
Flowers in the camping under Ala-Kul pass
We started our hiking down to Altyn-Arashan resort after breakfast this morning.
Going down from campsite
After ten minutes of hiking down we found a few horses near the small river. They were alone, without any shepherd, but I think it's usual here. Noone comes here for stealing them.
Horses are on the meadow near Ala-Kul pass
While we were hiking down Lyuba and Volodya were chatting about different stuff. I heard they were talking about why human needs a neck, or how to feed animals...
Lyuba and Volodya. Chatting together
We had a short stop near small yellow lake. We thought this lake appeared after snow melting or after rains. But young cow demonstrated the real mission of this area - it'a toilet and water source for anyone who needs it.
Short stop near small yellow lake.
Lyuba Shetinin and Sergey Shetinin on the way down from Ala-Kul to Altyn-Arashan.
Shetinina Lyuba and Sergey on the way from Ala-Kul to Altyn-Arashan
Juniper bushes are growing on altitude 2600 m above the sea level here. Our trail went through them.
Trail to Altyn-Arashan is through juniper
There was a shepherd's camp in the place where we should cross a river. Askhat and Volodya found some big piece of salt and discussed why it was here.
Shepherd's camp. No animals
One more meeting of animal - now it was horse. Lyuba tried to feed her with grass.
Lyuba and horse meeting
Going down from Ala-Kul pass to Altyn Arashan we arrived to first forest. After this place we should go one hour more to reach resort Altyn Arashan where we have a next camping.
Forest zone from Ala-Kul to Arashan
The trail in the frest is going sometimes deep down. So we were moving carefully and slowly. At photo: Alina, Lyuba, Janyl and Azat
Down to Altyn-Arashan valley
Near the river Altyn-Arashan we decided to have short stop for the lunch. Girls found that that was a mashrooms' place. We immediately went to different directions and collected some mashrooms for the evening dinner.
Mashrooms' place at Altyn-Arashan
After lunch we went further. Altyn Arashan will be in 600 meters, if to look at phote - resort will be under the green slope, that is on right after the slope with forest.
Altyn Arashan is nearby
The beatiful view of Peak Palatka from Altyn-Arashan resort. Ainura climbed this almost 5000 meters peak a few years ago.
Palatka Peak. View from Altyn-Arashan
This is a houses of Altyn-Arashan esort. The upper is a hotel, the lower is a baths with hot springs. This resort has own mini hydro power station. Altyn Arashan is a lovely quiet healthy place in this area. It's called resort - because the baths are good for the health
Altyn-Arashan resort
Lyuba and Alina had a nice horseback riding this evening at Altyn Arashan resort. We set our tents near houses and Askhat found some guys with jorses. They gave us one horse for riding.
Lyuba and Alina - evening horseback riding at Altyn-Arashan
At the last stop in Arashan valley we collected some mushrooms. It was time to cook dinner and Lyuba helped us to clean mushrooms for cooking soup. The dinner was very tasteful this day at Altyn Arashan resort.
Lyuba is preparing mushrooms for cooking at Altyn Arashan
The morning 21 August 2010. Altyn-Arashan resort. We started our hiking down to Issyk-Kul valley. At photo frm left to right: Azat, Larisa, Volodya, Janyl, Sergey, Ainura, Askhat, Alina and Lyuba.
Our group at Altyn-Arashan
The usual road from Altyn-Arashan. f follow this way you can reach forestry of Ak-Suu down there. But we will go other way via Ortok pass and come to Ak-Suu resort. At photo we go near the place where long time ago the car crashed down to river. At the right hand e saw the old memorial.
The road from Altyn-Arashan
The trail from Altyn-Arasan to Ak-Suu via Ortok pass.
The way to Ortok pass after Altyn-Arashan resort
Ortok pass. We reached this place in 3pm. After the pass we should go down to Ak-Suu-resort where we have a bus stop. In 1 hour we were in Karakol town.
Ortok pass. The way from Altyn-Arashat to resort Ak-Suu
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