TR: Kooks go Krazy in Kyrgyzstan

**Arno** · 03-25-2012, 06:28 AM

Blatant cross post from another couple of forums, but it's better than just posting a link, right?

Pics by me and Mike R

I've done a few good trips with a Scottish ski instructor called Simon Christie. His bias is very much towards off-piste/backcountry rather than pizza and fries type stuff - he's carved himself a good little niche. Back in the summer, Simon updated his website for this season's fun 'n' games. My interest was piqued by a solitary reference to Kyrgyzstan. A bit of to-ing and fro-ing later and this trip was he result of that. It was a great trip, culturally. The skiing was pretty good although I managed to pick up flu just before we went which restricted things a bit for me. Still, lots of fun was had, and some lifelong memories made!

We arrived in Bishkek in the middle of the night and our mildly psychotic mini-bus driver delivered us to Karakol by 9am. We were recommended to visit the animal market, which is a highlight in the area. Lots of interesting sights:

We saw up to 6 sheep being loaded into the boot of a Lada. Also seen: 2 cows in the back of a VW Golf

After this we loaded up into a "Waz" driven by a dentally challenged Russian known locally as Schumacher. He had an offputting habit of stopping every 10km to check he still had 4 wheels.

This took us up to the trailhead at Ischke Jergez where we stayed with a local family for a night before heading up to the Yurt.

Homestay: Sheep with skis

Schlep up to the yurt. Fortunately we had horses to carry our make-up bags

This was a bit of a sufferfest with flu

Nice when you get there though

Nice and cosy in the yurt

Loo with a view

Hard to see where the land ends and the sky begins

**Arno** · 03-25-2012, 06:29 AM

I finally got off my sickbed and got some skiing in. We got 3/4 of the way up the left-hand ridge of the big peak in this photo:

Evidence of me actually skinning:

fo real

Simon shows how it's done

The team did its job and ruined those tracks in short order

Paul has first crack

Nick picks up the baton

Tom looking good

temporarily

Bonus powder day!!!

Nothing wrong with a bit of meadow skipping

Retour yurt

Nice sunset that evening

**Arno** · 03-25-2012, 06:30 AM

Last day. Time for a quick lap before heading back down the trail. Yes - I actually skied:

Mike managed to break a Fritschi. However, a bit of duct tape and some cable ties got him through 6km of schmoo/elephant snot back to base

Centre: our attractive Yurt hosts

Local kids took a fancy to someone's shades

Bubblewrap is just as fun in Central Asia

Back to Bishkek

Every well-dressed Bishkek resident gets themselves down to Colin's

Eurgh. We drank this place out of beer... then vodka. Somehow Simon got us all up at 2.30am to get our flight. Ugly scenes

That's all folks!!

**Mike Pow** · 03-25-2012, 07:31 AM

Sweet.

Expensive?

**Arno** · 03-25-2012, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by Mike Pow

Expensive?

ish... flight (with BMI) was about £500 LHR to Bishkek (with a short stop in Baku.)
Cost of packages at the yurt are on 40tribesbackcountry.com

once you are there, it is very cheap. I took out £30 worth of local currency and only just spent it all

**pbourdon** · 03-25-2012, 07:59 AM

Very cool.

**Meathelmet** · 03-25-2012, 08:06 AM

Awesome! Never enough sheep in TRs.

**le dog** · 03-25-2012, 08:49 AM

like it, culturally interesting and skiing did not look bad either.
ben fatto.

**Hicks** · 03-25-2012, 08:53 AM

Sweet, Thx for sharing.

**Arno** · 03-25-2012, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by Meathelmet

Awesome! Never enough sheep in TRs.

i thought you were Scandi... now I am wondering if you are Welsh

**calisnow** · 03-25-2012, 09:55 AM

Awesome trip. Great photos. Can't believe you did it with the flu. I would've wimped out.

**Arno** · 03-25-2012, 10:31 AM

maybe it was just manflu

**Danno** · 03-25-2012, 11:58 AM

good stuff.

**Hayduke** · 03-25-2012, 01:11 PM

Nice Ian. Too bad you were sick.

Where did you get that side-bum bag. Looks good on you.

**Arno** · 03-25-2012, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Hayduke

Nice Ian. Too bad you were sick.

Where did you get that side-bum bag. Looks good on you.

practical too - just enough room for my bong and my crackpipe

**Chainsaw_Willie** · 03-25-2012, 01:51 PM

Now that's off the beaten track. Sweet!

**ShadyNasty** · 03-25-2012, 04:22 PM

krazy kids

**Tunco** · 03-25-2012, 05:26 PM

Great TR, thanks.

Hugh Conway · 03-25-2012, 05:39 PM

Fuck yeah! Nice TR arno! By chance has Simon spent time in Japan and NZ?

Originally Posted by Mike Pow

Sweet.

Expensive?

cheap as chips. based on your other TRs and posts you'd dig it summer or winter. tourism hasn't struck so people don't have a chip

**CaliKid** · 03-25-2012, 06:48 PM

Hell yeah....thanks for sharing! Thinking about a trip to that area myself and had a few questions.
Did you do guided or unguided out of 40 tribes?
Any beta on the Karakol ski base? Worth spending a day or two there?
Stability and snowpack-wise what month is usually the best bet?
Any beta on the skiing outside of Almaty (Ak-bulak and Shymbulak)?

Thanks again.

**Arno** · 03-26-2012, 02:17 AM

Thanks for the comments!

Hugh - don't think Simon has done much in Japan/NZ. May be wrong though. He's based in France though although I think he did some time in Scotland back in the day.

Calikid - We did unguided although Simon acted as our guide if you see what I mean.
I did not ski Karakol personally but my buddy stayed behind to get a couple of days there. From his texts, it sounds ok if you have the time but if (like me) you have limited annual leave from work and are relying on the goodwill of an understanding wife, probably not worth it.
Supposedly March is the worst time for snowpack stability. We had to play it pretty safe because there were natural slides on most steep slopes. The older snow was basically faceted from top to bottom. April probably sees the pack consolidate through freeze/thaw although I expect it melts out pretty fast once it starts to warm up.
We didn't get over to Almaty so can't help with beta on the resorts near there.
Hope that helps

**Scottish_Skier** · 03-26-2012, 02:22 AM

5 star

Looks an incredible place to visit, more so with skis...

Better than a week in Meribel ?

**garyfromterrace** · 03-26-2012, 03:07 AM

[QUOTE=Arno;3595067]Blatant cross post from another couple of forums, but it's better than just posting a link, right?

Pics by me and Mike R

I've done a few good trips with a Scottish ski instructor called Simon Christie. His bias is very much towards off-piste/backcountry rather than pizza and fries type stuff - he's carved himself a good little niche. Back in the summer, Simon updated his website for this season's fun 'n' games. My interest was piqued by a solitary reference to Kyrgyzstan. A bit of to-ing and fro-ing later and this trip was he result of that. It was a great trip, culturally. The skiing was pretty good although I managed to pick up flu just before we went which restricted things a bit for me. Still, lots of fun was had, and some lifelong memories made!

We arrived in Bishkek in the middle of the night and our mildly psychotic mini-bus driver delivered us to Karakol by 9am. We were recommended to visit the animal market, which is a highlight in the area. Lots of interesting sights:

This makes me want to go there....

Brilliant TR, thnx for sharing and way to get after it in exotic locales!