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.

Up

Ala-Kul Lake. The first view	The source of Ala-Kul waterfall	The water of Ala-Kul Lake	Let's go further, beter to move.
Trail to Ala-Kul pass	The glacier that gives water to Ala-Kul Lake	Higher and higher to Ala-Kul pass	One more view of glacier, peak, river and Lake Ala-Kul
Last stop before Ala-Kul Pass	The view of Ala-Kul pass 3800m	Hiking up to Ala-Kul Pass 3800m	The first people are on the Ala-Kul pass already.
Askhat and Alina are climbing to Ala-Kul pass, lake is amazing	Lyuba Shetinina - I am standing at Ala-Kul Pass (3800m)!	Our group is on the pass ALa-Kul	View from the pass to Arashan valley
Scree of Ala-Kul pass descent.	Alina and snow carnice of Ala-Kul pass	Seregy and Lyuba coming to snow field	Girls are crossing snow field
View of Ala-Kul pass from down	Alina, Sergey, Lyubaand Volodya on the snow	We have camping at last. No more power	Our camping under eastern side of Ala-Kul pass
<< previous	Pages 1 2 3		next >>
	Display 12243280 per page