HIGHLIGHTS:
– spending 4 nights among the wilderness of Tien-Shan mountains
– panoramic view of Tuyk-Su glacier cirque
– incredible burning sunsets and sunrises
– view to the lights of night city
– deep starry night skies
– discovering new glaciers
– opportunuty to ride steep and beautiful challenging lines
– visiting one of the oldest glaciological stations in the world
PRICE: 
MOUNTAIN RANGE:
Ile Alatau
SEASON:
mid April – mid June
Base camp altitude:
3450 m.a.s.l.
Duration:
5 days
Ability level:
advanced/expert
Start point:
Itinerary:
Almaty city – Medeu sport complex – Shymbulak mountain resort -Memorial to the Fallen in the Mountains – Mynzhylky dam – Tuyuk-Su glacier.
Day by day Schedule:
Departure from Almaty about 10 a.m. Transfer to Memorial to the Fallen in the Mountains with altitude 2550 m.a.s.l. Continue ascent by feet or touring by the road along Small Almaty river to Mynzhylky dam. This name can be literally translated as “good pasture for livestock”. Here is located stationary meteorological station at an altitude of 2900 m.a.s.l. Light snack and short break in shelter near the dam. Then moving uphill again to the beginning of Tuyuk-Su glacier, where an old trailer transformed into mountain shelter is located (3375 m.a.s.l.). Rest, lunch, walking around in surroundings. Avalanche safety training. Dinner and overnight at the trailer.
Distance: 6 km
Elevation gain: 825 vertical meters.
Approximate time of reaching base camp: 3,5 – 5 hours.
Getting up at 5 a.m. Breakfast, preparing for the route. Not later than 6.30 a.m. start touring along the route to the ridge with altitude of 3875 m.a.s.l., which crowns cirque named Green Kar. Fascinating view on Molodyozhniy peak, Amangeldy, Uchitel (Teacher), Pioneer peaks and also Kumbelsu gorge is opened from the ridge. Rest, having snacks, preparing for descent. There are many couloirs and varieties of descents, so upon request after descent from the ridge to the valley it will possible to make couple descents more from another points. At 12 am coming back to the trailer. Rest, lunch, walking in surroundings, taking sunbath, yoga lessons, stretching. Dinner and overnight at the trailer.
Travel time: 4-5 hours.
Elevation gain: 500-1500 meters.
Steepness of the slope: 15-35 degrees.
Length of each descent: up to 3 km.
Getting up at 5.00 a.m. Breakfast, preparations for the route. Not later than 6.30 a.m. start touring along the route to the West Ordzhonikidze glacier with an altitude of 4077 m.a.s.l. Ascent will take about 4 hours. Descent along the central part of the glacier to the left from the line of ascent. Slope angle in some parts is about 40 degrees. By 12 a.m. coming back to the trailer. Rest, lunch, walking around. Dinner and overnight at the trailer.
Travel time: 5-6 hours.
Elevation gain: 700 vertical meters.
Steepness of the slope: 15-40 degrees.
Length of descent: ~ 4,5 km.
Getting up at 5.00 a.m. Breakfast, preparations for the route. Not later than 6.30 a.m. start touring along the route to the Shoulder of Tuyuk-Su peak with an altitude of 4150 m.a.s.l. Descent on the north-west wide slope. along the ridge. At 12 a.m. coming back to the trailer. Rest, lunch, walking in surroundings, visiting Tuyuk-Su glaciological station located nearby. Watching sunset, taking pictures, enjoying the silence and wilderness. Dinner and overnight at the trailer.
Travel time: 5 – 6 hours.
Elevation gain: 750 vertical meters.
Steepness of the slope: 15-35 degrees.
Length of descent: ~ 4 km.
Getting up at 5.00 a.m. Breakfast, preparing for the route. Not later than 6.30 a.m. start touring along the route to Molodyozhniy peak with an altitude of 4147 m.a.s.l. Depends on conditions, the guide will choose moving along the east ridge or west, going through Molodyozhniy pass (3735 m.a.s.l.). From the summit fantastic view of neighbor Kumbel-Su and Big Almaty gorges is opened, as well as all the panorama of Tuyuk-Su glacier’s cirque. Descent on north-north-east exposure along the western ridge or in eastern couloirs. At 12 am coming back to the trailer. Lunch, rest, packing stuff and descent to the Memorial of the Fallen in the Mountains. In good snowy years it’s possible to ride down till Mynzhylky dam on skis/snowboards. Transfer to Medeu sports complex and then to Almaty. Dinner in local traditional restaurant. Arrival to the hotel at 8 p.m.
Travel time: 4-5 hours.
Elevation gain/loss: 770 vertical meters.
Steepness of the slope; 20-45 degrees.
Length of descent: ~ 4 km.
Upon request it will be possible to organize authentic saka bath house near Shymbulak resort (optionally, extra charge).
Read more about freeride spot >>
Required clothing and equipment
Safety:
– avalanche equipment (air bag system and avalanche safety kit: shovel, probe, transciever)
– freeride backpack with ski/snowboard fixation (volume 25-40 liters)
– helmet
– goggles with a spare lens for foggy conditions (better to have 2 goggles)
Personal clothing and accessories:
– comfortable functional clothing for riding downhill and skinning up the hill (base layer: thermal underwear, membrane jacket and pants, fleece jacket, additional layers of clothing for insulation, downy sweater or vest)
– extra set of warm clothing, extra pair of shoes (sneakers or lightweight trekking shoes)
– sleeping bag with temperature rate 0C – +5C degrees in comfort zone
– two pairs of gloves or mittens (one light and one warm)
– warm hat, light cap, neck gaiter
– sunscreen
– sunglasses
– personal AID kit (adhesive plaster, emergency thermal blanket, individual medications) – repair kit (spare parts and tools for adjustment and repair your bindings,duct tape, rubber straps)
– thermos
– water tank
– head torch
– personal hygienic stuff – spare batteries for your devices – adaptor for outlet charging, if needed (220V 50Hz European outlet)
Equipment:
– ski/snowboard boots (for skiers with system of switching to walking mode)
– proper freeride skis/snowboard with touring bindings
– snowshoes (for snowboarders without splitboard)
– climbing skins
– telescopic poles
– ski/splitboard crampons – alpinist crampons – ice axe
Food:
– individual snacks for the route (energy and protein bars, muesli, dry fruits and nuts, special mount nutrition)
Services included in the package:
1. Services of professional English-speaking skiing guide.
2. Transfer Almaty – Medeu – Almaty
3. Transfer from Medeu to the Memorial by specialized Eco vehicles.
4. Accommodation in the trailer at the foothills of Tuyuk-Su glacier.
5. Meals – lunch, dinner in Day 1, FB in Days 2-4, breakfast and lunch in Day 5.
6. Drinking water.
Services does not included in the package:
1. Rental of ski equipment (available upon request).
2. Visa support and registration in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan, if required.
3. Meals (other than specified), personal expenses and other expenses not indicated in the program.
4. Accommodation in Almaty before / after the tour.
5. Insurance policy.
6. Dinner in Day 5 (~15-20 USD).
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