Uzbekistan Mountain Scrambling Scrambling, non-technical rock climbing, alpine scrambling Scrambling (“non-technical” rock climbing also known as alpine scrambling) is a method of ascending rocky faces and ridges. It is a term that lies somewhere between hillwalking and rock climbing. It is often distinguished from hillwalking by defining a scramble as a route where hands must be used in the ascent. There is less to distinguish it from climbing, with many easy climbs sometimes referred to as difficult scrambles. A distinction can be made in defining any ascent where hands are used to hold body weight, rather than just for balance, as a climb.   The Mountaineers climbing organization defines scrambling as follows:   "Alpine Scrambles are off-trail trips, often on snow or rock, with a 'non-technical' summit as a destination. A non-technical summit is one that is reached without the need for certain types of climbing equipment (body harness, rope, protection hardware, etc), and not involving travel on extremely steep slopes or on glaciers. However, this can mean negotiating lower angle rock, traveling through talus and scree, crossing streams, fighting one's way through dense brush, and walking on snow-covered slopes."   Note: You can request us to prepare a route for you, which include any kind of scrambling listed above. Uzbekistan mountains The mountains of Uzbekistan enter in structure of Tyan-Shan and Alay mountain systems. On territory turn the western spurs of Tyan-Shan and Gissar-Alay mountain system. To south and west they gradually lower and turn to plains. Internal (tectonic) power of Earth formed folds grown the powerful ranges of mountains. The mountains and foothills with brook relief, located in east and south-east part of Uzbekistan, where they unite with powerful mountain deep brook massive on territory of Kirgizya and Tadjikistan. Mainly this Ugam, Pskem, Chatkal, Kuramin ranges and their western and south-western spurs, concerning to Western Tyan-Shan system and Turkestan, Zerafshan and Gissar ranges with their continuous on south-western - Babatag and Kugintangtau ranges, concerning to Gissar-Alay system. Entering on territory of Uzbekistan its spurs formed radiating bundle of mountain chains, constantly less in north-western and south-western directions. The character example is Karjantau, Maygashkan and Surenata ranges in western Tyan-Shan system and Nuratau, Aktau and Kuratau ranges and Karatepa and Ziadin-Zirabulak mountains, being the last of Pamir-Alay. Entering in Western Tyan-Shan system the mountain ranges (Karjantau, Ugam, Pskem, Chatkal, Kuramin) began from Talass Alatau (on border with Kirgizstan), further as fan radiate from here and continuos to north-east to south-west. The more high point of Talass Alatau is mountain Manas (4482m). The high point of Chatkal range on territory of Uzbekistan - Greater Chimgan peak (3309 m). Between Chatkal and Kuramin ranges located Akhangaran valley. The apexes of Western Tyan-Shan covered with snow and glaciers. The Chatkal and Kuramin ranges border on north with Fergana valley. From east she borders with Fergana range, from south with Alay and Turkestan ranges. To north-west from Turkestan range raises the Malguzar range, to south-west Chumkartau range. Only the north slopes of Chumkartau entering on territory of Uzbekistan. The valley of Sanzar river separate the Malguzar mountains from Nuratau mountains. The weak point in this valley named Tamerlan gates. The Nuratau mountains stretch on 180 km. Their north slope is steep, the south slope is gently sloping. The high point of North part of Nuratau mountains is Khayatbashi apex (2165 m). The south part of Nuratau mountains consists from separate apexes (Aktau, Karatau, Karagatau, Gabduntau). On the south and as parallel to Turkestan range located Zarafshan range. With self eastern part he entering on territory of Tadjikistan. On south from Zarafshan range located Gissar range and his south-western spurs (Yakkobag, Surkhantau, Kugikantau, Baysuntau, Chakgar and other). Here located the highest point of Uzbekistan - the Khazret Sultan (4643 m). In western part of Gissar range are two glaciers - Batirbay and Severcev. On south of Uzbekistan along of border with Tadjikistan located Babatag range. The high point - Zarkasa (2292 m). The main features of orography of Uzbekistan connected with features of geological structure of above-mentioned the mountain systems. This bond found expression in these, that between mountain ranges located spacious foothill and intermountain depressions, the large from which is Tashkent-Golodnosteppe, Fergana Zarafshan, Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya.   Please note that Uzbekistan's fourthousanders (Uzbekistan's Mountain Peaks, which are above four thousands meters high) are located in border areas. For example the Khazret Sultan Peak, the highest point of Uzbekistan (4,643 m), is located on the border between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, in Surkhandarya Province, in the Uzbek part of the Gissar Range. The Adelung Peak (4,301 m) the highest peak in Pskem Range in extreme north-east of Uzbekistan's Tashkent Province as well as the nearby the Beshtor Peak (4,299 m), located a little further to the south-west in the same range, are situated near to Kyrgyz border. Therefore even local climbers cannot go there without a special permit. Besides, there is no transparent procedure of getting the permits to border areas, which haven't good infrastructure of tourism, into the bargain; therefore organizing of any expedition there takes enormous efforts, time and money. Knowing this most of climbers prefer the Fann mountains near to Uzbekistan with good infrastructure, Asian Patagonia of Pamiro-Alay in Kyrgyzstan, Experienced Climbing in Ala-Archa, Kyrgyzstan or the Chimgan Mountains (both, in winter and in summer) near to Tashkent. We can offer you very interesting experience of rock climbing in the Chimgan mountains. There are routes of 1B-4B Russian grade. We can provide you with official certificate of successful climbing. We provide gears and can guarantee your success. The suggested route is a traverse of three peaks (3A by Russian grade): the Greater Chimgan (3309 m), the Kichkina (2879 m) and the Aukashka (3099 m). It will take 4-5 days. Magnificent landscapes and challenge rock climbing. You can see a picture of proposed route below. West Tien-Shan Mountains Map   Suggested route. Traverse of three peaks   Day 1 Transfer from Tashkent to Beldersay (80 km, 2 hrs.). Walking along the gorge of the Beldersay River to the Chet-Kumbel Pass (1880 m). Overnight stay in tents on the picturesque glade. Camp 1. Day 2 Walking along the good path to the upper Beldersay river. Ascend to the Kumbel Pass (2550 m). Climbing along the southern slopes to the Greater Chimgan Peak (3,309 m), descent to the Komsomolec Pass (2700 m). Camp 2. Day 3 Climbing to the Kichkina (2879 m) and the Aukashka (3099 m) Peaks. Magnificent landscapes and challenge rock climbing. Return to Camp 2 Day 4 Descending from the Komsomolec pass to the gorge of the Mazarsay River. Hiking to the place called "Vodoprovod". Camp 3 near the spring Day 5 Descending to the gorge of Gulkamsay river. Visiting the Gulkam canyon. In the afternoon passing through the Pesocniy pass (1,832 m) to the valley of Chimgansay river. Collected by car. Return to Tashkent. See the map ... Trek Price Per Person Individual: US$ 300 2 Pax: US$ 163 3, 7, 12 Pax : US$ 120 4-5 Pax: US$ 110 6 Pax: US$ 138 8-10 Pax: US$ 110 11 Pax: US$ 130 Transportation Tashkent-Chingan-Tashkent isn't Included. Personal Equipment isn't Included. Mountain guide service - included. Guide/Climber Ratio: 1:5 maximum limit. The rent of the tents is included for all period of expedition. Food, kitchen and climbing gears - included. Porter service is available for an additional payment ($20/day). The price does not include: personal travel insurance; personal equipment, alcohol, personal expenses. Uzbekistan Mountains near to Tashkent Chimgan Mountains The Chimgan Mountains are invariably attractive for mountaineers. The wide variety of Chimgan and its surroundings allows the activity in all kinds of mountaineering and landscape tourism. Mountains  (Small and Greater Chimgan Peaks - 3,309 m) of Chatkal range, plateaus, the Black Waterfall (40 m) at the lower part of Greater Chimgan Peak, Gulkam and Novotasha waterfalls, attract a lot of tourists from Uzbekistan and abroad. West Tien-Shan Mountains Map Ugam & Karjantau ridges Another attractive place for mountaineering is situated on Ugam ridge and on the southern; slopes of the Karjantau ridge of the Western Tyan-Shan system.   There are following natural sites, which are of interest of mountaineers in area of Ugam & Karjantau ridges: • Peak Mingbulak (2,628 m)  - the highest peak of the Karjantau ridge. • Qizilsuv waterfalls - the pictorial cascades that flow at the sinuous river gorges of Qizilsuv Mountain River. • Loquacious cave is located on plateau Ghiza, 20 km from village Humsan, in a funnel-shaped hollow. On the bottom of the hollow, in the exposure of grey limestone, there is a 1x1 m rectangular aperture transforming to a 1.5 m high sloping tunnel. Its floor is covered with lumps, ceiling being arcaded. This tunnel is 20 m long and leads to the inner larger part of the cave. A ladder is needed in order to proceed into the cave as there is a 6 m high prominence. Then the floor levels out, height reaching 20-30 m. The cave is so named due to a streamlet flowing through it. • Arkutsay – exposure of loess stratum. The site is 3 km west of Humsan, on the right bank of the Ugam River. Section of the formation represents the wall of a small landslide breakaway and is a stratum of interstratifying loess-like loams of Quaternary and fossil soils horizons. The section is unique as it exposes more than 80 m thick deposition of rocks. • Kyrk-Kokyl waterfall (in Uzbek “Kyrk-Kokyl” means 40 plaits) – pictorial waterfall at Pustonlyk – confluent of Ugam River, 9 km from Humsan village. Suggested route for scrambling (trekking) Day 1. Moving by car to the Qizilsuv river valley. (75 km, 1.5 h). Stop at one of recreation camps. Resting and walking around. Acclimatization and preparation for the next day, which starts at 3 o’clock in the morning. Day 2. Very tense day. Scrambling to the highest peak of the Karjantau ridge - the peak Mingbulak (2,628 m). Roundtrip normally takes 12-13 hours. Panoramic view from the peak to the Ugam, Pskent and Chatkal ridges of the West Tien-Shan; Charvak and Khodjikent water reservoirs and the Valley of Chirchik River. Passing through Mingbulak pass (2,100 m). The word “Mingbulak” means “Thousand-springs”. The peek and pass acquired their names from numerous springs that in actuality exist on the slopes near to Mingbulak pass. Descent to a camp in the birch grove. You are free of packing. All your equipment is carried to a camp by animals/porters. Day 3. Rock Climbing to rocks surrounding the Qizilsuv waterfalls. Waterfalling. Descent to the starting point. Departure by car to Tashkent. Price Per Person Individual: US$ 180 2 Pax: US$ 97,5 3, 7, 12 Pax : US$ 72 4-5 Pax: US$ 63 6 Pax: US$ 84 8-10 Pax: US$ 63 11 Pax: US$ 78 Transportation isn't Included; Personal Equipment isn't Included. Mountain guide service - included. Guide/Climber Ratio: 1:5 maximum limit. The rent of the tents is included for all period of expedition. Food, kitchen and climbing gears - included. Porter service is available for an additional payment ($20/day). The price does not include: personal travel insurance; personal equipment, alcohol, personal expenses. Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrambling