Mountain weather changes quickly at 2100 meters. With a final push to the top of the valley at 2500 meters, we seem to be hitting the luck right with minimal rain & constant shedding of wet-weather gear (the thunderstorms and heavy rain luckily mostly started directly after we were finished with pitching the tent).
We enjoyed friendly smiles & waves from drivers who were carrying goods up for the start of their summer season in the more mild mountain valley temperatures. Glorious untouched gravel riding down the valley until we make it close to the only shop of the valley. One kilometer from the shop, Jaydens rack decides to slip & breaks. With a less than ideal ziptie repair, we move forward to the market for some break.
We enjoy watching a local women making local potato bread, which she treats us with varying local baked goods. After some good coffee and relaxation, we push on the next day to finish the valley. Certainly the reward is in the eastern section, with mountain plains & limited grazing land for farmstock, creates untouched mountain beauty all the way to Bartogai lake.
Descending 1000 meters through a tight canyon greets us with local farmers on horseback, bringing their sheep into the mountains. We reach Bartogai lake which visually compares to Wanka lake (NZ), however in reality the lake was built in the 80s as a reservoir to help distribute water to nearby villages. This lake has the potential to be a great tourist attraction if it smelt alittle cleaner, and with more wildlife.
With our last 10 euros of money in Kazakh currency, we buy ice creams & bee-line it to the Charyn Canyon, the last stop for us in Kazakhstan.
0 liebe Kommentare:
Post a Comment