Backcountry At Bogdanovich Glacier And Cosmic Station
About this tour
Authentic backcountry experience in the mountains near Almaty. You will explore two different backcountry spots – Cosmic station, Shymbulak surroundings and cirque of Bogdanovich glacier. It’s a good chance to test yourself at high altitudes and leave your trace on the wild untouched slopes of Tien-Shan mountains.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Almaty, Kazakhstan to Big Almaty Peak, Kazakhstan
Meeting the guide in the lobby of your hotel at 6 o'clock in the morning. Transfer to Cosmic station by comfortable 4WD vehicle. (40 km) Passing military check-point, where you will have to show your passports (boundary zone with Kyrgyzstan Republic). Arrival to the Cosmic station and mountain hut check-in. There are three bedrooms and dining room in the hut, electricity, tab water, stove heating, rest room is outside. At 7.30 start moving along the route towards Tourist peak. Elevation gain: 1600 meters. Length of descent: 1,5 km. Steepness of the slopes: from 15 to 35 degrees. Duration: 5-6 hours. Descent by north, north-west face of the peak to the middle section of the old ski-lift. Descent by north, north-west face of the peak to the middle section of the old ski-lift. It will be possible to make one more ascent, but depending on fit level, health of the participants, weather and snow conditions. Coming back to the mountain hut. Lunch, rest, free time. Tour around Cosmo-station and meeting with researchers, who study cosmic particles in their laboratories. Dinner, overnight in the hut.
Day 2: Big Almaty Peak, Kazakhstan to Shymbulak, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Breakfast at 6.30 a.m., preparing for backcountry route. Start is not later than 07:30. Getting to the start point of backcountry route towards Turan peak by car. Ski-touring to the top with descent along the line of ascent (north-east exposure). Elevation gain: 715 meters Descent length ~ 5 km Duration: 4-5 hours. Slope gradient: 20 – 35 degrees Coming back to the start point and transfer back to Cosmic station. Lunch, packing stuff and departure to the open-air mountain SPA complex. On the way visiting observation view point and watching breathtaking panorama of the Big Almaty Lake surrounded by white snowy peaks. Staying on the territory of spa center for 2 hours and enjoying different types of steam rooms and sauna, swimming pools with icy and hot water, relaxing on sun loungers and admiring the view of Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. Transfer to Almaty city. Dinner in the local restaurant. Transfer to Shymbulak mountain resort. Hostel check-in. Rest, overnight in the hostel.
Day 3: Shymbulak, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Meeting the guide in your hotel at 9 a.m. Ascent by cable car to the highest point of Shymbulak Mountain Resort – Talgar pass (altitude 3163 m.a.s.l.). Yurt lodge check-in. There is traditional yurt, so the sleeping places will be arranged straight on the floor in sleeping bags. The whole yurt and the floor are heated. Electricity and water inside the yurt, rest room is outside. Skitouring/splitboarding in the area nearby resort. Few of the most interesting spots will be taken into consideration: Til’ glacier, couloirs of Shkol’nik, Chkalov and Edelweiss peak. Elevation gain: 500-800 meters Descend length ~ 5 km Duration: 4-5 hours Slope gradient: 20 – 40 degrees Coming back to the yurt. Dinner in Kazakh national style. Overnight in the yurt.
Day 4: Shymbulak, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Breakfast at 6.30 a.m. Instructions from the guide and preparing for the route. Backcountry to Fizkul’turnik peak or Pioneer pass. Elevation gain: 900 meters Descend length ~ 5 km Duration: 4-5 hours Slope gradient: 20 – 40 degrees Coming back to the yurt. Free time. Dinner in Kazakh national style. Overnight in the yurt.
Day 5: Shymbulak, Almaty, Kazakhstan to Almaty, Kazakhstan
Breakfast at 6.30 a.m. Instructions from the guide and preparing for the route. Not later than 7:30 a.m., start moving to the west, in direction of Bogdanovich Glacier. This day you will make ascent to Karlytau peak located in the cirque of Bogdanovich Glacier. Elevation gain: 1000 meters Descend length ~ 6 km Duration: 5-6 hours Slope gradient: 20 – 40 degrees Coming back to the yurt, rest. Apreski in "3200" bar on Talgar pass, free time. By the evening packing stuff and coming back to the city. Dinner in café in Almaty.
What's included
1. English-speaking skiing guide services. 2. Transfer Almaty - Cosmic station - Almaty. 3. Transfer Almaty - Shymbulak mountain resort - Almaty 4. Meals according to the program. 5. Accommodation in mountain hut at Cosmic station. 6. Accommodation in Shymbulak Backcountry Yurt Lodge . 7. Daily ski-pass at Shymbulak in Day 3. 8. Accommodation in the hostel at Shymbulak in Day 2. 9. Drinking water.
1. Rental of ski and avalanche 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. Tickets to the open-air SPA (~20 USD). 7. Cost of the dinner in Day 2 and Day 5 (~15-20 USD each).
What to know
Required equipment and clothing. Safety: - Avalanche equipment (air bag system and avalanche safety kit: shovel, probe, transceiver) - Freeride backpack with ski/snowboard fixation - Helmet - Goggles with a spare lens for bright sunlight and cloudy weather Personal clothing and accessories - Comfortable functional clothing for riding downhill and skinning up the hill (base layer - thermal underwear, gore-tex jacket and pants, 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 - Warm hat, light cap, neck gaiter - Sunscreen - Sunglasses - Swimsuit, towel and flip-flops for visiting SPA - Personal AID kit - Thermos for the hot tea, - Water tank - Head torch - Personal hygiene stuff 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 - Poles - Ski/splitboard crampons Food - Snacks (energy and protein bars, muesli, dry fruits and nuts, special mount nutrition)
Route & locations
Almaty, Kazakhstan to Big Almaty Peak, Kazakhstan