Central Tien Shan. Khan Tengri peak (7010 m) climbing from South side.Trekking and climbing fotoreport.Trekking to Khan Tengri South and Peak Pobeda Base Camp.Photos by: Igor Fedyaev, Nikolay Gonenko, Georgy Regetsiy, taken in several expeditions. Comments: Igor Fedyaev. |
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| The down part of Saridjaz (during a day hiking up from Maida Adir checkpoint) is quite wide valley with a number of streams. The trail is good and lays on the left (orographically!) side of the valley. |
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| The side streams sometimes make amusing shapes of relief... |
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| The key obstacle en route is one strong left-side tributary of Sarydjaz river (no bridge of course!). Usually it is practically impossible (or very dangerous!) to cross it daytime or in the evening. We recommend do it in early morning while low water as shown on photo. |
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| Further, the South Inilchek (one of the world's largest valley glaciers - more than 60 km long!) is becoming clearly seen but still far from the trail. |
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| Further up, the valley is becoming narrower and the glacier is close reality with it's specific shapes as "dead ice", glacial wells... |
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| ...and glacial bridges. |
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| Finally, the trail brings you to the Mertzbakher Glade - in fact, the last green glade en route. It is situated on the same left (orographically!) side of the valley in front of North and South Inilchek glaciers junction. |
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| There is interesting
natural phenomena at the junction: Mertzbakher Lake. It is relatively big
couple of glacial lakes (Down and Upper) at the very end of North Inilchek
glacier. The Down Lake annually breaks into South Inilchek glacier (as usual,
in the end-July- beginning of August) and cause the flood at the down Sarydjaz
valley. The lake (as shown on the photo) becomes empty with the icebergs
laying on the glacial lake bottom. Note: it is practically impossible to hike on the lake's shore to/from North Inilchek BC, it involves crossing 2B-grade high pass ("Bronenosetz") on the Tengri Tag range which separates North and South Inilchek glaciers. |
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| Further up, the trail starts to cross moraine hills and finally, leads on the glacier itself. |
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| So, say "Goo-bye!" to the green glades, look at the amazing sunset... |
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| ...and be prepare to hike up on the chaotic conglomeration of ice, especially at the junctions with side glaciers, without any tracks of trail. But the feature is a lot of nice small glacial lakes - as seen in behind of the author ;-) |
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| The other feature is (I hope still is ;) the giant (most probably world's biggest!) glacial mushroom. To see it, try to keep the middle line of the glacier, especially at the end of the trek close to BC- better to go cross the glacier exactly near BC site than to try go directly to BC (doesn't matter which BC- left or right!). |
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| In near BCs site, the glacier is becoming wider and the surface - relatively flat (on photo: view back from right-side BC to the ascent way and Peak Nansen area- see below). |
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| En route (last third part) on the right side it is interesting goal for climbing (very rare, BTW!) - Peak Nansena (5697 m). |
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