2012: Heliskiing in Kirgistan Tien Shan Mountains

Heliskiing the Heavens

22/06 – 01/07/2012

Price: 3,890 Euro

+ flight / visa from 650 Euro

Subject to change

End of June 2012 we will travel the fouth time to this unique Heliski spot in the Central Tien Shan Mountains. Also after our third journey there in July 2009, we are still absolutely thrilled by the breath-taking freerski runs in this untouched mountain region, where the highest peaks lie above 7,000 metres above sea level.

If you are ready to do without the comfort and are looking for quiet and loneliness and combine this with great skiing, our trip to Kirgistan is absolutely the right thing for you.

Information on Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is one of the most western oriented ISTAN countries in Central Asia. With only 6 million inhabitants, the country is only very densely populated. This is not a surprise, given the fact that more than half of the country lies above 3,000 above sea level.
The capital is Bishkek. Here more than one million people of different origin live together: Kirgisians, Russians, Usbekis, Kasachans, Wolgagermans and some Chinese. Bishkek is known as the greenest city of the former UdSSR. Many of the gardens are fed by the Tien Shan. 200 km east of Bishkek the second largest mountain lake of the world is situated, the Issuk Kul Lake (Ozero Issyk Köl), which means “Warm Lake”. This lake, also known as the “Kirgisian Sea”, lies at about 2,000 metres above sea level. At the northern and southern ends of the lake the mountains of the Tschersky Alataus and the Tien Shan protrude more than 7,000 metres up into the sky.

Climate

The Tien Shan Mountains lie at about 46 degree northern amplitude. The winters are cold and low on rain or snow fall. But in April or May usually heavy rain fall starts, which, at heights above 3,000 metres, usually comes down as snow. In the mountain valley, however, early summer starts at about the end of June with very agreable temperatures.

Weather and conditions

The best conditions in order to go skiing in the Tien Shan, prevail in the months of June and July. Due to the climatic conditions there will be snow fall almost every afternoon. Normally we will start very early in the morning, at about 6.30 am, and will be back from the skiing at about 1 pm. Last season we found beautiful firn snow, partly covered in fresh snow. However, we will be skiing one of the highest mountain ranges of the world and nobody can predict how the wheather and snow conditions will be.

Special requirements for the journey

You will need to be very fit in order to be able to ski at heights of about 5,000 metres above sea level. We recommend every participant to have a heart and endurance test done by a specialist.

Helicopter

For the heliskiing we usually use a maschine from the Kirgisian military, type MI8 MTV. The maschine is about 5 years old and is thoroughly serviced after every flight. The team of pilots, is very familiar with flights in such heights. Our head pilot, Shirimbek has been a rescue pilot in the Tien Shan for centuries. The helicopter is based directly besides our accommodation in the mountaineer camp Maida Adyr.

Safety

To make your trip as safe as possible is our first priority. However, any activity in alpine terrain is afflicted with some risks, even if applying a maximum of safety precautions. Therefore, one thing should not be forgotten with all our journeys and acitivties, especially the heliski journeys: There are things and conditions that we have absolute control over but there are also others that we can’t predict or control. We would like to stress that there are unpredictable risks that we cannot control but which you will have to share with us!

Important information on the journey

During our heliski trip to Kyrgyzstan skiing will be our main activity. Anyway, besides this we would also like to get to know the country and the people there and enjoy the looks at one of the highest mountain ranges of the world. Our runs go on for usually between 600 and 1.100 vertical metres through absolutely stunning landscapes. Every participant should be aware of the fact that it is not the goal of this trip to do as many vertical metres as possible but rather to fully enjoy the skiing in this remote mountain region.

Accommodation

During our heliski days we are based in the village of Maida Adyr in the mountaineer camp. The camp lies picturesquely on a green pasture at 2,600 metres above sea level in the high valley of the Inichek river. We are accommodated in double rooms, which are very clean but only very basically furnished. We usually eat in the kitchen of the camp. The meals are very tasty, usually with salads, fresh fruit and Kirgisian specialities.

Our service package includes

9 overnights in the mountaineer camp and in hotels in Karakol, Yurt Camp and Bishkek
full-board in the mountaineer camp and half-board in the hotels
9 days mountain and travel guiding by one UIAGM mountain guide, one local guide and one second guide
12 heli hours, therefrom 2 hours flight from Bishkek to Maida Adyr, app. 16,000 vertical metres
border permit
flight permit
national park fees
all transfers in Kirgistan, return with a special-purpose vehicle Maida Adyr, Karakol, Bishkek
trekking tour from Karakol to a beautiful mountain lake
travel cancellation insurance
insolvency coverage

Extra costs

flight Europe to Bishkek (app. 650 Euro)
visa at the arrival at Bishkek (app. 50 Euro)
lunch on the days in Karakol, Cholpon Ata and Bishkek
extra heli hours: app. 2,400 Euro per hour divided by the participants (about 12 people)