My blog
Journal
Seasons, history and practical notes about travelling in the mountains around Bishkek.
Nature
Why Kol-Tor is that colour
The turquoise is not a filter, and it is not the sky. It is powdered rock, and it changes through the season.
History
What remains of Balasagun
A thousand years, several earthquakes and one brick tower still standing in the middle of a ploughed valley.
Practical
What to pack for a day tour from Bishkek
A short list with no mountaineering equipment on it — what actually matters on a day out of the city.
Seasons
When the passes open: a season guide to the mountains near Bishkek
Which tours run in May, why Kol-Tor is not one of them, and what changes month by month.