Ermekten — Tours and hikes in Kyrgyzstan
Guides, routes, and news for exploring the nature and culture of Kyrgyzstan.
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Winter hiking: the gear you need
What to take to the mountains in winter: layered clothing, footwear, crampons and snowshoes, an avalanche kit and the small things without which a winter outing becomes an ordeal. With a PDF checklist.
- Difficulty: Any level
- Duration: From 1 day
- Season: Winter
Winter route difficulty: how to assess a destination
Why a summer stroll becomes a serious hike in winter, how to read difficulty grades and the avalanche scale, and which level to choose for yourself.
- Difficulty: Any level
- Duration: 2 hours to 4 days
- Season: Winter
The most difficult winter routes in Kyrgyzstan
The Ratsek hut and Uchitel peak, Ala-Kul lake over the pass, Son-Kul in winter and the peaks of Ala-Archa: routes for the experienced, what makes them hard and how to prepare.
- Difficulty: Hard
- Duration: 1–4 days
- Season: Winter