Climbing
and Mountaineering
Contents
Tajikistan lies at the junction of five of the
world's greatest mountain ranges: the Himalaya, Karakorum,
Hindu Kush, Tien Shan and Pamir. The Pamirs dominate the eastern
half of Tajikistan, covering an area of more than 63,700 sq.
Km. The Tajiks refer to this region as 'Bom-i-Dunyo', the
Roof of the World.
Three of the highest peaks in the former Soviet Union lie here: Peak
Communism (7,495 m), Peak Evgenia Korjenevskaya (7,105 m)
and Peak Lenin (7,134 m). There are more than 100 other peaks
over 6,000 m, some of them still unclimbed.
The highest mountain in the ex-USSR was Peak Communism, which was
renamed to Peak Ismoil Somoni in 1999, after the founder of
the 12th century Tajik Samanid dynasty. Peak Communism and
Peak Korjenevskaya overlook a large moraine, Moskvina Glade
(4200 m), where the base camp for ascending either mountain
is located. The moraine is encircled by three glaciers, Walter,
Traube and Moskvina.
Though these giants of the Pamirs have been climbed for many years
(2003 was the 70th anniverary of the first ascent of Peak
Communism and the 50th anniversary of the first ascent on
Peak Korjenevskaya), there remain mountains in the Pamirs
which have not been climbed by anyone yet. In July 1999 a
British expedition climbed two previously-unnamed peaks in
the eastern Pamir. There is endless scope for exploratory
climbing and many as-yet-unclimbed summits beckon the experienced
mountaineer in search of a fresh challenge.
Jutting west from the Pamirs is a huge rocky spur, the Pamir-Alai,
which makes up most of west Tajikistan. This is alpine territory
with wooded slopes, lakes and rivers gracing the sides of
the mountains. The Fann and Hissor ranges are ideal for trekking
peaks (up to 5,489 m) or more technical climbing.
Mountaineering
progammes
You can find details of the Great Game Travel Company's mountaineering
programmes in the following factsheets:
Pamir
Exploratory Mountaineering and Virgin Summits 2005
The provisional dates for this trip are 7-28 August 2005. Price £TBA.
Please check back here for updates.
If you are interested in joining this trip, please CONTACT US so that we can keep you updated.
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