Hills behind Victory Park in Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Decided to take a walk to the hills behind Victory Park. Overall, the hike didn't go very well, I chose the wrong time, didn't equip myself properly. Also, I didn't fully decide on the final destination of the route, just stood up and started walking. Of course, I didn't get anywhere. As Seneca said: For a ship without a destination, no wind is favorable. In the end, I sat on the top of one of the hills and then went back. I didn't feel like taking photos anymore. Interestingly, when you are not interested, nothing interesting comes your way... haha, that's life.

How to choose the right clothing for a mountain hike - Survival in the mountains 03

Choosing the right clothing for a hike is an important question that can be crucial in extreme conditions, as well as affect your comfort in moderate weather conditions. Properly chosen clothing is the key to a successful mountain hike. Hiking clothes should protect you from the environment, but also provide freedom of movement. No matter where you plan to go, always keep an eye on the condition and cleanliness of your clothing. Dirty and greasy clothing loses its protective properties, so always monitor the condition of your clothing.

Mountain hike - a path to self-cleansing and self-development

In our modern world, we increasingly encounter problems related to our inner selves. Sometimes we feel insecure, limited, and unable to control our lives. However, when we go to the mountains, we find a way to get rid of this burden and cleanse our inner selves.

Shoes for mountain hikes, how to choose boots and take care of them - Survival in the mountains 02

Mountain hiking is one of the most exciting and thrilling adventures that people can experience. However, like any other adventure, good preparation and proper equipment are needed for a successful mountain hike. One of the key elements on this list is footwear. On hikes along mountain routes, the right choice of footwear is critical to your comfort and safety. In this article, I will share with you some tips on choosing and using footwear for mountain hiking, as well as how to care for it.

How temperature conditions on a mountain hike affect the human body - Survival in the mountains 01

Mountain hikes are an exciting and dangerous adventure that requires not only physical training but also knowledge of how the body reacts to different temperature conditions. In this article, we will consider possible temperature conditions, their effects on the human body, and provide safety recommendations for mountains.

Physical preparation for mountain hiking: how to get your body in shape for beginners

Mountain hiking is a unique way to spend time in the great outdoors, enjoy beautiful scenery, and challenge yourself. However, good physical preparation is necessary for participating in mountain hiking, especially for those who are not leading an active lifestyle. In this article, we will discuss how to prepare your body for mountain hiking and which types of physical activity can help.

Whisper from the hell - Short story

Five people were walking along a trail in a small mountain valley, alongside a winding mountain stream that zigzagged due to the abundance of rocky outcroppings that made one of the banks impassable. Consequently, the trail constantly crossed from one bank to the other, forcing the group to ford the stream repeatedly. However, they did not complain as they were in a wild place with no one around to build crossings, which was exactly what they were aiming for. They wanted to venture as far as possible into the wilderness, so they enthusiastically hopped from stone to stone, crossing the river.

Proper nutrition during a mountain hike: what foods to take for a mountain hike

Mountain hiking is an activity that requires a lot of physical effort, and therefore proper nutrition in the mountains is crucial for a successful hike and maintaining health. To provide the body with the necessary nutrients, it is important to choose the right foods and diet. In this article, we will discuss what kind of nutrition is required for a mountain hike, what foods are most suitable for this type of diet, and how to use them properly.

Mountain paradise for hiking in Tajikistan

Tajikistan is one of the most mountainous countries in the world. The majority of its territory is located within an extensive mountain range formed by several mountain systems. There are many stunning mountainous areas here that attract tourists from all over the world. Mountain hiking in Tajikistan is an unforgettable adventure that allows you to enjoy the beauty of the mountain nature and feel the spirit of freedom and adventure.

The Benefits of Hiking in the mountains for the Body and Mind

Hiking in the mountains is one of the most popular types of outdoor activities that not only allows you to enjoy the beauty of nature but also has a positive impact on the health of the body and mind. In this article, we will examine several beneficial aspects of mountain hiking for human health.

All ten bridges in the Odjuk Gorge, Varzob, located in the mountains of Tajikistan.

On the last day of my hike, I trekked through the Odjuk Gorge from the Kumkayakutal Pass to the village of Varzob. I took this opportunity to dedicate a photo review to the ten bridges that now span the gorge. Previously known as the "Gorge of the Seven Bridges" among tourists, the presence of these ten bridges is a welcome sight compared to the Semiganch Gorge, where no bridges exist, and I had to jump over stones to cross the river.

Kumkayakutal Pass is a 3-day hike located in the Semiganch Gorge of the Romit Mountains in Tajikistan

This is a photo review of the third day of my four-day trek from Kharangon to Ojuk through the Semiganch Gorge. In the llast photo review, I stopped at the moment when I descended from Mount Mushteppa to the village of Dora. In the kishlak, I visited Faiz, reloaded my camera, had a delicious and filling lunch, and rested a bit from the hardships of camp life. Then, I continued along the river in the Semiganch Gorge towards the Kumkayakutal Pass in the Romit region. Once I pass the pass, I'll find myself in the Odjuk Gorge in the Varzob region..

Mount Mushtepa, day 2 of the hike, is a ridge between the Varzob and Ramit gorges, in the mountains of Tajikistan.

The second day of my four-day hike was entirely dedicated to Mount Mushtepa. Mount Mushtepa is located on the watershed ridge between the Varzob and Ramit rivers, so on this day, I visited both of them. I began the ascent on the Varzob side in the Harangon River gorge, and by midday, I had reached the summit of Mushtepa before descending to the Ramit side in the Semiganch gorge.

The Harangoni Gorge and Ridge, a one-day trek in the Varzob area of the mountains of Tajikistan

So, I decided to go on a hike, during which I planned to visit places such as the Harangoni Ridge, climb Mount Mushtepa, descend from the mountain into the Semiganch Gorge, and hike through it to the Kumkayakutal Pass. After crossing the pass, I would end up in the Ojuk Gorge and hike through it all the way to the village of Varzob. I fully completed this route plan in four days. This is a photo overview of the first day of the hike.

Hiking to the peak of Gushor, Chilikak ridge, Varzob gorge, mountains of Tajikistan

The peak of Gushor is well visible from any point in Dushanbe. I have been planning to climb it for a long time, and finally I did it. The mountain, or rather the peak of Gushor, is one of the peaks that crown the Chilikak ridge. This ridge stretches from the Varzob River (approximately 16-21 kilometers from the Varzob highway) to the Luchob River in the area of the village of Shiratalo. The Gushor peak (2450 meters) is not the highest point of the Chilikak ridge; there is another peak with a weather station above it (2552 meters), another unnamed peak (2606 meters), and the highest point, the Chilokak peak (2702 meters), which is already closer to Shiratalo and cannot be seen from the city.

Hiking to the waterfalls in the Voru Gorge, Odzhuk Mountains, Varzob District, Tajikistan

The first hike of the year, I decided to go to the waterfalls in the Voru Gorge in Odjukskie Mountains, Varzob district, Tajikistan. Previously, I called it the Lost Waterfall. Of course, no one lost this waterfall, but it needed a name, so why not call it Lost? I had already seen it a couple of times before, once when we descended from the ridge that lies between Takob and Odjuk on this hike: Crossing from the Begar Gorge to Odjuk. At that time, I thought I should go to this waterfall, and the convenient moment finally arrived. I also thought it was the only one there, but there were other waterfalls, though smaller.

The Odzhuk Ring - Short story

People usually go on mountain hikes in groups - it's more fun and safer that way. However, there are exceptions to this "usually," and there is such a thing as solo hikes. Sometimes a person finds themselves alone in the mountains out of necessity, but that's different. I'm talking about when someone chooses to hike alone. The specific reasons why people choose to hike alone are always different, and this phenomenon applies to all types of mountain hikes. There are even mountaineers who climb peaks alone, the so-called solo ascents. This phenomenon is not new, it's just not very common. In the Soviet past, such individualism was not encouraged at all, so in the West, this phenomenon is more developed.

Hiking the Odzhuk circuit, across the Kichkine and Childukhtaroun passes, Varzob, mountains of Tajikistan

I completed a solo trek along the Odzhuk loop. The route, as the name suggests, passes through the Odzhuk gorge in Varzob, Tajikistan. To complete this route, one must hike through the entire Odzhuk gorge up to the Kichkine pass, then traverse the plateau to the Childukhtarun pass and descend back into Odzhuk. Ideally, this route can be completed in two days with one overnight stay, but since I was alone and taking my time, climbing and taking photos wherever I could, my trek took three days and two nights.

Hiking from Begar Gorge to Odjuk along the ridge between Takob and Odjuk, Varzob, mountains of Tajikistan

Spontaneous hike, when it was offered to me, I didn't really know where we would end up or how we would get there. Despite the uncertainty, the hike turned out to be very successful. There were a lot of impressions, first of all, intriguing old mine tunnels at the beginning of the hike. Secondly, it was very interesting to walk along the watershed ridge, looking down at the gorges that I had already walked through many times at the bottom.

The hike to the mine in the Beggar gorge, Varzob, mountains of Tajikistan

We decided to hike from the Beggar gorge to the Ojuk gorge and wander around the ridge separating them. During this hike, we stumbled upon abandoned mines in the Beggar gorge. These abandoned mines, where fluorite used to be extracted, seemed interesting to me, so I decided to dedicate a separate photo review to them. I have already come across old mines in the Varzob gorge. Just this year, I did a photo review of such a hike, which can be viewed here if anyone is interested.".