Tian Shan Mountains, Kazakhstan

Dan with Astronomer at Tian Shan Observatory - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Our host, Aivar, at the Tian Shan observatory. Kyrgyz by birth, Aivar spoke good English, smiled often and took care of us for our night in the mountains. He even ensured that we got "Bush legs" for dinner. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Satellite Dish at Tian Shan Observatory - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Tian Shan observatory above Big Almaty Lake. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Deserted Bus at Tian Shan Observatory - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Our welcome to Tian Shan Observatory above Big Almaty Lake. The eerie silence and abandoned feel of the place made us wonder whether we had arrived at the Kazakh version of Bates Motel. This Soviet-era observatory partially survives financially on stranded hikers like us using their facilities for accommodation. For a few extra tenge (about $4), an astronomer will pull out the big telescope and show you the stars. Recommended for a side trip from Almaty. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Big Almaty Lake in Tian Shan Mountains - Almaty, Kazakhstan

No, the water is not photo-shopped...this is what Big Almaty Lake actually looks like. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Dan Hiking in Tian Shan Mountains - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Dan stands at what we think is a path near the Zhusalykezen Pass near Kosmostansia in Kazakhstan's Tian Shan mountains. We were wrong. The path led us downhill, but almost to our disappearance. No one mentioned waterfalls, cliffs, and the rappelling we'd be required to do... Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Tian Shan Observatory - Almaty, Kazakhstan

The grounds of the Tian Shan Observatory above Big Almaty Lake in Kazakhstan. www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/12/kazakh-reflections-mount...

Audrey in the Tian Shan Mountains - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Audrey is ready to take on the Tian Shan mountains. Actually, she's pretty tired at this point from walking up-hill for 6 hours. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Cold War Relics at Tian Shan Observatory - Almaty, Kazakhstan

A receiver, or perhaps a missile tracking device on the grounds of the Tian Shan observatory in Kazakhstan. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Lost in Tian Shan Mountains, Final Waterfall - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Although not much of a picture, this shows the final feat on our descent from Big Almaty Peak to the city of Almaty. Luckily, someone had left a rubber rope tied to the top of the waterfall so we could repel down. Otherwise, we might still be there today waiting for a helicopter rescue. It took almost a week for our legs to recover Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Shack in the Middle of Big Almaty Lake - Tian Shan Mountains, Kazakhstan

A tiny little shack stands in the middle of Big Almaty Lake in Kazakhstan's Tian Shan mountains. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Lost Hiking in Tian Shan Mountains - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Our guidebook told us to follow the river gorge. We did, but it never seemed to end. Throw a couple of waterfalls in there and you begin to understand our prolonged descent from the summit above Big Almaty Lake (Big Almaty Peak, maybe?). www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/12/kazakh-reflections-mount...

Audrey and Dan Ready to Hike - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Leaving the observatory above Big Almaty Lake, we didn't know what was ahead of us that day. Aivar, our host, smiled when we told him that we didn't have a map. "Idiots," he was probably thinking to himself. More reading: www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/12/kazakh-reflections-mount...

Abandoned Truck near Kosmostantsia - Almaty, Kazakhstan

This truck apparently gave up outside Kosmostansia in the Tian Shan mountains in Kazakhstan. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Tian Shan Observatory, Satellite Dish - Almaty, Kazakhstan

A Soviet-era observatory in the Tian Shan mountains struggles to get by. We're not quite sure what that huge satellite really does...The observatory grounds (just above Big Almaty Lake) is a worth a visit. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Hiking Without Pants - Almaty, Kazakhstan

We found this hiker's (right) attire to be a bit curious...especially as the clouds rolled in and pelted us with icy droplets. On the way from Tian Shan observatory to Kosmostansia in Kazakhstan's Tian Shan mountains. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Russian Astronomer, Telescope- Almaty, Kazakhstan

The visiting "astronome" at Tian Shan observatory gives us a tour of the sky from one of the observation centers. After he manually opened the skylights and fired up the 2500x telescope, we glimpsed an exploding star and a few star clusters. Then the smog and ambient light from Almaty kicked in. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Kosmostansia Junk Yard - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Much of Kosmostansia (in the mountains of SE Kazakhstan) was a junk yard, with rusting parts strewn about the grounds. Previously, this was an active Soviet weather station. A few people still remain, but a feeling of foreclosure pervades the place. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains. www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/12/kazakh-reflections-mount...

Clear Waters of Big Almaty Lake - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Big Almaty Lake in Kazakhstan's Tian Shan mountains. More reading: www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/12/kazakh-reflections-mount...

Tian Shan Mountains Outside Almaty, Kazakhstan

Tian Shan mountains outside Almaty, Kazakhstan Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Tian Shan Mountains - Almaty, Kazakhstan

The Tian Shan mountains surrounding Almaty. This particular view is on the way to Big Almaty Lake. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Tian Shan Observatory and Mountains - Almaty, Kazakhstan

The Tian Shan observatory begins to look like an ant farm on our ascent to Kosmostansia in Kazakhstan's Tian Shan mountains. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Dan Walks on Pipe to Big Almaty Lake - Almaty, Kazakhstan

A pipe leads from the GES-1 (Hydro-Electric station #1) to Big Almaty Lake. It's the path of choice for hikers. Climbing a two-meter pipe straight uphill is no easy task. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Big Almaty Lake, Tian Shan Mountains - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Big Almaty Lake and the surrounding Tian Shan mountainscape. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Tian Shan Mountains - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Tian Shan mountains on the way from Almaty to Big Almaty Lake. More reading: www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/12/kazakh-reflections-mount...

Tian Shan Mountains, Beautiful View - Almaty, Kazakhstan

Our guidebook told us to follow the river gorge to a nearby ski resort. We followed instructions, but the river gorge never seemed to end. In retrospect, we're pretty certain that we took the wrong river gorge. Read more about our adventures in the Tian Shan Mountains.