Silk Road Trekking Dispatch
August 4, 2009 – Group Arrives at Kulikalon Lakes
A turquoise lake
It’s Tuesday morning and I am calling you from the banks of Kulikalon Lake at 2,860 m (about 9,383 ft). The turquoise waters from the glaciers above are beautiful, the most amazing alpine lakes I have seen in the entire world. The deep color of the water is from the glacial silt, yet we are surrounded by the green grass. It is a wonderful setting.
Towering walls are all around us. There is one mountain face called the Kulikalon wall right above us. It towers 1,500m (over 4,900ft) above our camp here at the lake.
One of the many mountains which feed the beautiful lakes
This morning at camp we had heavy dew as you always will in a mountain area like this. The Fann Mountains are all about water: rushing cascading streams, turquoise lakes and lush green pastures. What a contrast to the arid expanses of central Asia we traversed to arrive here in the Fann Mountains.
We are living in our small mountain tents, comfortable and cozy. We also have two large dome-shaped tents for dining and kitchen. This morning for breakfast we had: muesli, omelettes, bread with cheese and sausages, and, of course, lots of coffee and tea. In addition to the local preference for instant coffee, we are supplementing with Starbucks coffee we brought from Canada.
Now I am watching the group pull their sleeping bags out of those wet tents that were soaked by the dew this morning and dry their bags a bit. The staff is starting to pack up our loads, and we will continue trekking our second full day through the Fann Mountains.
Everyone is healthy and having a great time.