Primož Jakopin, photo diary

Boybuloq 2021
Chul-Bair ridge above the Višnevskij cave

August 12, 2021, 33 pictures

Most images are approximately 683 x 1024 pixels in size, numbers in front of the picture descriptions are serial numbers of the original photo files. Full names of expedition participants, depicted in the pictures or mentioned in their descriptions: Vladimir Dolgij - Volodja, Valentin Gordienko, Arnauld Malard, Laurence Baudoux d'Hautefeuille, Larisa Pozdnjakova and Artëm Šabaršin.
The page, text and photos copyright (c) Primož Jakopin - Klok 2021.

Around the Base camp

50097. Belyauty pass in the morning shadows

50098. Furrowed karst slope with the entire Hodja-Gur-Gur-Ata ridge in the background, from Katataš (left) to Belyauty pass (right)

50102. Volodja and Valentin departing to today's mission

50115. Arnauld and Laurence, in the shadow ...

50116. ... and with a toplight (Oberlicht).

50117. Solitary rock, leaning on the canyon wall, above the trail to the water source

To Višnevskij cave

50118. Larisa and Artëm, well loaded with caving gear, are walking uphill the inclined rock plate. Getting from 3000 to 3540 meters above sea level with weight on your shoulders is no walk in the park. The Voronka shortcut would not only cut the access time to the bottom of Višnevskij by two thirds, to one day but would also eliminate this climb.

50119. Views from the ridge are really far-reaching and magnificent. View to the east-northeast shows traces of a green volcanic layer in the mountain.

50120. View more to the south, to Tajikistan and Afghanistan, is more hazy, would be better after the rain.

50121. View to the south, with the jagged ridge wall in the shadow ...

50122. ... and to the north, with the next rock tower, some 3600 m above sea level

50126. Another view to the south, from higher ground, with Chul-Bair slope also visible, and the Hodja-Gur-Gur-Ata ridge, from Katataš to the north (upper right).

50127. Larisa is preparing for the descent into the entrance of Višnevskij cave, the third deep shadow from the left.

50128. Here she is on the edge of the ridge ...

50130. ... and here she descends the first stretch, 4 m down to the shelf in the wall.

Higher up the ridge

50131. Large rock plate of the ridge and its crumbling foot

50132. Chamomile-like flower, there was no rain since May.

50133. A cascading flower with white blossoms, like the ones found on retaining walls.

50134. A triangular indentation in the rock wall

50136. At the highest point reached, at an elevation of about 3700 meters above sea level, an hour on foot uphill from the Višnevskij cave entrance (there is a nice trail), this view opened towards the top of the ridge, at an altitude of over 3800 meters. At least half an hour more, too much for today.