Rock climbing educational course for beginners in Ala Archa Gorge, Kyrgyzstan

Day 1: Manas airport - Bishkek

• Meeting at the Manas aiport, Kyrgyzstan

• Transfer to Bishkek (700 m)

• Equipment revision

• Visit around the city

• Shopping for the necessary food, personal supplies and missing equipment

• Overnight at a hotel in Bishkek

Day 2: Ala-Archa National Nature Park

• Trasnfer to Ala-Archa National Nature Park (2,o00 m)

• Acclimatization walks

• Lecture on “Dangers in the mountains”

• Overnight at a hotel

Day 3: Racek mountain hut

• Ascent to the Racek mountain hut (3,340 m)

• Review lecture on climbing equipment.

• “Knots and their use in mountaineering” – practical lesson.

• Overnight at the hut

Day 4: Practice day

• Practice 1: movement on different types of mountain slopes – scree, rock, snow

• Practice 2: safety when moving on the slopes

Day 5: Ak-Sai glacier area peaks

• Acclimatization ascent to one of the Ak-Sai glacier area peaks (4000+ / Difficulty: F)

Day 6: Practice day

• Practice: movement on rocky terrain, organization of belays on it (various types)

Day 7: Practice day

• Practice 1: climbing with top rope, routes of varying complexity (from 4A to 7A), rock climbing in rock shoes, boots, crampones

• Practice 2: work with climbing gear, belay stations organizing

Day 8: Practice day

• Practice: roppeling – ascent and descent on the fixed line, work with climbing gear

Day 9: Ak-Sai glacier area peaks

• Ascent to one of the Ak-Sai glacier area peaks  (Difficulty: PD -, PD)

Day 10: Practice day

• Practice 1: working with rope

• Practice 2: transporting of an injured person with anything available

Day 11: PD ascents

• Climbing routes of PD category

Day 12: Ice climbing technique

• Practice: basic ice climbing technique

Day 13: Day in reserve

• Day in reserve in case of bad weather, or day to rest after climbing

Day 14: Bishkek

• Descent to Bishkek

• Rest and walk around the city

• Overnight at a hotel

• End of program

Day 15: Departure from Bishkek