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Kyrgyzstan
Day Twelve and Thirteen: the Kökömeren (Kyrgyz: Көкөмерен)
Rok Sribar working to avoid a big hydraulic.
Michal Kuthan working around a nice hole.
Egor Voskoboynikov enters some nice evening light and classic whitewater.
Michal Kuthan, Rok Sribar, and Egor Voskoboynikov.
Michal Kuthan and the sandy slopes at take out.
Nice evening light at take out.
Nothing like a very large, very affordable, beer in the evening light near the end of a trip.
On to Day Fourteen, The Kökömeren
Day Twelve and Thirteen: the Kökömeren (Kyrgyz: Көкөмерен)
We
wake and pack up, squeezing in the van to head west (downstream) as the
road parallels the Naryn River as it flows through an open mountain
valley. Only too soon we're stopping to deal with the boats on the
trailer, at this point we just have to laugh.
Twenty kilometers later and we arrive in Kazarman, a good sized town where we're able to resupply for the last leg of our journey. Egor asks around, and is able to find a sauna business that also has a shower, quite glorious for all of us. Interesting to be in a country with minimal signs and advertising, the only way we're able to find it is by asking around.
Shortly out of town the Naryn enters a gorge, but this time the highway parallels the river. It looks like it could be a good II-III section down there. Driving down the canyon is an interesting experience, the road is new and in good shape, but there are rocks all over the road as it doesn't get cleared too often, so we go slow relative to the quality of the pavement. We turn to the right (north) after forty some odd kilometers; we've arrived at the confluence of the Kökömeren and the Naryn.
Stretching our legs and taking a pee break as the road curves away from the Naryn and up the Kökömeren.
Looking at sattelite images the Naryn continues another 50km through a roadless gorge. I have to think that this could be a very nice, easier multi day trip, unfortunatley it appears destined to vanish under the Kambar-Ata 1 HPP once construction is completed, perhaps as soon as 2028.
Tinkle time yet again
The Kökömeren will be our first river with relativly clear water in Kyrgyzstan.
We drive past twenty some kilometers of good looking grade III whitewater as the river winds it's way east through a canyon, then turns north through a valley, and after fifty odd kilometers since the Naryn confluence, the river makes a westard turn as the road turns to dirt and we continue upstream, passing our take out at km 60. From here the river gets significantly steeper for the next ten kilometers, and we get a good look at what we'll be paddling, and it sure looks fun. We camp at put-in, tired from a days travel and looking forward to two days of easy logistics as this will be the put in for one section and take out of another.
We put on after a leisurly morning and cruise seveal kilometers down to our first and only scout of the day.
Egor Voskoboynikov, Rok Sribar and David Lew on the Kökömeren
In some ways it feels very much like California, just softer holes and less pools. Rok Sribar, David Lew and Michal Kuthan
David Lew, Rok Sribar and Egor Voskoboynikov heading into the steepest section of the day
Not needing any more scouts we make quick work of the section. It's a blast, and rather reminds us of the famed 49 to Bridgeport run on the Yuba, with no pools and less sieves. We stop for lunch and then Rok, Egor and Michal make an afternoon lap.
Big trucks making big dust on the dirt road.
Egor Voskoboynikov testing out David's kayak.
Twenty kilometers later and we arrive in Kazarman, a good sized town where we're able to resupply for the last leg of our journey. Egor asks around, and is able to find a sauna business that also has a shower, quite glorious for all of us. Interesting to be in a country with minimal signs and advertising, the only way we're able to find it is by asking around.
Parked outside the sauna, the boats just don't want to stay in place.
Houses and architecture in Kazarman.
Houses and architecture in Kazarman.
Shortly out of town the Naryn enters a gorge, but this time the highway parallels the river. It looks like it could be a good II-III section down there. Driving down the canyon is an interesting experience, the road is new and in good shape, but there are rocks all over the road as it doesn't get cleared too often, so we go slow relative to the quality of the pavement. We turn to the right (north) after forty some odd kilometers; we've arrived at the confluence of the Kökömeren and the Naryn.
Stretching our legs and taking a pee break as the road curves away from the Naryn and up the Kökömeren.
Looking at sattelite images the Naryn continues another 50km through a roadless gorge. I have to think that this could be a very nice, easier multi day trip, unfortunatley it appears destined to vanish under the Kambar-Ata 1 HPP once construction is completed, perhaps as soon as 2028.
Tinkle time yet again
The Kökömeren will be our first river with relativly clear water in Kyrgyzstan.
We drive past twenty some kilometers of good looking grade III whitewater as the river winds it's way east through a canyon, then turns north through a valley, and after fifty odd kilometers since the Naryn confluence, the river makes a westard turn as the road turns to dirt and we continue upstream, passing our take out at km 60. From here the river gets significantly steeper for the next ten kilometers, and we get a good look at what we'll be paddling, and it sure looks fun. We camp at put-in, tired from a days travel and looking forward to two days of easy logistics as this will be the put in for one section and take out of another.
We put on after a leisurly morning and cruise seveal kilometers down to our first and only scout of the day.
Egor Voskoboynikov, Rok Sribar and David Lew on the Kökömeren
In some ways it feels very much like California, just softer holes and less pools. Rok Sribar, David Lew and Michal Kuthan
David Lew, Rok Sribar and Egor Voskoboynikov heading into the steepest section of the day
Not needing any more scouts we make quick work of the section. It's a blast, and rather reminds us of the famed 49 to Bridgeport run on the Yuba, with no pools and less sieves. We stop for lunch and then Rok, Egor and Michal make an afternoon lap.
Big trucks making big dust on the dirt road.
Egor Voskoboynikov, Michal Kuthan and Rok Sribar the Kökömeren
Egor Voskoboynikov testing out David's kayak.
Rok Sribar working to avoid a big hydraulic.
Michal Kuthan working around a nice hole.
Egor Voskoboynikov enters some nice evening light and classic whitewater.
Michal Kuthan, Rok Sribar, and Egor Voskoboynikov.
Michal Kuthan and the sandy slopes at take out.
Gimi [Дмитрий Погорелов] on point and on time as always, and the ubiquitous horses of Kyrgyzstan.
Nice evening light at take out.
Nothing like a very large, very affordable, beer in the evening light near the end of a trip.
On to Day Fourteen, The Kökömeren