Trip Report
Central Asia Travel Report

by chick_on_ice
Saturday September 27, 2014 5:18pm
Hey guys, so I traveled quite extensively this summer. I know it's super unkosher to post just a link, but the supertopo website is really slow at posting photos (very non streamlined), and my TR is long enough as it is. It would've taken me a ridiculous amount of time to come close to posting all the same photos, so click it, don't click it. I'm not trying to up my 'hit counter' or anything. I just promised some of you on here a report of what I was up to over in the -Stans and this is what I have the time for right now. My apologies!

http://trackingnat.blogspot.com/2014/09/summer-escapades-lobsters-turtles-and.html

  Trip Report Views: 3,070
chick_on_ice 		About the Author
chick_on_ice is a trad climber from too many places to name.

Comments
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Sep 27, 2014 - 05:39pm PT
A great read icy ,
Thanks!

Quite an adventure !
Ezra
NutAgain!

Trad climber
https://nutagain.org
  Sep 27, 2014 - 05:42pm PT
Looks like an very special trip, and pretty cool that you open yourself to so much adventure in this life. The map is an eye-opener for how many mountains are there, how much climbing potential.
Captain...or Skully

climber
Boise, ID
  Sep 27, 2014 - 05:50pm PT
Stellar TR....I can dig it. TFPU!!!3!!
The Land of Stan is Vast, huh?
Jan

Mountain climber
Colorado & Nepal
  Sep 28, 2014 - 09:36am PT
I loved both the photos and the commentary! If only I were your age again. I traveled a lot for my generation, but central Asia was closed to us. Enjoy it while you can, before all the tourists and the in crowd discover it. If you post more trip reports, I'll read them. Thanks again!
John M

climber
  Sep 27, 2014 - 10:03pm PT
Wow.. You are one amazing woman. You remind me of a friend of mine, Heidi, who does volunteer work in Kenya. She is also very adventurous and loves to travel.

Thanks for taking us along on your adventures.

neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
  Sep 27, 2014 - 10:34pm PT
hey there say, ... wow, say, chick_on_ice... thanks for sharing... wow, again... will go check the link... glad you had a great trip!
Splater

climber
Grey Matter
  Sep 27, 2014 - 10:49pm PT
Wow,
did you read about that area in Stones into Schools?
norm larson

climber
wilson, wyoming
  Sep 28, 2014 - 03:12am PT
I'm glad that there are people like you out there representing all of us here. Keep up the great work.
nah000

climber
now/here
  Sep 28, 2014 - 03:27am PT
wow. wow. wow.

thanks for sharing your very beautiful and bold travelling...
John Duffield

Mountain climber
New York
  Sep 28, 2014 - 05:33am PT
good stuff and really nervy
chick_on_ice

Trad climber
Author's Reply  Sep 28, 2014 - 07:47am PT

did you read about that area in Stones into Schools

I didn't actually. I have read his other book though. I didn't know much about the area, which is one of the reasons I wanted to go. For example: who knew that Kazakhstan is the 9th largest country by area? Crazy right? I needed to see for myself what this large chunk of the world was like.

And thanks for the support guys :) Just want to show the world what's out there and that you don't need obscene amounts of money or special equipment to make it happen (you do need time though).
wallyvirginia

Trad climber
Stockholm, Sweden
  Sep 28, 2014 - 11:11am PT
Awesome! Really liked the people portraits.

That 'frozen and f*#ked' quote is Andy Kirkpatrick, I believe.
Don Paul

Social climber
Washington DC
  Sep 28, 2014 - 03:22pm PT
I need a vacation!
kaholatingtong

Trad climber
The fake McCoy from nevernever land.
  Sep 28, 2014 - 04:56pm PT
the melons eh? I can dig it.
Kalimon

Social climber
Ridgway, CO
  Sep 28, 2014 - 06:28pm PT
You are a very fortunate young woman! Cute travel outfits and a great smile . . . nice images of the people and landscape too.
cliffhanger

Trad climber
California
  Sep 29, 2014 - 05:49pm PT
Incredible grand adventure. Thanks. Make it into a movie, earn millions.
WhiskeyToast

Social climber
Hawaii
  Sep 29, 2014 - 06:06pm PT
As to famous startup's from Burlington, lets not forget Ben and Jerry's. They were still operating out of an old gas station when I was a freshman at UVM in 81'. Also, Phish, but I'm not sure they actually count as a startup.

Great TR. Always enjoy checking out your exploits. Thanks. Greg
Vitaliy M.

Mountain climber
San Francisco
  Sep 29, 2014 - 08:50pm PT
SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!
chilla

Gym climber
Vancouver, BC
  Sep 29, 2014 - 08:58pm PT
I created this account to comment on this. Thanks for posting!!!
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
  Sep 30, 2014 - 10:45am PT
Wonderful way to capture the essence of your journey. Thank you for taking us with you. A wonderful tale. Inspiring and thought provoking and full of stoke. My youngest son Bek was adopted from Kazakhstan. I loved the month we spent there visiting the orphanage and bonding with him. What a people. What a place. Your report made me nostalgic for that amazing land. Thank you.

Scott
Rhodo-Router

Gym climber
sawatch choss
  Sep 30, 2014 - 09:15am PT
Wow Natalie, what a grand adventure. Thanks for sharing it.
TwistedCrank

climber
Released into general population, Idaho
  Sep 30, 2014 - 10:39am PT
Are there really Oompaloompas in Uggabuggastan?
lars johansen

Trad climber
West Marin, CA
  Sep 30, 2014 - 12:24pm PT
Thanks Natalie, a grand and bold adventure.
lars
Ed H

Trad climber
Santa Rosa, CA
  Sep 30, 2014 - 01:07pm PT

your husband...He's obviously lost control over you

It is indeed a magical world!

TFPU!
fgw

climber
portland, or
  Sep 30, 2014 - 01:44pm PT
Inspiring write-up (makes one itch for travel & adventure)!
chick_on_ice

Trad climber
Author's Reply  Oct 3, 2014 - 12:00pm PT
For the record, I'm at the least a very distant second in the realm of high altitude yoyoing.

Jeez, how many alpine yo-yo-ers are out there these days? I thought you guys were a rare breed.
andy@climbingmoab

Big Wall climber
Salt Lake City, UT
  Oct 3, 2014 - 02:01pm PT
Super cool trip - thanks for letting us live vicariously. I've been to Uzbekistan a couple of times for work, and I found traveling there to be very difficult but rewarding. I totally agree about the quality of the melons - they are sublime. Especially refreshing since it seems every other dish is cooked in mutton fat.
guido

Trad climber
Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific
  Oct 3, 2014 - 02:57pm PT
Nice! I am about 3/4 through Tim Cope's book, " On the Trail of Genghis Khan," and this was a nice side tour. Would be great to know more about your Russian heritage.
OlympicMtnBoy

climber
Seattle
  Oct 3, 2014 - 04:36pm PT
Thanks for sharing, what a great trip. It brings back memories of my own trip through Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tadjikistan, Khazakstan, and Russia. Hard to believe it was 10 years ago now! Having some Russian sure does make it easier down there, but sometimes it also just comes down to hutzpah and getting out there!
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