2nd chase

We traveled to Osh on Thursday, October 8, and spent Friday meeting people and enjoying the city


A wonderful, restful trip to Kara-Oy national park (Saturday, October 10)


As a unique and unexplored forest, Salamalik was worth the visit (Sunday, October 11)


Wild apples refreshed my research exertions.


My faithful Finnish walnut corer at work


Staying in Kara-Alma (October 11-14) was tons of fun



A famous hunter and doting grandfather


The roads were rough, but at least we stayed on them.


Bolot's guest house in Gumkhana again! We slept and ate here October 14-16 (see below)



We arrived in Sary Chelek Biosphere Reserve on Friday, October 16 and returned to Bishkek on Monday, October 19.



I almost prefer the view through the trees



Perfection?


On the road back to Bishkek: Insert your own commentary

First Chase action shots

Dr Malli Arardhya graciously shared all of his pictures from the trip. Malli did a better job of capturing the action than I did. Here are some of his shots (Click on them to get a bigger and clearer view)

In the heart of walnut country (Kara Elma)

Got have the dbh! (diameter at breast height)

Learning from the master

Increment borer in action

From Left to Right: Me, unknown, Hakim, Bolot, Respec, Almaz, Jomart, Malli (the guy squatting in front also unknown)

Feast at Gumkhana

From Left to Right: Siebek, Respec, me, and Malli

Inside a shrine atop Suleiman Tol, listening to a mullah say a prayer in Arabic.

Meal at rustic lodge on the drive from Bishkek to Osh

Atop the first pass, Bishkek-->Osh

Alpine Adventure

Very high, hard, steep, long, beautiful, rewarding, dangerous climb to mountain pass, then discovery that our descent was impossible (nearly), then that the glacier was excessively long, followed by even longer treacherous moraine followed by an even longer slog through highland valley and finally dark stumble down mountain track to shepherd's hut--with phone! We called and got picked up.

First Chase

Two pictures from September 12
This rock was supposed to remove back pain if you slid down it. We all slid down several times. It was fun.



I'll add more pictures to this post as time allows

Participants:
Almaz, Malli, Jomart, Respec, Toktoraliev, and many important and helpful forestry officials. Almaz is my Kyrgyz affiliate and organized the trip. Malli comes from UC Davis to collect germplasm for NPGS under USDA-ARS. Repec is a geneticist from Kyrgyz Agrarian University. Toktoralieve is vice rector of Osh University. Jomart is the all around interpreter and most helpful person.

September 11: Bishkek to Osh, passing through Too Ashuu Pass, Suusamyr valley and pass, along the Naryn river, past Toktogul reservoir, down out of the Tien Shan towards Ferghana valley. Arrived Osh at 1:00am

September 12: Climbed Sulaiman-Too in downtown Osh, a dramatic hill. From Osh to Gumkhana in the heart of walnut territory. Overwhelming quality and quantity of food and general hospitality.

September 13: First core samples in Arslanbob, then collected walnuts at Bazaar Korgon and Sovetskoe village with Malli

September 14: Visted Dendropark at Jalalabad forestry HQ, then to Kara-Bulak forestry research station

September 15: Kok-Janggak forestry research station, then more walnut cores at Kara-Alma forest.

September 16: Returned to Bishkek

Pictures from the 11th:

Healing Kyrgyz Style

I awoke Tuesday morning feeling feverish, achy, and extremely tired, but now only two days later, I'm completely better. Normally, it takes a week to kick a bad cold or the flu. Prescription?

1. Sleep all day, covered in many warm blankets
2. Drink copious amounts of tea, preferably sweetened with medicinal honey or raspberry jam.
3. Eat meals as usual
4. Avoid cold at all cost

more pictures

I was planning to post pictures on Facebook, but ran into technical problems. Uploading is slow on blogger, but works eventually. Enjoy

Issyk Kul

Look up the Kyrgyz flag on Google images some time. The center represents the opening of a yurt--for smoke out and sun in. Rays emanate from this center like sunbeams, representing the forty original Kyrgyz tribes

Jomart Hudaibergenov told me about his flag while I was traveling with him and his family around Lake Issyk Kul last weekend. Issyk Kul is known as the pearl of Central Asia, and it deserves the appellation. For my part, I can't see how Kyrgyzstan itself cannot be the Jewel of Central Asia as well. The people, the mountains, the forests and flowers, lakes, sunsets, and plains--all are far more breathtaking and real than I had anticipated.

The people are the best part about Kyrgyzstan, however, especially the Hudaibergenovs. Jomart came to stay with my family this summer, but I never expected he and his family would repay me so richly upon my own foray to an unknown land. I especially appreciate the Kyrgyz sense of humor. They are always laughing, telling funny stories and jokes. Perhaps the best part for me is that apparently, even my lame jokes are worth laughing at. We have a grand time, even if my Russian is pitiful and my Kyrgyz even worse. I did manage to master "delicious" and "thank you" in Kyrgyz right away, absolutely necessitated, I thought, by the large amount of delectable food I was served upon my arvival (and ever since).