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Elevation: | 6,160 ft |
GPS: |
42.5976, 74.9062 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
Page Views: | 3,549 total · 26/month |
Shared By: | Amadeus DeKastle on Feb 18, 2013 |
Admins: | Amadeus DeKastle |
Description
This area is a great place to take beginner ice climbers. There are 2 waterfalls in very short succession. It is in the shade for the whole day during winter, but that just keeps the ice from melting! Because the first waterfall is a very easy piece of ice, you almost never get the weekend to yourself there as people often bring their friends to learn how to climb ice on this waterfall. However, most groups don't go up to the second waterfall, so you'll have a better chance of solitude up there.
Rumour has it that there is a third section way further in after the second waterfall, but I have not seen and and have been told that it does not exist by some people...
Update 2018: The rumours are (kind of) true. There are three more little waterfalls a bit further up the valley. The first is only something like 5 metres of slope ice that is honestly just a scramble, the second is maybe 15 metres of near vertical ice that is still something simple enough to solo up, and the last is a silly little piece of 4 metre ice that just has a weird corner around a boulder that looks like it is being held in place by the ice itself. So yes, there is more ice above the second waterfall, but no, it isn't worth your time...
Rumour has it that there is a third section way further in after the second waterfall, but I have not seen and and have been told that it does not exist by some people...
Update 2018: The rumours are (kind of) true. There are three more little waterfalls a bit further up the valley. The first is only something like 5 metres of slope ice that is honestly just a scramble, the second is maybe 15 metres of near vertical ice that is still something simple enough to solo up, and the last is a silly little piece of 4 metre ice that just has a weird corner around a boulder that looks like it is being held in place by the ice itself. So yes, there is more ice above the second waterfall, but no, it isn't worth your time...
Getting There
To get to the waterfall you first need to get to the Issyk Ata resort. Drive East towards Tokmok and take the turn-off to Issyk Ata. Keep following the road and it dead ends into a parking lot about 25 minutes after the turn. From the parking lot, hike South up the valley. You will pass through the "resort" area and get to a fence that has a small turn style gate that you go through. Follow the path up the valley. The waterfall is visible to your left after about 20-40 minutes (depending on the speed of your group) of hiking. Don't forget to bring a swimsuit and towel to relax in the hot springs after a good climb!
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