Description
Emerging from my tent at an altitude of 3500m in the remote Karakol Valley of eastern Kyrgyzstan, I was greeted by this sight of the great Karakol Peak emerging from the night. Considered the king of the Terskey Ala-Too range, although rising to 'only' 5216m, Pik Karakol has long been a favourite amongst mountaineers. The glacier that bears its name spills down from the summit, feeding the cold, fast river as it carves its way through the valley floor.
Here, in this region accessible only on foot or horseback, where rugged ridgelines dominate the horizon, you feel just how mountainous this country is—over ninety percent of Kyrgyzstan is covered by peaks, with an average elevation of around 2,750 metres (9,000 ft).
These are the moments that draw me to photography: in this quiet moment of dawn, before the wind rises and the camp stirs, I am in awe of the beauty of nature, and feel privileged to witness the mighty peak as it stands in perfect stillness, framed by ice, rock, and the first colour of the day.
