ThePADDLER 32 So some runs were a bit too much , being fast , none stop grade 5 / 5 + with log jams and low bridges . However , there was an advantage as this meant the upper sections were running well , which is where most of our first descents came from . ( When I say first descents , these are runs where there are no reports , no beta , no videos , Nothing on the net and no local knowledge of them ever being done ).
We started with a river called the Jeti Oguz ( locally known as the seven bulls river ), less than an hour from Karakol , a beautiful valley with unique red sandstone cliffs . This run already had an established section , but as mentioned , the rivers were running very high , and instead of grade 3 / 4 , the upper part was more 5 with a couple of trees down as well . So we put on halfway down , which was still chunky grade 3 / 4 . We added three kilometres to this section past the usual take-out ( First D , maybe ?). The whole run reminded me a bit of the lower Oetz-style paddling in Austria .
On the second day , we went up to the Aresham River again , only about an hour from Karakol and looked at its major tributary called the Aka Su . The Aka Su only had a short runnable section below a hydro and above that was serious grade 5 / 5 + with logjams and no drivable track , so we didn ’ t bother with this one and went up the Aresham instead .
Now , this is where our super 4X4 came into its own . It ’ s a serious dirt track with large boulders , steep inclines and river crossings , and you will get the rock and roll ride of your life . With the river , we bypassed the already established middle section and went as far as we could up the upper section . This starts in an open meadow at grade 2 , then turns into a fantastic big water grade 3 / 4 run and takes off at the yurt camp with the hot springs . We ran about 4km and believed this was its first descent .
DAY THREE With the high levels of the glacier rivers . We wanted to find something at a lower level with the clear blue water of what the Kyrgyzstan rivers are known for instead of the slate grey rivers we had already experienced . Two runs to the East of Issy Kul Lake come from a lower mountain range called the Jugalan and upper Tup rivers . We soon found that these two rivers were much lower ; the Jugalan was too low , but the upper Tup had more water and was running a nice blue colour . The problem is the upper Tup is a walk-in , and after a two-hour walk-in and out , we ran out of time . But we will be back !