Cover of leaden clouds was torn down again by wind rushes, opened dazzling bright sky with a sun disk in white “frame” of cumulus clouds. Tender clouds quickly erased from the windscreens of cars the drops of recent rain, warm January gladdened the residents of Ashgabat with good weather. Blue fabric of heaven to the south-west of the city cut through silhouette of the Kopetdag ridges, from slopes of which the sun already carefully scrapes off the snow. Somewhere high the winter is hidden, and it is increased the desire to go to visit it, since it still cannot go down to the plains.
There was no need to wait for the weekend to visit the realm of winter, after all, it is the editorial task - to tell and show how beautiful and extraordinary the landscapes of our beautiful land at any time of the year.
The road passed in conversations about the upcoming route, high spirits from anticipation of the climb. The first tests on the way we met with the wind rushes and sodden slippery clay on the slopes. Still not winter, but the weather forecast in smartphone gave hope of upcoming cold snap, and ensured a steady rise - with every hundred meters up the temperature will fall, and so the goal is getting closer. This is also the first brown spots of snow, hiding in the shadow of tree crowns and deep crevices in the rocks.
And then - steep climbs and descents, icy rocks underfoot, green paw juniper, which is carefully hidden from the wind, and then strove to pour the collar handful of wet snow, if awkwardly hooked their with one’s clothes. Needless juniper conifer woodlands, decorate the plateau in the upper belt of mountains, looked like a mysterious in the evening twilight, and fanned by magic forest of old tales. Thick, shaggy, straggler in strips of bark were offering green pyramid trunks of trees, the age of the highest of which, certainly constituted hundreds of years old. Their tops were wrapped with the canopy of thickening fog.
Modern stalls with tents, membrane coats and lightest down sleeping bags allow to spend the approaching night quite comfortable, despite the fact that temperature will be precisely minus. Located in the realm of winter, we finally found, and it is worth remembering the equipment, and to be careful. To the faithful servant - frost one should treat with due reverence.
…Morning. With a characteristic sound zip opens the entrance to the tent, thrown to the side awning fabric glistening with frost. Frozen and here seems quite a ringing air breaks inside the tent. Breath turns into puffs of steam, the creak of snow under boots sounded unnaturally loud. See neighborhood, what the beauty winter has prepared for its guests!
The slopes are covered with soft snow veil, at the side of the deep gorge they are touched with yet timid rays of the early sun, scattering myriads of dazzling sequins. In the deep shadows the same snow looks, on the other hand, heavy and cold to blue. Rocks over them are draped with fringe of crystal ice. The branches of the trees above our heads had become a subtle snowy lace, impossible to tear eyes from it! However, this beauty is ephemeral, it is necessary to have time to capture it, until the sun rises higher.
Having gathered the harvest of impressions and pictures, we say goodbye to cordial winter, hurry down. Rocks parted to the sides, and now Gokdere rivulet is at our feet, which with light murmur carries water under the slopes of the tree crowns. The trembling mirror of the river reflected the blue sky, white clouds, and the sunrays shone brightly. A warm January again pleased everyone with good weather.
There was no need to wait for the weekend to visit the realm of winter, after all, it is the editorial task - to tell and show how beautiful and extraordinary the landscapes of our beautiful land at any time of the year.
The road passed in conversations about the upcoming route, high spirits from anticipation of the climb. The first tests on the way we met with the wind rushes and sodden slippery clay on the slopes. Still not winter, but the weather forecast in smartphone gave hope of upcoming cold snap, and ensured a steady rise - with every hundred meters up the temperature will fall, and so the goal is getting closer. This is also the first brown spots of snow, hiding in the shadow of tree crowns and deep crevices in the rocks.
And then - steep climbs and descents, icy rocks underfoot, green paw juniper, which is carefully hidden from the wind, and then strove to pour the collar handful of wet snow, if awkwardly hooked their with one’s clothes. Needless juniper conifer woodlands, decorate the plateau in the upper belt of mountains, looked like a mysterious in the evening twilight, and fanned by magic forest of old tales. Thick, shaggy, straggler in strips of bark were offering green pyramid trunks of trees, the age of the highest of which, certainly constituted hundreds of years old. Their tops were wrapped with the canopy of thickening fog.
Modern stalls with tents, membrane coats and lightest down sleeping bags allow to spend the approaching night quite comfortable, despite the fact that temperature will be precisely minus. Located in the realm of winter, we finally found, and it is worth remembering the equipment, and to be careful. To the faithful servant - frost one should treat with due reverence.
…Morning. With a characteristic sound zip opens the entrance to the tent, thrown to the side awning fabric glistening with frost. Frozen and here seems quite a ringing air breaks inside the tent. Breath turns into puffs of steam, the creak of snow under boots sounded unnaturally loud. See neighborhood, what the beauty winter has prepared for its guests!
The slopes are covered with soft snow veil, at the side of the deep gorge they are touched with yet timid rays of the early sun, scattering myriads of dazzling sequins. In the deep shadows the same snow looks, on the other hand, heavy and cold to blue. Rocks over them are draped with fringe of crystal ice. The branches of the trees above our heads had become a subtle snowy lace, impossible to tear eyes from it! However, this beauty is ephemeral, it is necessary to have time to capture it, until the sun rises higher.
Having gathered the harvest of impressions and pictures, we say goodbye to cordial winter, hurry down. Rocks parted to the sides, and now Gokdere rivulet is at our feet, which with light murmur carries water under the slopes of the tree crowns. The trembling mirror of the river reflected the blue sky, white clouds, and the sunrays shone brightly. A warm January again pleased everyone with good weather.
