Artuch Alpine lodge - hiking in late April

[Hugo Let]

Hello Daren, hello everyone,

We are a group of 4 people (from France) currently in Uzbekistan and we will also be in the Fan Mountains in end of April.
We have talked through WhatsApp with the Artuch Camp and we were also told that 1) the camp will be open and 2) only day hikes around Kulikalon will be doable as the Allaouindin pass will be closed.
Regarding the 7 lakes itinerary proposed by cat_hag we have talked with people from ztda who told us that the Komichura pass will be closed (so I guess the full Moghiyon- Padrud treck is not really feasible at the moment)

On my side my question is: do any of the trecks in the region can be done in autonomy with "Maps me" and following traces ?

Thank you,
Best regards,
Hugo

[Christian77]

I wouldn't use maps.me, but rather a map app with proper altitude/contour lines. This will make it easier to plan a route at a time when you have snow blocking you up high.

This area is very well covered by Open Street Map data, so any offline map app should work well here (anything that isn't Google).

[willemspie]

You can find and download older Soviet topographical maps on the web, there are still OK for trekking.
On different sites, I used maps.vlasenko.net (1/100000) to trek in autonomy there, and elsewhere in Tadjikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

[DSO_Canuck]

Christian77: Yes, that would make sense, as I doubt the caretaker would speak English. The manager has confirmed that the rooms inside the lodge are not heated, but the cabins do have an electric heater. Thanks for the info on catching a ride north to Khujand.

Willemspie: good to know about the shared taxied in both directions.

[Laneo]

Piggy backing on this thread, anybody planning to visit the Artuch Alpine lodge on 25th April? I'll be coming from Panjakent too, looking for companions for the shared taxi if possible.

[DSO_Canuck]

Piggy backing on this thread, anybody planning to visit the Artuch Alpine lodge on 25th April? I'll be coming from Panjakent too, looking for companions for the shared taxi if possible.

We plan to stay at the lodge on Apr 23-24-25, and will just be doing day trips. We are heading back to Panjakent and onto Samarkand on the 26th.

[Laneo]

Piggy backing on this thread, anybody planning to visit the Artuch Alpine lodge on 25th April? I'll be coming from Panjakent too, looking for companions for the shared taxi if possible.

We plan to stay at the lodge on Apr 23-24-25, and will just be doing day trips. We are heading back to Panjakent and onto Samarkand on the 26th.

Damn, haha we'll just miss each other. Cool, maybe I might bump into you all if I manage to get a ride to the lodge early on the 25th (hopefully as planned).

[DSO_Canuck]

Laneo: did you make arrangements through the lodge, or some other way, to get from the village of Artuch to the lodge itself? He offered us a one way taxi but @ $40 usd I thought that was expensive for the 6-7km journey. We will try to find a drive once we get to the Artuch village, or worst case, just walk. After all, that’s the reason we are here anyway, to go hiking.

[Laneo]

Laneo: did you make arrangements through the lodge, or some other way, to get from the village of Artuch to the lodge itself? He offered us a one way taxi but @ $40 usd I thought that was expensive for the 6-7km journey. We will try to find a drive once we get to the Artuch village, or worst case, just walk. After all, that’s the reason we are here anyway, to go hiking.

Nope, I didn't make the arrangement. In fact, he offered an even higher price for me, but I suppose it's because I am travelling solo.

The last I contacted him, there wasn't a group to join on my days, though that was like more than a week ago.

And same, that's why I am hoping for some miracle where someone else reads this post, so hopefully we can get the attention of someone else who's coming.

I think from old forum posts, there should be a shared taxi to Yakkakhona village at least? Which is like 2km closer to the camp (compared to Artuch village) at the very least.

I'll try to find more info from my host in Panjakent.

[DSO_Canuck]

Piggy backing on this thread, anybody planning to visit the Artuch Alpine lodge on 25th April? I'll be coming from Panjakent too, looking for companions for the shared taxi if possible.

We plan to stay at the lodge on Apr 23-24-25, and will just be doing day trips. We are heading back to Panjakent and onto Samarkand on the 26th.

Damn, haha we'll just miss each other. Cool, maybe I might bump into you all if I manage to get a ride to the lodge early on the 25th (hopefully as planned).

Hello LaNeo

We are at the Alpine Lodge now. Quick summary:
From Kaftarxona bus station took 45 min, cost 15-20K each. Border crossing very smooth both sides. Shared taxi to Panjakent 15 somoni. Shared taxi to Artuch village (station near blue bus stop 100 M before 8 story unfinished brick building), near bazzar, cost 50 somoni ea. after passengers finished in Artuch, driver offered to take us to Artuch Lodge for extra 150 somoni (not negotiable). It was that or walk so we took it. There might be the occassional car going this way so you might be able to hitch hike to the lodge from Artuch village, not sure how long it might take to do this. Several people here now. Most walk down to Artuch vilkage (1.5 hrs) and then catch shared taxi to Panjakent.
Hope this helps.