Russian Prison Camp

Russian Prison Camp

 

Altyn Arasha here we are at last and in one piece. We all quickly clambered out of the truck gasping for cool air after melting in the Cold War Russian Death Machine. Standing around in shorts and tank tops sweat we met with hikers coming back down from the snowy mountains a days hike away. They were all geared up and totally covered in snow coats and pants. It was cold up here. Reluctant to put on a jacket after our experience we started to unload the truck supplies in the freezing mist into a worn down shack.  

Jim went to figure out the situation. We were going to be paying to use a room for cooking facilities. It seemed so far the only room was packed with climber gear, random outs strewn across the floor, and some confusion. Many of us wanted to figure out if we had to pitch our tents or would be able to make home to a dorm room for the upcoming two nights.

Eventually it was determined we would in fact be able to get dormitories. Wth the colder temps we were thrilled upon receiving this news. The girls room was made up of 8 bed springs of varying springiness. Some featured boards beneath the spring stopping your body after only an inch of applying pressure. This gave the bed the feeling of sleeping on a slab of stone. Others, including mine, had nothing to stop a person from sinking Into a mush of nothingness. 

Half of the bed same with a mattress (folded up bedspread) for some added comfort. Claiming our beds we began to observe the rest of the room. Oddly decorated with three small paintings and one large one of pictures not relating remotely to the mountain Kyrgyz area we were in. The place began to resemble that of a Russian prison camp!

Oh did I mention one side of the wall was fitted with windows, no curtains, looking into a new room they were building. At least it was empty.

The boy`s room was another story in itself. Since it was already late afternoon we decided to hang around camp and hike tomorrow. Sitting there laughing about our already bizarre accommodation we watched as they built four brand new rooms across from the current complex. Boys who looked no more than 12 and a few older men occasionally carried items in and out of the room. It was then that we found out they were building the boy`s room!

The evening was spent sitting around outside talking and laughing while the cooks prepared a nice pasta dish inside our `cooking room.` Loving this part of the adventure!