Töö Ashuu Pass

Töö Ashuu, 'camel pass', crosses the Kyrgyz Alatau range of the Tien Shan at 3,586 m (11,765 ft), about 120 km from Bishkek on the highway to Osh, the M41 or European route E010, with the Kara-Balta valley to the north and the Suusamyr valley to the south. A narrow mountain road once climbed over the top, but in the 1960s a road tunnel was built beneath the crest, 2.8 km (1.7 mi) long at 3,120 m (10,236 ft), or 2.7 km long and between 3,130 m (10,269 ft) at its northern end and 3,180 m (10,433 ft) at its southern end by other figures, so the highway no longer climbs the uppermost part of the pass. On the southern slope, at 2,960 m (9,711 ft), is a ski resort with one blue run 1,500 m (4,921 ft) long, served by a chairlift over a height difference of 200 m (656 ft); skiers can carry on another 1,500 m down to the highway, where shuttle minibuses take them back up to the top of the resort.

Background

Töö Ashuu, whose name means 'camel mountain pass', carries the Bishkek-Osh highway (European route E010) across the Kyrgyz Alatau, a range of the Tien Shan, roughly 120 km from Bishkek. The pass reaches 3,586 m. In the 1960s a road tunnel 2.8 km long was dug beneath it at 3,120 m, so the road avoids the highest section. On the southern slope, at 2960 m, a ski resort offers a single blue run of 1,500 m, served by a chairlift with a 200 m drop, and skiers can go on another 1,500 m down to the highway, from where minibuses bring them back up.

Source: Wikipedia, "Töö Ashuu"

What to look for

• The tunnel - built under the crest in the 1960s, 2.8 km (1.7 mi) long, or 2.7 km by another figure.
• The Suusamyr valley - lying to the south of the pass.
• The old pass road - the narrow mountain road that crossed the 3,586 m (11,765 ft) top before the tunnel.
• The ski resort - on the southern slope at 2,960 m (9,711 ft), with a chairlift and a 1,500 m (4,921 ft) blue run.

When to go

June to September; in winter skiers come to the resort on the southern slope, and shuttle minibuses bring them back up from the highway after the long run down.

Things to know

The highway now passes through the tunnel rather than over the 3,586 m (11,765 ft) summit, which a narrow road used to cross, and the ski resort is small, with a single run and a 200 m (656 ft) height difference on its chairlift.

Nearby

The Suusamyr valley lies to the south, with the village of Suusamyr about 23 km to the south-east, while Kara-Balta is about 53 km to the north and Bishkek about 85 km to the north-east, in a straight line.

Key facts