Category: Tien Shan 2025

Update from our snow leopard volunteer project to the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan

We’re as ready as we ever will be. A whole lorry-load is packed and will go on its 10-hour journey with us. Once there, we will turn this

into this

in a couple of days.

You won’t hear from us again until we meet group 1 at the Futuro on Monday. Please be on time.

Continue reading “Tien Shan: Base action”

Update from our snow leopard volunteer project to the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek is hot, dry, sweaty, noisy and oh so Central Asia. On a clear day the views of the mountains are beautiful.

We’re shopping, meeting, talking with partners, doing paperwork, printing out datasheets, filling gas bottles, withdrawing cash, charging up and testing radios, sat phones and GPSs, and doing all the umpteen things that need to be done before an expedition can head out into the field. We have a few days of this still ahead of us until we can head into the mountains on Wednesday to set up base camp for you.

A couple of household points for the team:

There is a Globus supermarket a few minutes walk away from the Futuro assembly point hotel. It is open 24/7, takes cards and has lots of drinks and sweets and more. There will be plenty of food, tea, water and coffee at base, but no shops anywhere around. If you simply must have a can of lager in the evening or are addicted to Mars bars or similar, we recommend you stock up there before assembly (don’t be late tough!). Good luck with reading the labels 😉 Remember we are at base and away from shops for 12 nights.

I hope you have swatted up on the 2024 report, field guide and dossier. If you want to be ahead of the curve (the first two days of training will be tough, with lots of information thrown at you), then have a look at all the documents here, which I suggest you read at some stage or on your flight to come extra well prepared.

Continue reading “Tien Shan: Bishkek”

Update from our snow leopard volunteer project to the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan

Welcome to the 2025 Tien Shan snow leopard expedition diary. I am Matthias Hammer, expedition leader for group 1 and the founder & executive director of Biosphere Expeditions. I am already in Bishkek, where it is hot and stifling (35 C yesterday). It will be different in the mountains – cooler and fresher.

The expedition scientist, Emil, and I have a week to prepare, go shopping, put things in place etc. before two more staff and expedition leaders – Jonny and Darran – arrive from the UK and Ireland respectively and we move out and set up base camp for you, before it all starts.

So this is just to let you know that things are proceeding as planned despite various crises around the world, and that we look forward to meeting you in due course.

At your end, please study your dossier as well as the 2024 report to make sure you come prepared. I hope you are getting excited and that your preparations are going well. I’ll be in touch again before we set up and once we’re back from setup.

Continue reading “Tien Shan: Prep”