The high mountain passes of Suusamyr do not tolerate haste. Its meadows, rivers, and slopes exist at their own pace. The grass grows slowly here, trees take years to settle in, and any human intervention leaves a lasting mark. When you stand at this height, you inevitably recall the lines of Chinghiz Aitmatov: “Plant a seed in me - and I will reward you with fruits.” This is not just a dialogue between Tolgonai and Mother Earth. It is a formula of trust upon which our world rests. That is why the idea of forest restoration in such a place seems almost audacious - and at the same time deeply logical.
Ötök is a high mountain pass, and its very name translates from Kyrgyz as “pass,” “crossing,” “place of transition.” This definition remarkably captures its essence. Since ancient times, Ötök has been part of the nomadic routes from Talas to other regions of the country. Through it, livestock was driven, caravans traveled, and seasonal migrations took place. It is not a place of stopping - it is a place of movement. But it is here that nomads always paused briefly: to water their horses, let people rest, and feel the weather. Geographically, the pass is located in the upper reaches of the Suusamyr Valley - one of the most vulnerable yet majestic high mountain areas of Kyrgyzstan. Here, the climate is sharply continental, with long winters, short summers, and a unique ecosystem that has developed over millennia.
A few years ago, a group of environmental activists began what is hard to call just an action at the Ötök pass. The initiative “Jalgyz Karagay - Top Karagay” was born as an attempt to bring back to the highlands what had been lost here: mountain forests. Under the guidance of ecologist and public figure Gamal Soronkulov, regional director of the environmental platform Ecostan.kg and co-founder of “Eco-Ayan,” activists began planting seedlings of trees selected with consideration for the local ecosystem. Alongside the Tian Shan spruce, seedlings of juniper brought from Nookat and Chon-Kemin appeared, as well as Tian Shan birch from Ala-Buka. This is not a random assortment of plants, but a thoughtful dialogue between regions - an exchange of genetic and ecological memory within the country.
It is important that this work did not start from scratch. Activists continue the work of specialists from the Avletim Forestry, who previously planted seedlings from the Tyup Forestry in the area where the Ötök and Suusamyr rivers converge. Around the symbolic “Jalgyz Karagay” - a solitary tree that has become a local metaphor - spruce trees from Ketmen-Töbö and Talas, as well as various species of juniper, were already growing. Thus, a landscape of memory and care is gradually being formed, not just a planting.
A micro-reserve is planned to be created at the Ötök pass - a rare format for high mountain areas of Kyrgyzstan. Its idea is simple yet complex: to give nature space to recover without pressure and noise. In the future, not only the planted trees but also rare high mountain plants - edelweiss, wild orchids, and species that are the first to disappear when the ecosystem is disrupted - will be able to take root here. These plants are not decorative - they are indicators of the health of the landscape. The micro-reserve is envisioned as a shared space: scientists for observation, locals for preservation, travelers for understanding.
If you are lucky enough to be here in spring or early summer, you can see young seedlings growing - still vulnerable, but already alive. This is a rare experience for a traveler: to observe not the result, but the process.
The Ötök pass is located on the road leading through the Suusamyr Valley. You can reach it by car from Bishkek via Suusamyr (landmark “turn to Talas”). Public transport (taxi-porters) runs irregularly.
June - August. During this time, the pass is easily accessible, and the weather is most stable. Although even in summer, sharp cold snaps and wind are possible. There is no infrastructure at the pass itself. Overnight stays in tents or in shepherds' yurts can be arranged by agreement. Comfort is minimal, but genuine.
Ecotourism at the Ötök pass does not promise bright impressions and quick results. It offers something different: the opportunity to become part of a process that will continue without you. The planted tree will grow for decades, and you will have a reason to return here and see it as an adult. This is the main value of such ecotourism. It does not change the landscape - it changes the person.
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