Day 71 to high mountain camp, Tajikistan, 48km, 6119 to date.  460m up, 4192m end

A short easy day, although at high elevation which makes everything hard to do, mostly to position us for the climb tomorrow and to help with the altitude acclimatization.  Tonight will be our highest elevation camp of the full ride at 4,192m (13,754ft.).

The Pamir highway was built by the Russians back in the 1930’s.  Some of the ruined buildings we are seeing date back to that time.

Getting used to washing in mountain streams, today was one of the better streams, crystal clear, although rather refreshing.  Putting your head under water definitely reminds you that you are alive!

I was surprised that there appears to be some 15 people living in this small yurt camp and at least 10 of them are under 10 yrs old.  Everywhere there are people there are a large number of very young kids - seems to be a bit of a population explosion.  Talking with one of the older kids, this camp is their summer camp for grazing livestock (and running the Hotel/homestay), come the fall they move the whole works to Murghab.

some pics:

Yes, the sign over the door says "hotel" and yes it is, also with a common your in the Gur:

Our camp at the "hotel":