ALTAI, KAZAKHSTAN

THE BACKSTORY

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By now we've all heard about powder skiing in Japan, but Kazakhstan? We first heard tales of the Altai Mountains while on a similar exploratory journey to Siberia, one month before Putin invaded Ukraine. In February 2024, we went to experience a new ski operation in East Kazakhstan, Altay Mountain Lodge, and our minds were blown.

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It felt like Japan in many ways, but with aspen trees, Siberian pine, and spruce. And no other people – like being at a backcountry lodge in Canada, where you have a whole tenure of terrain to yourself for the week.

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The living is super comfortable and well thought out – this operation is the creation of longtime professionals in the lodge-based ski guiding realm. Four spacious modern yurts, along with a bathhouse and banya (sauna) make up the compound. Snowmobile assists get you deeper into the mountains, and a professional chef keeps you well fueled with high caliber cuisine all week long. Wild mountains, deep snow, and wonderful hosts.

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THE JOURNEY

On this journey we travel to Almaty, Kazakhstan, a city of 2 million people right at the base of the mighty Alatau Range. These peaks rise to over 16,000’ (almost 5000m), and are worth a day trip to de-jet-lag and shake out the legs. A short taxi ride from the city, Shymbolak is the largest ski area in Central Asia. Here we enjoy an easy day of lift-accessed skiing, before journeying on to the Altai.

The next day we head for the airport and fly 1.5 hours to the city of Ust-Kamenogorsk in East Kazakhstan. From here, a 3-hour van ride takes us past the mining town of Ridder, into the mountains. Arriving in the dark, we load our bags and ourselves onto comfortable snowmobile toboggans for the 15 minute ride into the the yurts.

Here we have six full days of powder touring – with opportunities to explore these beautiful mountains and settle into the vibe of this amazing place.