Maxut Zhumayev sets up the Kazakh Alpine Club

The Kazakh Alpine Club is today just over three months old but that doesn’t deter Zhumayev from describing an ambitious vision to connect mountaineers in Kazakhstan, including older ones who climbed under the banner of the former Soviet Union.

“We would like to build some special mountain infrastructure including rest and camping places, and a network of huts like those in America and Europe,” said Zhumayev.

Over the next three to five years he wants to establish a guiding and mountaineering institute where young Kazakh mountaineers can be trained formally and conducting youth camps.

It’s my new Everest

Other plans include drawing up climbing maps, collating information for climbers, building viewpoints for tourists, even building bridges to cross mountain streams.

“It’s my new Everest,” he said with a laugh about the work that lies ahead.

To help him along, Zhumayev has sought the help of the Austrian Alpine Association (Edelweiss section) which will provide him with advice on how to establish and grow the club. A memorandum of cooperation was signed in October and Zhumayev said he believes this memorandum will be helpful in the future as the Kazakh Alpine Club builds its infrastructure and organizational framework.

“European alpine clubs were formed a long time ago,” said Zhumayev. “They have a history and a good system that has developed over many generations. In Kazakhstan, we don’t have this history.”

Kan Tengri

The most famous of the mountains of Kazakhstan is Kan Tengri (7010 metres) which is situated along the border with Kyrgyzstan and the country's highest peak.

Fellow Kazakh mountaineer Andrey Verkhovod, a friend of Zhumayev said Kazakhstan is blessed with a natural mountain environment, and has produced elite climbers but the country lacks infrastructure that would be of help to novice climbers through well organized via ferratas and marked tourist routes.

INFO:Maxut Zhumayev and UIAA