Pik Kommunizma

Overview

Pik Kommunizma, former Soviet Union's and Pamir's highest peak. It is one of the five Snow Leopard mountains.The official name is nowadays Pik/Peak Ismail Somoni, but the name hasn't stuck and a guess is that it never will. The name of the peak is a little history of itself. It was called Pik Garmo until 1933, when it was changed to Pik Stalin. Nikita Chrustov decided to change the name to Pik Kommunizma in 1962. In 1998 the leadership of Tajikistan decided to baptize the peak after the founder of the original Tajik state - Ismail Somoni. Pik Kommunizma is a huge peak and even though it's surrounded by other high mountians it really dominates the area. It is located in a sub-range of the Pamirs called Akademii Nauk or the Academy of Science Range. The first expedition to the mountain was done in 1932, but wasn't climbed until the year after. The first ascent was made via the east ridge in september 3, 1933. The two summiteers were Eugeny Abalakov and Nikolay Gorbunov. Many tour organizers offers package tours to the peak for as little as 900$/person and if you want to combine it with an attempt on Pik Korjenevskoy, it's only 100$ extra. The latter mountain is only 12 km away and can be climbed from the same basecamp. It's a prety good price as the trip is almost a month and includes a helicopter ride to the foot of the peak. An alternative is to do the long walk in from the south, but nowadays only the real die-hards go for this very rough approach.The peak is infamous for its poor rock and avalanche danger on some routes. These factors doesn't deter a large number of climbers from all over the world to attempt the peak every year. The highest peak in every area is like a magnet to mountaineers and Pik Kommunizma is no exception.

Getting There

To Central AsiaThe by far most common way to arrive in Central Asia is by air and a large majority of the mountaineers heading for the Pamirs land at Bishkek's international airport. Tashkent in Uzbekistan and Dushanbe in Tajikistan also have airports with international connections. There aren't that many direct flights to Dushanbe, which is the best fly-in city for Pik Kommunizma. All the above cities have companies or agencies which can arrange the red tape, transport etc.Bishkek is well served by railway and the prices arriving from capital cities in Europe, usually via Moscow, are very low. Travel times are long and quite complicated visa regulations in Russia makes you think twice if it's worth the extra hassle. Overland travel in between capitals of the Central Asian countries are no problem as there are lots of regular bus services as well as large shared taxis, which are a little bit more expensive than the buses.Flying to Central AsiaThe cheapest alternative is usually Pulkovo Airlines, which serves Bishkek, Almaty, Tashkent, Dushanbe and Samarkand. Usually you have to overnight in St. Petersburg. Transfer hotel is paid by Pulkovo.Some years back Aeroflot was the given alternative, but nowadays their prices are not as good as for example Pulkovo. To Base campA huge majority flies in by helicopter from Dushanbe. The ride to Moskvina base camp takes about 2 hours. If the weather is bad you may have to wait until it's safe to fly.You can also fly in via Dzirgatal, from where the helicopter reach the peak in about 45 minutes. It's marginally cheaper, but the stretch of road in between Dushanbe and Dzirgatal is one of the most unsafe in all Tajikistan, so it's hardly worth the risk. The conditions along the road has improved a lot lately, but ask locally for advice.

Red Tape

Entering KyrgyzstanTo enter Kyrgyzstan you need a visa. Make contact with your local Kyrgyz Embassy and talk to them about the latest visa requirements which have changed from time to time the last couple of years.Some nationals can get a visa upon arrival in Bishkek International Airport, but this is more an exception than a rule. Be sure you're from one of the privileged countries, or you will be barred from entering the country and put on the next flight back home again. Some nationals need a visa support letter or letter of invitation. This invitation has be made by a governmentally aknowledged company in Kyrgyzstan. Most travel agencies in Kyrgyzstan can arrange the invitation.Embassies etc.

• In the USA
• In the UK
• All Kyrgyz Embassies
• Application form (UK)

Entering TajikistanThe country have very few embassies and the visa requirements varies a lot from place to place. I applied in the Ankara embassy, Turkey. In 2 minutes I had the visa in my passport and had $80 less in my pocket.Call one of the Tajik Embassies for more info.Peak FeeThe peak fee is $100. In addition you need a border zone permit which is another $20.The easiest way to get these permits is to go via a travel agency or expedition company in Bishkek or Dushanbe.In Tajikistan, try to get hold of Mr. Wladimir Razykov, who can be contacted in any of the top end hotels in Dushanbe. Just ask for "Alpinist-Wladimir" and the person you ask will know.The permit price is the same in Tajikistan, but the border permit may not be required. Depends on who you speak to. Get one, as it's not expensive ($20) and it's a very long way back if you're barred from climbing because of a missing border zone permit.You also need a permit for the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (area). You'll pick it up in the ministry of interior and it's free, or $20, again depending on whom you talk to. Be sure it's written Gorno Badakhshan A. O. on it.

Routes Overview

An excellent page with all the mountain's routes. Complete with maps and route photos. In Russian.

A GPS track provided by Alberto Pedrotti.

North side classical routes.Including the long, but technically easy normal route via Borodkin's rib.

West side routes. The other classical way to climb Pik Kommunizma is found here. The Maksimov route up the Burevesnik rib. More details about this route.

South side routesThe really hard routes on the peak, including the extremely severe 6B route climbed by Valiev. Read more about this climb!

An alternative sketch of the normal route.

Member kkk adds the following about routes: A rocky alternative and safe route on Borodkin spur In 2010 we did an alternative ascent on borodkin spur to avoid the ice-fall danger on the usually used ramp. Rock is very loose up there. We found some 10-30 year old unusable fixed ropes and some old "tank"-icescrews. Certainly relicts from Soviet times.

So the hardest section is about Mixed 3+ (UIAA) with lots of loose rock (and the 30kg backpack). Most of the time it is grade 1-2. As you're not allowed to fall in such terrain anyway, some slings will be enough for protection. For best conditions wait until temperatures drop below zero, otherwise you'll find yourself in the middle of rumble city and you have to play hide and seek with the rockfall.

We descended over the normal ramp. When you hurry, the exposure to the seracs takes about 10-20 minutes. That's acceptable in contrast to 1.5-2.5h when going uphill.So when conditions are fine, visibility is good and you feel comfortable with such terrain, it's a safe alternative with acceptable risks. Icy alternative and safe route on Borodkin spur. Another reasonable (but untested) route to avoid the dangerous ramp, would be the following:

Thats the route we found to be feasible (in 2010) by avoiding most of the seracs. Be early and move fast in the flat section.The route passes many crevasses. Therefore we took the rocky alternative as described before. Moreover we were 3 climbers and wanted to rope up as little as possible.

A Snow Leopard Mountain

Within the borders of the old Soviet Union, there are five mountains measuring over 7000m. They are all located in Central Asia. If you climb all of them, you get the title Snow Leopard, which is considered an indicator you're a top rank climber. For many Russian alpinists the completion of the snow leopard peaks is an important goal.The five Snow Leopard mountains are:

• Pik Kommunizma (7495m) Tajikistan
• Pik Pobeda (7345m) China/Kyrgyzstan
• Pik Lenin (7134m) Tajikistan/Kyrgyzstan
• Pik Korzhenevsky (7105m) Tajikistan
• Khan Tengri (6995m) Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan

The last couple of years there has been a controversy about the height of Khan Tengri. The mountain is most likely lower than 7000m, but qualifications for earning the Snow Leopard title will probably always stay the same.The really ambitious alpinists try to climb all the five peaks in one year and believe it or not, there are expedition companies which offers a package where all five peaks are included in the deal. Asia Mountains is one of the more well known organizers.

Mountain Conditions

Pik Kommunizma is located in a very remote area and there is no weather stations close enough, to be of any value. The best option is to ask the base camp managers or tour organizers for updates. If you know Russian you can check the radio reports yourself.

When To Climb

June, July and August are the best climbing months.

Camping

Camping is generally ok all over Tajikistan and around Pik Kommunizma it's the only alternative. Pik Kommunizma's BC is infamous for being run down, dirty and really bad when it comes to hygienic issues. Be very careful with both the water and the food. Many climbers experience stomach upsets. In my opinion the best bet is to cook all food and treat all water by yourself.Member "kkk" says the following about BC, as a reply to another member's warning about constant stomach problems in camp."I totally agree. The BC (there is only one) is very rundown (2010) and could be renewed entirely. Only the bare necessities have been repaired since sovjet times. When you arrive, make sure that you get a new tent. The 25-year old green/orange tents are not waterproof at all. When BC is crowded, try to eat fast and order some extra shashlic to become sated. When tea tastes like singed plastic, don't worry, its just because of the PET-Bottle-Oven.The shits may arise from another cause. Drinking water is pumped from the drain of the lower lake. In its water there swim some rusty barrels, oil and other things that you refuse to believe. Not to mention the algas and the nearby helicopter landing place. The best medicine to bypass "Flitzekacke" (the shits) is drinking enough vodka - not kidding. But stock up early enough. After middle of august the replenishment for coke, beer and vodka is likely to stay away.One more thing: Never ever buy refill cartridges!!! And wear sunglasses, when ever you cook."

The Book

Kopylov has written a book called Forbidden Mountains - The most beautiful Mountains of Russia and Central Asia.

Maps

• The best overview map I've found Covers the whole of Central Asia and a bit around.
• A map of the central parts of the Pamirs. A sketch that have all the important peaks marked.

Soviet topo maps

Chris Goulet adds:This aite has thousands of topos in reasonable resolution from 1:50,000 to 1:1,000,000 scale:http://maps.vlasenko.net/soviet-military-topographic-map/Ismoil Somoni at 1:100,000 scale, j-43-037Pik Korzhenevsky at 1:100,000 scale, j-43-025Moskvina base camp at 1:100,000 scale, j-42-036

Warning: The datum is Pulkovo 1942. This datum was not in my Garmin Etrex 20. At Ismoil Somoni, the UTM/UPS East-West coordinates are precise enough, but the North-South ones are 1.8 km of difference compared to the UTM coordinates on the map grid. This difference does not change on an entire map.For example: at the summit of Ismoil Somoni, Google Earth reads: 43S 241.380, 4314.696 km.On the map, this point is at: 13241.3, 4316.5 km.E / W difference: <100 m

N / S difference: 1.8 km1) Field technique:Physically go to a location that can be identified on the map.Compare the UTM WGS 84 psn on GPS receiver with UTM coordinates on the map.Calculate correction distances E / W and N / S.2) Google Earth technique:Pick a point on Google Earth that can be identified on the map.Compare the UTM psn on Google Earth with UTM coordinates on the map.Calculate correction distances E / W and N / S.Once you have the correction distances, add or subtract them to your GPS UTM coordinates to find your position on the map.On the Ismoil Somoni map, add 1.8 km to the N / S coordinates only.Peter Schoen adds:Scanned 1:100 000 Soviet maps of Tajikistan can be found at the University of Berkeley Library website.Organizers 

The following agencies have been around for a long time and are supposed to some of the more reliable. They can help out with everything from support letters/invitations before take-off to guides on the mountain.Great Game TravelsUK OfficeThe Great Game Travel Company Limited16 Malone View ParkBELFASTBT9 5PNUnited Kingdom+44 (0)28 9091 3001+44 (0)28 9091 3001E-mail (form)Website: www.greatgametravel.co.ukTajikistan OfficeThe Great Game Travel Company LimitedProletarskaya 5/11DushanbeTajikistan+992 (372) 247673Asia MountainsSergei Dudashvili (director)1, Lineinaja Str., 720021, Bishkek, KyrgyzstanTel.: +996 312 694075; +996 312 694073Fax.: +996 312 694074E-mail: asiamountains@mail.ruWebsite: www.asiamountains.co.ukAsia Travel Group97, Chilanzarskaya str., 700115, Tashkent, UzbekistanTel.: (+ 998 71) 173 51 07; 173 26 55; 277 27 31Fax: (+ 998 71) 173 15 44E-mail: attour@online.ru6/1 Vorontsovskaya Str., 109004, Moscow, RussiaTel.: + 7 (095) 911 77 32; 911 77 73Fax: + 7 (095) 911 77 73E-mail: asiatravel@cityline.ruWebsite: www.asia-travel.uzK2 AdventuresE-mail: mnt@k2.omsknet.ruWebsite: K2 Adventures

External Links

• A highly recommended page with lots of photos and info. Pamir 2010, by SP'er Alberto Pedrotti.
• Hartmut Bielefeldt's 1993 summit attemptHartmut Bielefeldt's excellent trip report from his 1993 summit attempt. He subsequently summitted Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) in 2002
• Kazbek Valiev climbs the SW face of Peak Kommunizma
• West side routes
• North side classical routes
• South side routes
• "If Extreme - is "a shape of your heart..." The terrible South-west face of Peak Kommunizma climbed by Kazbek Valiev.
• A map of the whole of the Pamirs All important mountains are to be found on this sketch.
• Kopylov's very informative site A good page for the Pamirs.
• A photo report
• An online book shop with items about The Pamirs
• Beautiful photos and great info on this Polish site.

Additions and CorrectionsPost an Addition or Correction

Viewing: 1-12 of 12

angelolivares - Aug 30, 2007 11:22 am - Hasn't voted

Campo Base

Las condiciones del campo base no son buenas. Todos los que han estado esta campaña intentando escalar el pico Comunismo han sufrido diarreas permanentemente.

kkk - May 4, 2013 5:30 pm - Voted 10/10

BC sucks

I totally agree. The BC (there is only one) is very rundown (2010) and could be renewed entirely. Only the bare necessities have been repaired since sovjet times. When you arrive, make sure that you get a new tent. The 25-year old green/orange tents are not waterproof at all. When BC is crowded, try to eat fast and order some extra shashlic to become sated. When tea tastes like singed plastic, don't worry, its just because of the PET-Bottle-Oven. The shits may arise from another cause. Drinking water is pumped from the drain of the lower lake. In its water there swim some rusty barrels, oil and other things that you refuse to believe. Not to mention the algas and the nearby helicopter landing place. The best medicine to bypass "Flitzekacke" (the shits) is drinking enough vodka - not kidding. But stock up early enough. After middle of august the replenishment for coke, beer and vodka is likely to stay away. One more thing: Never ever buy refill cadridges!!! And wear sunglases, when ever you cook.

runout - Dec 22, 2018 12:00 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: BC sucks

Same in 2012. For shashlik the charged extra. Food was not good. Water for cooking came from below the toilets. BC-Team was unfriendly. I heard that the situation was not better in 2016, 2017, 2018.

kkk - May 4, 2013 11:59 am - Voted 10/10

Rocky alternative and safe route on Borodkin spur

In 2010 we did an alternative ascent on borodkin spur to avoid the ice-fall danger on the usually used ramp. Rock is very loose up there. We found some 10-30 year old unusable fixed ropes and some old "tank"-icescrews. Certainly relicts from sowjet times. So the hardest section is about Mixed 3+ (UIAA) with lots of loose rock (and the 30kg backpack). Most of the time it is grade 1-2. As you're not allowed to fall in such terrain anyway, some slings will be enough for protection. For best conditions wait until temperatures drop below zero, otherwise you'll find yourselve in the middle of rumble city and you have to play hide and seek with the rockfall. We descended over the normal ramp. When you hurry, the exposure to the seracs takes about 10-20 minutes. Thats acceptable in contrast to 1.5-2.5h when going uphill. So when conditions are fine, visibility is good and you feel comfortable with such terrain, it's a safe alternative with acceptable risks.

kkk - May 4, 2013 2:23 pm - Voted 10/10

Icy alternative and safe route on Borodkin spur

Another reasonable (but untested) route to avoid the dangerous ramp, would be the following: Thats the route we found to be feasible (in 2010) by avoiding most of the seracs. Be early and move fast in the flat section. The route passes many crevasses. Therefore we took the rocky alternative as described before. Moreover we were 3 climbers and wanted to rope up as little as possible.

Damien Gildea - Oct 28, 2014 8:34 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Icy alternative and safe route on Borodkin spur

Actually, KKK, I have seen this route marked by Vladimir Kopylov in his topo as the original Borodkin Route, and the 'normal route' now is a variant done later that became popular as it is easier, despite being more dangerous.

jasperreed - May 14, 2014 11:56 am - Hasn't voted

Info out of dates

Hi Corax, in the four years since you were there there have been quite a few changes, particularly with transport / logistic arrangements. I was there last year on a commercial trip with adventure peaks (uk) (made it to c2 on the plateaux then turned back due to heavy snowfall, no summits 2013) and will be back in a couple of months hopefully for a summit this time! I'll post some updates when I get back

Corax - Oct 15, 2014 6:01 am - Voted 10/10

Re: Info out of dates

How did it go? Did you summit? I have plans to add a lot of new info to the page and perhaps you have some fresh news from the area?

chris_goulet - Feb 21, 2016 8:06 pm - Hasn't voted

Soviet topo maps

The University of Berkeley link is dead, but this one has thousands of topos in reasonable resolution from 1:50,000 to 1:1,000,000 scale: http://maps.vlasenko.net/soviet-military-topographic-map/ Ismoil Somoni at 1:100,000 scale, j-43-037 Pik Korzhenevsky at 1:100,000 scale, j-43-025 Moskvina base camp at 1:100,000 scale, j-42-036 Warning: The datum is Pulkovo 1942. This datum was not in my Garmin Etrex 20. At Ismoil Somoni, the UTM/UPS East-West coordinates are precise enough, but the North-South ones are 1.8 km of difference compared to the UTM coordinates on the map grid. This difference does not change on an entire map. For example: at the summit of Ismoil Somoni, Google Earth reads: 43S 241.380, 4314.696 km. On the map, this point is at: 13241.3, 4316.5 km. E / W difference: <100 m N / S difference: 1.8 km 1) Field technique: Physically go to a location that can be identified on the map. Compare the UTM WGS 84 psn on GPS receiver with UTM coordinates on the map. Calculate correction distances E / W and N / S. 2) Google Earth technique: Pick a point on Google Earth that can be identified on the map. Compare the UTM psn on Google Earth with UTM coordinates on the map. Calculate correction distances E / W and N / S. Once you have the correction distances, add or subtract them to your GPS UTM coordinates to find your position on the map. On the Ismoil Somoni map, add 1.8 km to the N / S coordinates only.

Corax - Feb 23, 2016 6:56 pm - Voted 10/10

Re: Soviet topo maps

Thanks for the info. I added it all to the main page.

Alberto Pedrotti - May 18, 2023 1:40 pm - Hasn't voted

Photos

A photo gallery https://bit.ly/2ZtcVO5 and GPS track http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=5583652

Corax - May 21, 2023 6:41 am - Voted 10/10

Re: Photos

Thanks! Nice photos and info. I have added links on the main page.

Viewing: 1-12 of 12