«Strength and Honor!» — A Fanfiction Story from the Warcraft Universe

Kroghur opened his eyes. A soft light filtered down through the hut's roof, through the gap in the chimney—the sun had not yet risen. From outside came a noise like a disturbed beehive. For years, this sound had instantly stirred Kroghur's fury and the sweet anticipation of battle. The orcish clans of the Horde were preparing for a campaign. Today, like all the mortal races of Azeroth, the orcs were marching against the Burning Legion.

Alone in the Mountains

In one of my previous posts, I apparently didn't express myself very clearly about hiking in the mountains alone. Some readers assumed it was a forced circumstance and started encouraging me, saying things like, "Don't worry, things will work out, you'll find company eventually."

Hiking to Childukhtaron Pass, Odzhuk Gorge, Varzob, Mountains of Tajikistan

The elongated canyon along the Odzhuk River begins from the Varzob highway, or from the Varzob River if you will. The canyon has many branches that lead to Begar, Kharangon, and Chayka. The official end of the Odzhuk canyon is considered to be the Childukhtar, Kichkine, and Kumkayakutal passes. The first two passes lead to a high mountain plateau with Takoba tributaries, respectively, beyond which lies the Takob canyon. The Kumkayakutal pass leads to the mouth of the Semiganch River, a tributary of the Romit River, and thus to the Romit canyon.

That Time «Something Went Wrong» — A Short Story

Long before I finally set out on this hike, people kept asking me, "Have you been to the Gusgarf Waterfall?" "No," I'd reply, "what waterfall is that?" The descriptions that followed were always colorful, but they all boiled down to the same thing: it was a big one, about thirty meters high, and back in Soviet times it was called "Pionersky" (The Pioneer). Lately, I'd heard another name too — "Ok Kul" — though I can't vouch for that one.

Anatomy of Mountain Boots: From Hiking to Mountaineering

When choosing gear for a mountain hike, special attention should be paid to a few key items. Footwear is one of them. What you put on your feet determines whether your trip becomes a painful struggle against discomfort or an adventure where nothing distracts you from the beauty around you. Blisters, sore feet, wet socks—all are consequences of poorly chosen boots.

Hike to the Adit in Odjuk Gorge, Varzob, Mountains of Tajikistan

I was always amazed at why there was such a good, wide path in Odzhuk that went almost all the way through the canyon. It turned out to be an old dirt road that led to an abandoned mine where they mined or searched for something like fluorite until 1947. There are many such abandoned mines in the vicinity. Apparently, they dug and searched, but didn't find anything significant and abandoned them. Industrial fluorite mining may still be taking place in the Takob and Magof valleys, not far from here. Locals also call these mines quartz, but quartz is just a accompanying mineral of fluorite and is not of interest for development and mining, at least not the local variety.

A Ring for a Solo Hiker — A Short Story

People usually go hiking in groups — it's more fun and safer. But there are exceptions to this rule. There's such a thing as solo hiking, where being alone in the mountains is a conscious choice, not a forced situation. Everyone has their own reasons, and it applies to all kinds of mountain travel. There are even climbers who summit peaks alone — that's a solo ascent. The phenomenon isn't new; it's just not very common. In the Soviet past, for example, such individualism wasn't encouraged, so it's more developed in the West.

Anatomy of a Hiking Backpack: Types, Designs, and Purpose

A backpack is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of hiking. It doesn’t matter whether you’re heading to the mountains, the forest, a long journey, or just a city sightseeing tour. Nothing better has been invented for carrying your gear, so backpacks are used literally everywhere: school, work, daily commutes, walks. As a result, the market is flooded with options, and it’s worth knowing which backpack to take where.

Hike to the Big Gusgarf Waterfall, Varzob Gorge, Mountains of Tajikistan

The Big Gusgarf Waterfall, also known as the Pioneer Waterfall, is located in the Varzob Gorge past the village of Gusgarf. The hike to this waterfall was quite an adventure. The first time, back in June, I went alone to Gusgarf without any idea of where it was located, relying only on oral descriptions. As it happens, I got lost but eventually stumbled upon some waterfall, apparently nameless.

Little Ships: A Story of One Morning — A Short Story

When I was a child, I lived not far from a big park. It was the city's main park, traditionally named after the leader of the world proletariat. Back then, in my early childhood, it seemed enormous — a whole world, full of amusements, wonders, and mysterious nooks.