Hiking to the Waterfalls in Voru Gorge, Odzhuk, Varzob, Mountains of Tajikistan

The first hike of the year, I decided to go to the waterfalls in the Voru Gorge in Odjukskie Mountains, Varzob district, Tajikistan. Previously, I called it the Lost Waterfall. Of course, no one lost this waterfall, but it needed a name, so why not call it Lost? I had already seen it a couple of times before, once when we descended from the ridge that lies between Takob and Odjuk on this hike: Crossing from the Begar Gorge to Odjuk. At that time, I thought I should go to this waterfall, and the convenient moment finally arrived. I also thought it was the only one there, but there were other waterfalls, though smaller.

Chapter 1: The Gorge of Fear from Bear Metamorphoses

≪ to the previous chapter
I only drank coffee in the morning—I wasn't hungry. I packed up the tent, stowed everything in my backpack, and headed back to the trail. I went down along the old caravan route. By evening, I was in the village, found a guesthouse—there turned out to be several here. I chose the one on the eastern side. Later, I would need to head east anyway, to the abandoned settlement—rumors were circulating about strange happenings there. But all that could wait; for now, I needed to recover. And that meant meat and alcohol.

Teamwork: How to Make a Hike Successful

Whether you're staying at a stationary camp with many people or have stopped for the night with a small group on a trek, you should always feel like part of a team. I have spent a lot of time traveling in small groups through the planet's most severe environments.

How to Quickly Start a Fire on a Hike Without Firestarter

When you go on a short hike or a picnic, you might run into a situation: you have firewood, you have matches or a lighter, but you have no firestarter. All your food is packed in plastic bags, and you don’t even have a newspaper.

Hiking the Odzhuk Circuit, Varzob, mountains of Tajikistan

I completed a solo trek along the Odzhuk loop. The route, as the name suggests, passes through the Odzhuk gorge in Varzob, Tajikistan. To complete this route, one must hike through the entire Odzhuk gorge up to the Kichkine pass, then traverse the plateau to the Childukhtarun pass and descend back into Odzhuk. Ideally, this route can be completed in two days with one overnight stay, but since I was alone and taking my time, climbing and taking photos wherever I could, my trek took three days and two nights.

Prologue: The Ice Witch’s Lake from Bear Metamorphoses

The going was tough—the altitude was taking its toll. I had walked about fifty meters down from the highest point of the pass saddle and found the spot where the creature had presumably attacked its victim. For now, we’ll just call it a creature. We’ll figure out what it really is later. So, the attack site was identified: a rocky outcrop jutted above the trail, perfect for an ambush. I examined it—just as I thought. I found a secluded niche from which a stale, nauseating smell emanated. It was logical to assume the creature had been coming here from the eastern side of the road.

Maintaining General Hygiene on a Camping Trip

While each person is responsible for their own personal hygiene, when in a camp or on a hike, everyone must also be accountable for communal, or general, hygiene.

Waste Disposal

When setting up camp, designate a waste collection area with separate zones for kitchen wastewater, biodegradable waste, and non-biodegradable waste.

“God’s Eyes” Cave (Prohodna Cave), Iskar-Panega Eco-Park, Bulgaria

While roaming the web, I stumbled upon a stunning image — a cave with the piercing, eloquent name “God’s Eyes.” I was intrigued immediately.

A quick search brought up a mountain of websites describing this wonder. It turned out to be Prohodna Cave. It lies in Bulgaria, within the Iskar-Panega Eco-Park, near the village of Karlukovo. Just a stone’s throw from Sofia — a mere 112 kilometres. And although I was sincerely impressed, the place felt oddly familiar. A strange feeling, given that I’d never actually been to Bulgaria…

Hiking from Begar Gorge to Odjuk Along the Ridge Between Takob and Odjuk, Varzob, Mountains of Tajikistan

Spontaneous hike, when it was offered to me, I didn't really know where we would end up or how we would get there. Despite the uncertainty, the hike turned out to be very successful. There were a lot of impressions, first of all, intriguing old mine tunnels at the beginning of the hike. Secondly, it was very interesting to walk along the watershed ridge, looking down at the gorges that I had already walked through many times at the bottom.

Personal Hygiene in Camping Conditions

The word "hygiene" originates from the name of the ancient Greek goddess of health, Hygieia. And this is no coincidence, as maintaining cleanliness is not just a matter of convenience, but the foundation of well-being, especially when away from home. In camping or stationary camp conditions, where people are in close contact, any infection spreads rapidly. It only takes one person to fall ill to jeopardize the entire group's outing. Therefore, hygiene rules in nature are a matter of collective safety and comfort.