Just encase you haven't figured it out by now the mountains just out of Almaty is the favorite place Gina and I like to hang out with our students. This day we were headed out just after the first good snow of the season. The hiking wasn't too bad but we were ready for the bitter cold that we were sure to find on top those rugged mountain peaks. After all, it was chilly in the valley.
Gina posed nicely for me on the railing of what looked like a coral of some sort from times past. This stop was a little over half way to our final destination.
Some of our local church members like to hike and regularly join us on our mountain adventures.
Talking and generally enjoying the company on the way up is a must. It also provides breaks so that none of us have to actually admit that we are tired.
What better to do with fresh snow than have a snowball fight? Charl never even saw it coming!
The hike took us up some fairly steep hills. We just kept telling the students, "It will be worth it."
Once we got near the top we had to start thinking about where we would eat our picnic. Local customs don't really allow people to sit directly on the ground. There are some deeply held beliefs about why a person should do that, especially women. When I figure it all out I may give it a posting all its own. What does all this mean? Well, you get the picture. Charl and Ruslan helped carry some logs we found to our final eating place on top of the hill.
Picnics with friends and great food in the crisp clean air have to be some of the best things on Earth!
Getting some special pictures along the way is special. You should get some reward or at least a picture for putting in so much work.
Two of my favorite guys.
That day the view across the foothills was amazing. The cool fog in the valley only helped to accent the warm sunny day we enjoyed in the mountains.
Gina posed nicely for me on the railing of what looked like a coral of some sort from times past. This stop was a little over half way to our final destination.
Some of our local church members like to hike and regularly join us on our mountain adventures.
Talking and generally enjoying the company on the way up is a must. It also provides breaks so that none of us have to actually admit that we are tired.
What better to do with fresh snow than have a snowball fight? Charl never even saw it coming!
The hike took us up some fairly steep hills. We just kept telling the students, "It will be worth it."
Once we got near the top we had to start thinking about where we would eat our picnic. Local customs don't really allow people to sit directly on the ground. There are some deeply held beliefs about why a person should do that, especially women. When I figure it all out I may give it a posting all its own. What does all this mean? Well, you get the picture. Charl and Ruslan helped carry some logs we found to our final eating place on top of the hill.
Picnics with friends and great food in the crisp clean air have to be some of the best things on Earth!
Getting some special pictures along the way is special. You should get some reward or at least a picture for putting in so much work.
Two of my favorite guys.
That day the view across the foothills was amazing. The cool fog in the valley only helped to accent the warm sunny day we enjoyed in the mountains.
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