Day 56 (Part 1): From Gulcha to the China Border
Charging in the Early Hours
The team departed Gulcha before sunrise, facing a new challenge: recharging the ID. Buzz in a remote mountain region with no formal charging station in place. Using the Stoida mobile charger, they stopped at a roadside gas station where, despite the hour, a local electrician was called out to assist. The overnight charge ensured the vehicle was ready for the steep ascent ahead.
Climbing into the Tian Shan Range
The road led higher into the Tian Shan mountains, toward the Torugart Pass at 3,500 metres elevation. Just as the team reached the summit, the first light of day illuminated the jagged ridgelines. Light snow began to fall — a reminder of how far above sea level they had climbed. Despite the temperature drop, the ID. Buzz continued without issue, proving its capabilities in high-altitude, low-temperature conditions.
Local Encounters Along the Way
From the upper ridges, the Pamir mountains were visible in the distance, including the imposing outline of Mount Lenin. Along the roadside, traditional yurts appeared across the alpine meadows, and in one small camp, a herding dog ran to greet the team — a brief but memorable encounter in a remote part of Kyrgyzstan.
Descent to Irkeshtam
The descent from the pass was steady, revealing expansive views of the valley below. The team continued toward the Irkeshtam border crossing, where they would leave Central Asia behind and begin the next major leg of the tour through China.
Next stop: China.
