Zorkol lake and beyond

[khpostma]

After failing in 2012 (Pamir closed) I am ready to give it another try to ride by means of motorcycles (2) thru the Pamirs. This includes Zorkul Lake, Jarty Gumbez and beyond to the East. OSM seems to have gotten much better and I have spend a good deal of time adding and editing further details based on satellite photo's. Not sure about exact route, there are several options to choose from.

I also read the 2014 post http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-along-76825-2 , http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...estion-60095-2 and various other posts.

What are the latest (2015) reports on getting the permit for Zorkol and especially beyond. Where, how much, how long to get the permits beyond the std GBAO permit. I had also some correspondence with a fellow who visited the Shorbolog observatory (N37 55 50.2 E74 09 08.0) and came in from the North and never had anybody ask him for a permit, so that may be another back way into the area.

Is there still no gas available in Khargush? How about fuel availability on the other side of that area in Shaymak or Tokhtamish? I just downloaded the Colebatch way-points and it shows gas in Shaymak in 2014.

Has anybody been on the road going South and East from Cheshtebe (N37 43 31.5 E74 21 07.6) towards Shaymak? How reasonable are the various river crossings?

Thanks,

KP

[Chri8]

Hi
Why should be fuel available in Khargush, it is just a checkpoint. On the other hand it should be possible to find fuel from locals in Shaymak and Tokhtamish, at least there were vegetables in the shops, when we visited in 2013:
Von Thailand in die Türkei: Shaymak-Runde - Ein Blick in den kleinen Pamir
We went then out over Kyzylrabot and Djarty Gumbez, in 2010 visited Zorkul from Khargush and also exited via Djarty Gumbez. Only then we needed paperwork (NP-permit), while in 2013 we had a somewhat strange encounter in Tokhtamish with the mayor, where we left our details, just that someone was informed, that we were on the way (they seem not to like when tourists venture themselves without telling anybody about their plans), the military checkpost at Kyzylrabot then let us pass without any problems (we did a registration in Murghab, but I don't think that was of importance).
The map of Markus Hauser was not accurate in the very least details for the crossing from Kyzylrabot to Djarty Gumbaz, but that are complaints on a very high level, google earth of course is more accurate, river crossings were no problem.

[colebatch]

Originally Posted by khpostma

Is there still no gas available in Khargush? How about fuel availability on the other side of that area in Shaymak or Tokhtamish? I just downloaded the Colebatch way-points and it shows gas in Shaymak in 2014.

KP

There is no public anything at Khargush. Its not a town. Its a small remote military outpost.

Boarder06 went to Shaymak in 2014 and got fuel there. Same guy who went to Shorbulak Observatory.