One Steppe Ahead An expedition to commemorate the 100th

Anniversary of Sir Charles Howard-Bury’s travels through the Tien Shan Mountains.

Kyrgyz soldiers travelling along the Kyrgyzstan steppe border China (Jamie Maddison, 2010)

Dusk on the rolling sub-hills near the Djangart region, Kyrgyzstan (Jamie

Maddison, 2010)

Contents:1. Introduction2. Aims and objectives3. Team Overview - Charles Howard-Bury biography - Jamie Maddison biography - Matthew Traver biography4. Our journey: Overview and Stages5. Challenges6. Itinerary7. Q&A8. Sponsorship and support9. Training and micro-projects

1. Introduction:

In 2013, Jamie and Matt will re-trace Charles Howard-Bury’s inspiring, yet little known 30,000km overland grand circuit through the Eurasian Continent. Departing 100 years from the day of Charles’ original journey, Jamie and Matt will travel by train, boat, horseback and bicycle to complete this historical route. Through completing this journey they hope to raise awareness about this little-known explorer and offer others an opportunity to learn about history, geography and culture through this adventurous endeavour.

Kaichi Valley, Kyrgyzstan/China border (Jamie Maddison, 2010)

1. Introducti

on:

2. Aims and objectives:Primary objective:

- To re-trace the route taken by Charles Howard-Bury.

Secondary objectives:- Complete first ascents and exploration in the Jungar Alatau of eastern Kazakhstan.- To document the journey through photography, writing and the production of a documentary film.

Aims:-To travel entirely overland and to set an example of low-carbon travel as alternative for modern day expeditions and general travel.-To stimulate interest in the geography, culture and history of Central Asia to the wider public.- To raise public awareness of Charles Howard-Bury as a notable British explorer.- Comprehensive documentation of our journey through photography, writing and video, with an aim to publish articles, a book and a film.Evening in the Central Kokshaal-Too range, Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan

(Jamie Maddison, 2010)

3. Team overview3. Team

overview

Jamie and Matt met whilst on a climbing expedition to the Djangart region of Kyrgyzstan in 2010.

Whilst in base camp, Jamie was first introduced to Lt. Sir Charles Howard-Bury through reading

Marian Keaney’s account of his travels through the Tien Shan mountains in her book, ‘Mountains of Heaven’. Although Charles has long since passed

away, he will travel with us in spirit as we follow in his footsteps and come to understand more about

who he was, the experiences he encountered along the way and how he has contributed to our modern

day knowledge and understanding of culture, history, adventure and exploration.

Along with Charles, Jamie and Matt comprise a team capable and experienced in photography, film making, climbing, journalism, public speaking and

expedition planning.

Sir Charles Howard-BuryLieutenant-Colonel Charles Kenneth

Howard-Bury (15 August 1881 - 20 September 1963) was originally a

British soldier, who later became a noted explorer, botanist,

philanthropist and Conservative politician.

He is most well-known for leading the first reconnaissance expedition to

Mount Everest in 1921. However, he also completed a number of trips

within the Eurasian continent during the early 20th Century, his most

notable being his journey through the Tien Shan mountains.

Jamie Maddisonwww.punchjournalist.co.uk

Jamie Maddison is a freelance journalist and photographer with a passion for expeditions, adventure and outdoor

reporting. His assignments have taken him far and wide; from the serene forests

outside of Fontainebleau, to unexplored valleys in the Tien Shan Mountains,

through to adventurous climbing in South Africa’s Cederberg Rocklands. His articles

regularly appear in the UK national climbing magazine ‘Climber’ as well as a

variety of other mountaineering publications and websites. Always willing

to travel, no matter how remote or insecure the destination, Jamie is an ideal

documenter for those keen and adventurous souls intent on exploring lost

and forgotten corners of the Earth, wherever they may lie.

E-mail: jamie.benjamin.maddison@gmail.com Tel: +44(0)7912 676 663

Matthew Traver

E-mail: matthewtraver@gmail.com Tel: +44(0)7791 486 802

www.matthewtraver.comMatthew Traver is originally from Hong

Kong and is a British and American national, currently residing in the UK. He is the

founder and managing director of Beast Products Ltd., a caving and outdoor

equipment manufacturer.

He has organized, participated in and lead a number of expeditions, such as the first

ascent of the Dragon’s Horns West Face on Tioman Island, Malaysia. In 2010 he was the

British leader for an expedition to the Djangart region, a sub-range of the

Kokshall-Too Mountains, which borders with Kyrgyzstan and China.

Some of Matt’s current projects include ‘China by Kayak’ – a world’s first sea

kayaking expedition across China from Hong Kong to Beijing, and an attempt to cross the

1400km wide Chang-Tang Plateau in Tibet using wind power.

4. Our journey: OverviewDeparting from Mullingar, Ireland exactly one hundred years to the day, we will follow the original route taken by Charles Howard-Bury. Our journey will take us 30,000km overland, through 20+ countries to complete this historical and grand circuit through the Eurasian Continent. In order to complete the trip we will utilise a mixture of trains, horseback, ferry and barge just as Charles did. Bicycles will be used between Almaty, Kazakhstan and Tashkent, Uzbekistan in order to make the numerous border crossings between these points more efficient.

Stage 1: Ireland to Moscow, Russia (4 days)1. Belvedere House, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath to Dublin, Ireland (bicycle) 82.7km.

2. Dublin to Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales (ferry), 1 1 8km.

3. Holyhead to London St. Pancras, England (train), 442km.

4. London St. Pancras to Berlin, Germany (train) via Brussels, Cologne, Bielefeld and Hanover 1107km.

5. Berlin to Warsaw, Poland (train), 561km.

6. Warsaw to Moscow, Russia (train) via Brest, Minsk, Krasnoye and Smolensk. 1401 km

Stage 2: Moscow to Omsk, Russia (2 days).1. Moscow Kazanskaia station to Penza 1 station (#N052 train)

via Riazan 2 (Ryazan), Riajsk 1, Kenzino, Verda, Morshansk, Vernadovka, Bashmakovo, Pachelma and Belinskaia 555km.

2. Penza 1 to Omsk (#N124, 134 or 097 trains) via Ufa and Chelyabinsk. Note: Please note that this is a general domestic train service and

is not to be confused with the Trans-Siberian railway. Our intended route takes us through Morshansk, Ufa and

Chelyabinsk, the same towns which Howard-Bury passed through himself.

Stage 3: Omsk to Semey, Kazakhstan (5 days).

1. 1. Omsk to Semey (aka Semipalatinsk) via Karaagash, Russia/Kazakhstan border

crossing (bicycle on M38 and/or ferry/barge hitching up Irtysh River), 1000km.

Stage 4: Semey to Horgos border crossing, Xinjiang Province, China

(10 days): 1. Semey to Sergiopol/Ayagoz (horseback), 340km –

2. Sergiopol/Ayagoz to Lepsy via Tanshik and Lake Balkash

(horseback), 230km – 3. Lepsy to Kapal (horseback),

200km.4. Kapal to Kugalinsk

(horseback), 300km.5. Kugalinsk to Zharkent

(horseback), 40km.6. Zharkent to Horgos border

crossing, Xinjiang Province, China (bicycle), 25kmNote: Our horses will rest at Zharkent

and await for our return from China. Due to border restrictions and for

logistical purposes we are unable to take horses across the

China/Kazakhstan border.

Stage 5: Horgos border to

Gulja/Yining, Xinjiang Province,

China to Jungar Alatau, Kazakhstan

(2 days)

1. Horgos to Gulja (bicycle), via Huocheng, 100km

2. Visit Gulja, China3. Gulja to Horgos border crossing (bicycle), 100km

4. Horgos to Zharkent (bicycle), Kazakhstan, 50km

1. 1. Zharkent directly north over the Jungar Alatau range

and in to the Little Kustai, Big Kustai, Tekes, Jirgalan, Kinsu, Karagai Tash and Kurdai Valleys (horse),

200km – during our exploration of the Jungar

Alatau we will travel over a number of high passes above 3000m, such as the Sarytin Pass and cross the Karatal River. Whilst rediscovering

the areas visited by Howard-Bury, we also hope to venture in to the remote NE sector of the Jungar Alatau to explore and climb virgin peaks and summits bordering China

ranging between 3000-4000m (44.818864, 79.642639).

Stage 6: Jungar Alatau exploration and first ascents

Stage 7: Across Southern Kazakhstan and in to Kyrgyzstan (4 days):1. Jungar Alatau to Ili River (horse), 100km – via the Altyn Emel

National Park and Kapshagai Reservoir.

2. Ili River to Almaty (horse), 130km – our arrival in Almaty signifies the end of horseriding and from this point we will change over to

bicycles and ground transportation.Note: Negating the use of horses after Almaty is a necessary logistical requirement due to the strict national laws barring

livestock from crossing international borders. Therefore we are required to use bicycles to allow for smooth travel through the

Kazakh-Kyrgyz border crossings and beyond to Tashkent.

Stage 8 – Almaty to Tashkent, Uzbekistan via Kyrgyzstan (5 days): 1. Almaty to Tokmok border crossing, Kyrgyzstan (bicycle),

300km – passing due north of Ile-Alatau, National Park, Kazakhstan

2. Tokmok to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (bicycle), 50km.

3. Bishkek to Merke border crossing, Kazakhstan (bicycle), 119km

4. Merke to Shymkent, Kazakhstan (bicycle), 336km via M39.5. Shymkent to Tashkent, Uzbekistan (bicycle, train or bus),

via M39 south, 135km.

1. Tashkent to Bukhara (train), 547km via Samarkand.

2. Bukhara to Turkmenabat border crossing, Turkmenistan (train), 137km

3. Turkmenabat to Turkmenbashi, Caspian Sea (train), 1190km via Repetek Nature Reserve,

Mary, Ashgabat and Balkanabat.

Stage 9 - Tashkent to Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan (3 days):

1. Turkmenbashi to Baku, Azerbaijan (ferry), 250km via Caspian Sea.

Stage 10 - Turkmenbashi to Baku, Azerbaijan via Caspian Sea ferry (2

days):

1. Baku to Balakan border crossing (train), 393km via M4 road – passing Ismailli and Ilisu State Reserves.

2. Balakan to Tbilisi, Georgia (train), 181km

3. Tbilisi to Sarpi border crossing (train), 381km

4. Sarpi/Sarp, Turkey to Istanbul (train), 1250km via Black Sea highway.

Stage 11 - Baku to Istanbul, Turkey via Azerbaijan and Georgia (5 days):

Stage 12 – Istanbul to Belvedere House, Mullingar, Ireland via Eastern and Western

Europe (5 days):1. Istanbul to London St. Pancras UK via Bucharest, Budapest, Munich and Paris (train), 3125km – passing through Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary,

Austria, Germany and France.

2. London St. Pancras to Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales (train), 442km.

3. Holyhead to Dublin, Ireland (ferry), 118km.

4. Dublin to Belvedere House, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath (bicycle), 82.7km.

River fords

A few of the challenges we expect to face on our expedition include:

Long distanc

e horseba

ck riding

Off-road cycling

Crossing remote

mountain regions

5. ChallengesA few of the challenges we expect to face on

our expedition include:

1. May 1st – Depart Ireland via boat and train to Moscow, Russia2. May 5th - Depart Moscow to Omsk, Russia via train3. May 7th – Depart Omsk for Semey, Kazakhstan via Irtysh River

(boat and bike)4. May 12th – Arrive in Semey and depart for Horgos border

crossing, China (horseback)5. June 10th – Arrive at Horgos border and cross in to Gulja China

(bicycle)6. June 11th – Return from Horgos to Zharkent, Kazakhstan7. June 13th – Depart Zharkent for the Jungar Alatau 8. June 15th to 22nd – Arrive in Jungar Alatau, explore via

horseback and climb.9. June 23rd to 30th – Jungar Alatau to Almaty (horseback)10.July 1st to 3rd – Arrive in Almaty, dispatch horses and prepare

bicycles 11.July 4th to 11th – Cycle from Almaty to Tashkent, Uzbekistan12.July 12th to 16th – Tashkent to Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan

via train13.July 17th to 18th – Turkmenbashi to Baku, Azerbaijan via

Caspian Sea Ferry14.July 19th to 23rd – Baku to Istanbul, Turkey via train.15.July 24th to 29th – Istanbul to Mullingar, Ireland.

Wild and open valleys near Chiimtash in the Thalassian Mountains of Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan (Novosibirsk State University, 2010)

6. Itinerary:

7. Sponsorship and supportOur expedition represents a unique opportunity in public exposure for both companies and organisations. We therefore welcome any offer of assistance and in return we will provide you with:

# An extensive expedition report, with a specific mention of your assistance.# Royalty free usage of any expedition photographs for media and publication purposes within your establishment.# Long-term exposure of your support on our website with a direct link to your webpage.# An opportunity for further exposure through any lectures, publications and films produced prior to the expedition.# A complimentary round-up talk to those in your establishment may also be arranged upon your request.# Bespoke publications and films to suit your specific needs.

The long road and vast open plains towards Koktal, Kazakhstan (Dewaele, 2009: http://tinyurl.com/3vz7cxe)

Early morning light fills the infrequently visited N2 Glacier, Djangart Region, Kyrgyzstan (Jamie Maddison, 2010 )

8. Q&A:What is the purpose of this expedition?

The purpose of the expedition is to raise awareness about Charles Howard-Bury’s little known, yet inspiring, overland adventure from Ireland to Central Asia and back.

What planning and preparation is required?

Currently the biggest task is to organize the general logistics of travelling between the various countries, particularly those in Central Asia.

In addition to this, the largest skill we are currently obtaining is horse-riding and horse care.

How will the expedition benefit others?

We feel that our expedition will help to stimulate interest in global culture, geography and history through the medium of adventure and exploration.

Furthermore our post-expedition talks and documentation of the journey will serve as inspiration for others to travel and fulfill their own ambitions.

9. Training and micro-projects:In the lead up to One

Steppe Ahead, Jamie and Matt are planning to conduct a series of micro-projects to help gain significant publicity for the expedition.

Some of the projects include:

-‘The jolly gentleman’s bike ride’ – a 430 mile cycle between London and Mullingar, Ireland – Charles Howard-Bury’s home

- Long distance horse riding and training in western Mongolia.

If you would like to know more about these micro-projects or even provide support then please feel free to get in touch!

www.onesteppeahead.com

One Steppe Ahead