Splints, Unwanted children and Russians.... Today was our last full day hiking, so we decided to go out in style! 20km upwards along the Aksu River. It was beautiful to see the cultural side of Kyrgyzstan. Horses roamed free across the landscape followed by foals of every colour. Cows and sheep were tended by local shepherd with dogs whilst on horse back. The people live in little huts in the land. The importance of livestock sunk in when we came across a sheep...

After a the best days walking we arrive at camp. We touched the sky at 3880m after done of the scariest scree traversing I have ever done and then performed a rapid descent of 1500m to our camp for the night. The highlight of tonight's camp apart from our first beers in a week was the promise of a shower! For the hefty price of 200somme (£2.80) we could have a hot shower. Myself and the three lads (we lost Martin to sickness a couple of days ago) enter the...

High altitude. Today is be frank... Was absolutely brutal!!!! We ascended 1200m in about 6km, that's the high of Ben Nevis but we started from camp at twice the height of it at 2700m Click click thud thud puff puff... Click click thud thud puff puff... Click click thud thud puff puff... That was my constant companion for the day, at 3000m it became Click click, thud thud, puff puff puff puff as the altitude kicked in and more oxygen was needed. The only way...

I thought my timing was perfect. It was early morning at camp and it was time to go. No you get me wrong, time to go! So I head to the camp toilet block, a square concrete with high space where you would think windows would go, a plastic Sheeted roof the home to most of the planets bug and insect population, and no doors. But it's ok guys and girls are separate, this is civilisation, exception the gap at the to of the wall! Ok if you are a short ass. Now this...

The Banya, It had been for days since I'd last had a shower, thank God for the miracle properties that enable merino wool mask body odour but there are limits! We had just walked 20km I the rain over the Otis range descending from over 3800m, I was hyperventilating as my body desperately tried to acclimatise to the altitude. I was covered in dark brown viscous mud head to toe, my boots were leaking and my knees aching from the downward assault. We arrived at...