Baysun Tau is located in the State of Uzbekistan, currently an independent Republic but which was part of the Soviet State. The region is located within the boundary of Baysun-Tau and Surkhan-Tau, the southwestern spurs of Gissar Range, in the Surkhandar’inskii region. The Baysun-Tau mountain range stretches 50 km from southwest to north-east. Absolute altitudes of its sub-ridges are 3,500–3,900 m. Baysun-Tau consists of two main mountain chains, Ketmen’ Chapty and Hodja Gur Gur Ata.
Both Ketmen’ Chapty and Hodja Gur Gur Ata are monoclines dipping 10–25 ºC to the NW. Hence, north-west slopes are gently descending and plateau-like, while south-east slopes are steep with walls up to 400 metres high at the top. Caves in this area are among the deepest in the World, but the difficulties do not end here. In fact, in Hodja-Gur-Gur-Ata, cave entrances are placed in the cliff at different heights and cavities are cut by tectonic processes and erosion. The entrances of caverns open between 3.200 and 3.800 m above sea level.
Logistics and transports
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helicopter
Access to specific locations requires the use of the helicopter. MB deals with Companies in compliance with flight permits and the revision of the means of transport. Usually, throughout the entire expedition, for security reasons, it is always available, for the MB team and its customers, a helicopter with a pilot and a mechanic. helicopter -
ropes
All MB team members and their collaborators, as well as being skilled speleologists and mountaineers, are regularly licensed to work on ropes in natural and artificial locations (such as IRATA). In addition, MB provides its own technicians and customers with tools and materials for rope progression, carefully chosen and revised. ropes -
tent
Base camp: the base camp arranged by the MB team is generally composed of a «base camp» tent equipped as a kitchen, a «bell tent» for material storage and for charging electronic equipment; personal tents for 2/3 people; electricity generator; gas and camping stoves; fresh and/or lyophilised food; boxes for materials and food storage; medical backpack; VHF radio equipment; satellite phone and possible satellite internet. tent -
animals
To facilitate the transport of materials, in specific locations, MB will use mules or horses, paying the utmost care and attention to the animals involved. animals
Points of interest
- The cave of Dark Star and its galleries and ice formations
- Brown bear mummies, markor and snow leopard
- The cave of Ulugh Begh, in the heart of the vertiginous wall of Hodja Gur Gur Ata
- Boy Bulok, the infinite meander
Accessibility
In this remote area the logistics is very complex and difficult. We can say it is almost a challenge. However, it is possible to reach this extreme location walking there with mule support from Boysun Tau or by using helicopter.