CHAP. VIII - A TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS OF URGUT

Summary

Between Samarkand and Panjikent and about seven miles due south of Juma-bazar (which is marked on Map II), lies the important village of Urgut, famed for its vineyards. As from a cornucopia it flows out of a recess of those mountains which the Russian map calls Kirtau and which form a branch of the Hissar range (Map I). The Takhta-karacha pass, which leads from Samarkand to Shakhrisiabs is the deep gap separating them from their further continuation to the west, the Aktau (Kemkutan).

As seen from the minar of Ullugbeg the snowfields of Urgut look very near, and even ridiculously near when one is told how long it takes to get there, namely eight hours. The distance to their base is 26 miles by the road and 22 miles in a bee-line. A not too ambitious City express with four stoppages on the way might traverse the intervening space in an hour. This would enable the business man of Samarkand to leave his office at one, take his lunch and board the train at three o'clock. Reaching Urgut at four he could have some tea, and then walk or ride to some high camp the same evening. On Sunday he has all day for climbing peaks or traversing ridges, and may catch either the 7 p.m. excursion train or the late slowcoach at 10 p.m., so that in any case he will be home and in bed by midnight.