Kyrgyzstan to introduce permits for climbers attempting seven-thousand-meter peaks
AKIPRESS.COM – Kyrgyzstan is introducing a permit system for climbers attempting to summit the country’s seven-thousand-meter peaks, including Peak Pobeda, Lenin Peak, and Khan Tengri.
The new document will be called a “certificate for climbing.” The system will first be tested on Peak Pobeda and later expanded to other major high-altitude routes, including Lenin Peak and Khan Tengri.
Details of the new procedure were announced by Eduard Kubatov, President of the Federation of Alpinism and Sports Climbing of the Kyrgyz Republic and Director of the State Agency for Tourism Development, during an interview with Russian climbers Sergey Kovalev and Alla Mishina.
According to Kubatov, the introduction of permits is aimed at improving climbing safety and restricting access to some of the most difficult peaks for people who do not have sufficient experience, technical skills, training, or proper equipment.
The certificates will be issued by the State Agency for Tourism Development. A special commission will be established to review applications. It will include a representative of the agency, a representative of the Federation of Alpinism, and three experienced climbers.
To obtain a climbing certificate, applicants will need to meet three main requirements.
The first requirement is insurance coverage for search and rescue operations, including possible helicopter evacuation. For expeditions to Peak Pobeda, the minimum insurance coverage currently being considered is approximately 3 million soms. This amount corresponds to the estimated cost of helicopter-assisted rescue operations, which can reach about $35,000.
The second requirement relates to the climber’s qualifications and experience. For climbers from former Soviet countries, official mountaineering grades and qualifications will be taken into account. Foreign climbers will have their experience evaluated by the commission based on information about previously completed routes and successful ascents.
The third requirement requires climbers to provide information about the expedition organizer, the planned climbing route, and the expected dates of the expedition.
The strictest requirements will apply to Peak Pobeda, which is considered one of the most technically challenging seven-thousand-meter peaks. According to Kubatov, experts will evaluate applicants’ previous high-altitude and technical climbing experience. Applicants are expected to have at least a second-level sports qualification, preferably the first level, as well as experience climbing difficult peaks such as Khan Tengri or Lenin Peak.
Climbers will need to submit documents confirming their insurance coverage, qualifications, and other required information. The fee for the climbing certificate is still being finalized but is expected to range between 12,000 and 15,000 soms.
Permit inspections will be carried out by representatives of the State Agency for Tourism Development at mountain base camps, including those near Lenin Peak and the Northern and Southern Inylchek glaciers. A government representative has already begun work at the Northern Inylchek base camp.
The new permit system will apply only to seven-thousand-meter peaks. Authorities do not currently plan to introduce similar requirements for five- and six-thousand-meter mountains.
The government resolution establishing the new climbing permit procedure is currently awaiting approval.
