What 7000 meter peak?

Looking at what tour and expedition outfitters offer in the Anglo-Saxon wolrd, I am surprised to see so many possibilities to the Karokaram and the Himalayas, but practically NONE, zippo, nill expeditions to Central Asia: Kazahstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan. Why, I ask…?!?!

This isn’t a hypothetical question. I really don’t know the answer, maybe someone can shed light for me… An expedition to the foot of a 7000 meter or even a popular 6000 meter mountain in these ranges requires at least a 2-3 day trek. There are summit fees and possibly national park permits.

I look at what Jagged Globe, the biggest expedition outfitter (I think) has to offer and they charge 3-6-7 thousand pounds for an expedition to these places.

“Why, what else we got, chief?” …you may timidly ask. Well, the Pamir and Tien-Shan mountains have 5 peaks above 7000 meters and countless 6000 meter mountains. All of them are within a day’s drive or helicopter flight from an international airport. No expensive summit fees, just some 30 dollar registration fees. You can climb Peak Lenin for 800 euros (full expedition package) and tackle Communism Peak, Khan-Tengri for 1000-1200 euros apiece excluding flights. The basecamps have nomad-style yurtas, saunas and stuff. It’s sweet.

Oh, and the gastonomy rocks.

Why are expedition outfitters making you people go to less accessible peaks further from your homes with price tags five times higher? What is it that you can’t find in Central Asian mountains that you get for five times the money in India, Nepal or Pakistan?

I’m not angry or anything, but I sure hope that someone has an answer…