Our final day at the Mountain House was a hang out day with no real plans. We had our usual hearty breakfast and enjoyed the warming morning sun.
Sadie and Elvira became good friends over our visit...Elvira would squeal with delight when she saw Sadie.
The view from the dining room. Asem made salted fresh cheese balls and set them out to dry and store for later.
Ruslan owns a large swath of land around his Mountain House. He drove us to the edge of his property so we could hike and explore on our own.
He has lots of "old" knowledge; here he's showing us a plant that lowers blood pressure when made into a tea.
After Ruslan left us, we decided on a ridge up a saddle and began bushwhacking. Before leaving the valley, we came across another patch of delicate Kaufman tulips.
As we left tree line hiking up the mountain, I was amazed to see succulents growing from the rocky hills.
High on the the hills there were even tiny tulip buds waiting to burst, only a few inches high.
On the edges of the ridge I found wild iris.
Looking up from our first ridge.
Looking down from the second ridge to the valley. You can see the guys at the lip of the first ridge, and the Zhabagly River flood plain on the valley floor.
Still more Kaufman tulips waiting to bloom, high above tree line and nearly to the snow line.
After coming down the other side of the ridge, we followed this broad field back down to the Mountain House. It was dotted with wild onion, about to break open into purple pompoms.
While the guys headed down for lunch, I stayed a bit to soak up the environment. The clouds where changing quickly, adjusting the shadows and lighting on the mountain's shoulders.
Back at the Mountain House, there was still a show in the sky. I walked into the dining room just in time to have a steaming plate of potato dumplings served to me.
A sophisticated crew at the park gates.
We gave hugs and kisses to the family as we loaded the cars to go back to the train station. As we passed through the villages on the way, the shepherds were just brining the animals home for the night. Families were out, gates open, directing their animals from the huge herds taking over the roads.
The station was full of activity as trains were passing through....ladies with fresh milk and kumis (fermented mare's milk) for sale strolled the platform.
A swarm of vendors awaiting de-boarding passengers.
Large, fragrant strawberries at the ready.
The guy in the next cabin down really wanted me to take his picture.
As the train pulled out, we watched the village disappear.
The evening light was beautiful as we passed through the countryside...
...with the mountains we had just explored as a backdrop.
Final light before sunset.
First light over the outskirts of Almaty and the Tien Shan mountains that tower over the city as we pulled in.
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