JAKOB SCHWEIGHOFER

Tien Shan, for the people of Kyrgyzstan these words mean “the heavenly mountains”. Tien Shan simply stands for itself. Its gigantic mountains rise impressively out of the Kyrgyz steppe landscape and offer a wealth of opportunities for solitary mountaineers. In the winter of 2012, four Austrian skiers set off on an adventurous journey of discovery that ended at the foot of the Tien Shan. The boys were warmly welcomed by the open culture and at the same time impressed by the breathtaking scenic beauty with its vastness, pearly glaciers and crystal-clear rivers and streams. They quickly realized that this trip was not just about skiing.