On Saturday, January 13th, a group of 18 adventurous Year 10 students participating in the IA (Duke of Edinburgh) programme, accompanied by two MIT students visiting our school, embarked on a training trip to Butakovka "waterfall" in preparation for their assessed expedition later this year.
Benefiting from excellent conditions and favourable weather with temperatures reaching around 10 degrees, we set out at 08:00, enjoying the privilege of having the trail mostly to ourselves. Successfully reaching the frozen waterfall, we descended the valley to a flatter, relatively warmer spot where groups cooked hot meals, relaxed, and indulged in the joy of sledging for some. The culinary skills were remarkable, with one group even preparing fresh burgers and crispy chips.
Continuing our journey using a combination of walking and safe sledging, we returned to the car park and minibuses earlier than expected, thanks to exceptional teamwork during the cooking sessions and favorable conditions. Despite a few students having been to Butakovka before, experiencing it in these conditions at this time of year was a unique adventure. This outing showcased that the beauty of Almaty and its surroundings is accessible year-round with proper planning and equipment.
