--- title: "I'm having a bit of that" url: "https://atlas51.co/dispatches/im-having-a-bit-of-that" type: "dispatch" section: "Journal" published: "2026-08-25" updated: "2026-08-25T21:08:18.263Z" --- # I'm having a bit of that *Journal · 2026-08-25 · 5 min* Atlas51 — One untagged photograph, the best part of a year working out what it was, and then eight days of off-piste, cat-skiing, horses in six feet of snow and a bar in an abandoned fuel tank. There’s a photo I saw on Instagram once of a guy on horseback with a snowboard lashed to his back. No location, no operator tagged, nothing in the caption worth reading — just a bloke, a horse, a board and an awful lot of snow. I thought, “I’m having a bit of that!” The problem was working out what “that” actually was. It took me a while to narrow down roughly where in the world it had been taken, longer to work out whether it was a thing you could do at all or just somebody’s mate showing off on a friend’s horse, and longer still to track down the people who could actually make it happen. That’s usually the point where these ideas quietly die. This one didn’t. ## Day 1 The trip started out in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, with a short city tour before we made our way in a mini bus to the snowfields of Karakol. I should stress that Karakol is not a European resort (which is part of its charm) so don’t expect much in the way of heated lift bubbles and fireside apres bars! Karakol is perfect for those who love the pure experience of snowboarding in an area largely untouched by mainstream tourists. I’m an avid snowboarder but it’d been a few months since I’d been on a mountain. We spent the day in Karakol getting geared up and doing half-days off-piste runs to build up our confidence and get familiar with the slopes. There was a range of pistes but we stuck to the back country to really get to grips with some off piste challenges. Each night we finished with time on the “town” for some Kyrgyz dinner (which is meat with a side of meat). ## Days 2 & 3 We spent the next two days riding mostly off the pistes with our guide Marius, who did a fantastic job of showing us some cool forested areas. The slopes were challenging but as someone with years of experience, they were a blast. If you’re fairly new to skiing or snowboarding, unfortunately this might not be the trip for you :-(. The second day of snowboarding had us hitting the spa for a much-needed sauna, pool and beers before heading off to a small town of Issyk Kul where our horses were waiting for us. After a quick gear exchange we were on our way! ## Day 4 ![The whole group riding single file up a snowed-in spruce valley, snowboards across their backs, the lead rider grinning at the camera.](/dispatches/im-having-a-bit-of-that/horses-column.jpg) If you think that trekking through six feet of snow on horseback in the Kyrgyzstan mountains is easy, think again - but it’s also something I will never forget! With our powder boards strapped to our back, we managed to find a few areas to board on and get a tow from our horse, which was terrifying, before ending the day in a karaoke bar in town where we got to spend time with the locals. Given the action of the day, it wasn’t long before we turned in for some well-earned rest. ![Three of the group riding through deep snow with snowboards strapped across their backs, grinning at the camera.](/dispatches/im-having-a-bit-of-that/horses-selfie.jpg) ![A rider in full snowboard kit and goggles sitting on a chestnut horse, board strapped behind him.](/dispatches/im-having-a-bit-of-that/horses-rider.jpg)|![Riders coming down a snowed-in forest track on horseback, boards up, spruce and mountainside behind.](/dispatches/im-having-a-bit-of-that/cat-gearing-up.jpg) ## Days 5-6 The following day was powder day! We drove into the mountains and prepped the gear. I’d not used a powered board before and it looked crazy, feet forward with a big arrow shape! I decided to take my own bindings so strapped them on and we jumped onto the caterpillar truck. We managed about 4-6 runs per day with lunch in between at some pretty sick views starting around 8/9am so there were no mega early starts. Having the cat just for the group meant we could put our own tunes on and have a few drinks on the rides up. ![The group packed into the back of the snowcat in helmets and goggles, laughing, on the way up.](/dispatches/im-having-a-bit-of-that/cat-inside.jpg) The after-riding drinks were spent in an abandoned shipping container in the mountains, it really has to be seen! Beverages consisted of local beers and some home brewed fruit spirits that are pretty punchy! ![A bar built into an abandoned fuel tank on a snowy hillside, a snowmobile parked outside.](/dispatches/im-having-a-bit-of-that/container-bar.jpg) We spent nights in a comfy yurt covered in pillows and blankets with a fire in the centre, it was toasty, made warmer by the homemade sauna outside, we had to cool off by rolling the snow. ## Day 7 Finally on the way home, I was sad to be leaving but we were far from over. We stopped at the fairy tale canyon for a hike and some pretty sick views, there was no one around and the contrast of the snow on the orange rock face was stunning. Even after that, when we were sure the trip was coming to a close, we drove out onto the steppe and met a local family of eagle hunters who showed us how they catch food from almost 500 meters away! ![Standing on a ridge above the red rock badlands of Fairy Tale Canyon, arms out, a second walker on the skyline behind.](/dispatches/im-having-a-bit-of-that/canyon.jpg)|![A traveller on the steppe holding a golden eagle on a gloved fist, its wings fully spread.](/dispatches/im-having-a-bit-of-that/eagle.jpg) We also got to handle the eagles ourselves and had a stab at archery, which we were put to shame about when the guys started showing off by smashing bullseyes whilst bareback riding… ![Drawing a Kyrgyz horn bow on the open steppe, a deer target in the distance and snow peaks beyond.](/dispatches/im-having-a-bit-of-that/archery.jpg) After more endings than the lord of the rings, we finally arrived back in the capital for one last farewell and a horribly early flight back home. ## The good news It took me the best part of a year to turn one photograph into a trip. You don’t have to do any of that — we’ve got this one on the Atlas51 roster now, run by the same people who took us out there. ## The trip this is about [Kyrgyzstan Snow Frontier](https://atlas51.co/trips/kyrgyzstan-snow-frontier)