Hiking to Upper Kolsai Lake

The hike from Lower to Upper Kolsai Lake in late spring was easier than I expected— the ground still frozen hard and lined with patches of stubborn snow that refused to melt. As we climbed higher, the air grew colder and the forest thinned a little opening up to dramatic views of the surrounding peaks still dusted with snow. When we finally reached the Upper Lake, it felt like stepping into another season entirely. The lake was almost completely frozen, a smooth, pale sheet of ice with just a few dark cracks and edges where the thaw was beginning. It was hauntingly beautiful—quiet, remote, and still gripped by winter despite the time of year. #springwander #kazakhstan #kolsailake