Butakovsky Waterfall A lovely one day hike from Medeo high altitude skating rink over Komissarov Pass into Butakovka Gorge, leading to a spectacular waterfall whose cloud of mist will refresh and invigorate you. The route doesn’t require special skills and lasts 6-7 hours. The hike begins from the parking lot at Medeo skating rink. We walk around the south (uphill) side of the former Medeo Hotel. A paved road climbs eastward, leading some buildings belonging to the landslide protection service. To the left of the road is treeless slope covered with a thick growth of shrubs. To the right, in the foreground we see the concrete flood barriers containing the Kimasar River, and beyond them the thick coniferous forest on the right slope. At the place where the road turns to the right we see several fancy residencies, and turn off into the well-defined trail that goes past the ranger station. The trail ascends steeply, always tending to the left. Finally, it turns again to the east, and after a brief steep section we are on the saddle of Komissarov Pass, 2200m above sea level. It takes about 1,5-2 hours to reach the pass from the starting point. Having rested on the pass, we continue in an easterly direction. The trail plunges into a forest, and after awhile we descend into a wooded ravine, through which the trail winds in the shade of enormous spruce, mountain ash and aspen trees. This narrow ravine with bare slopes should be avoided in winter due to avalanche danger. After turning to the north, the trail forks: we can branch off to the right in a steep descent to the east, or we can continue along the path to the north. On the latter fork the descent is somewhat more gentler, although there are some steep sections. After 30 minutes the trails join again. The trail comes out at Butakovka Gorge along the dirt road and the stream. We ascend gradually for 30 minutes and arrive at the bank of a stream running parallel to the road, which turns into a trial. The trial continues its way up the valley, crosses the stream and enters a broad “jailyau” (the Kazakh word for “pasture”). The right bank of the Butakovka River is clearly visible for half a kilometer from the trail following the left bank. We see campsites with remnants of campfires. The meadow, called Mechta Turista (Hiker’s Dream), served for many years as a stopover point for guided hikes from the Gorelnik and Almatau lodges. At the end of the meadow, the gorge becomes quite narrow. The trail forks-one branch continues up the gorge, but our path lies along the trail that branches off into a side gorge. We must cross the stream on rocks and follow the trail due east. In 20-25 minutes the trail leads us to a waterfall that has carved a broad hollow into a huge cliff. The water straights down from a height of about 30 meters, noisily churning up a cloud of water spray that sparkles with dozens of rainbows. From the waterfall, we can return the way we came. There is another option how to reach the waterfall. Some people prefer to drive up the Butakovsky Gorge and do a hike to the waterfall. In that case you don’t have to cross Komissarov Pass and it will be easier for the beginners. You should turn off the main road that leads to Medeo to the left a little bit down the restaurant “Bellagio” and the last bus stop of the route #29.