Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

---

Towering peaks divide cities. Old mining roads carve high-elevation paths that lead to an occasional yurt settlement - best navigated on two wheels or from the back of horse. Kyrgyzstan remains an untamed corner of the globe that causes an inevitable questioning of the necessity for modern-day comforts. Riding in harsh landscapes draws you close to the beauty of elective suffering in exchange for closeness to wild places and the companions you share them with.



This short film glances into the vastness of the country as seen from the saddle of a bike last summer… accompanied by an old Kyrgyz poem giving tribute to peaks that we traversed. The poem is called “The Mountains” by Alykul Osmonov.



Film & Edit: Joel Barger ( @joelbarger_ )

Narration: Daniel Torobekov ( @danitoro312 )

Fellow Riders: Miron Golfman ( @miron_golfman ) Alex McCormack ( @a_mccormack )

Please visit: chrisburkard.com to see more work, and follow here:

FACEBOOK: on.fb.me/1wcwNW5
INSTAGRAM: bit.ly/1vpibBX
BLOG: bit.ly/1FdCQJ7