IRAQI
KURDISTAN
For many, the lure of the mountains and the snow is enough to capture ones attention. When that snow is located in some of the most remote and beautiful regions of the world, the lure can become a passion. Iraqi Kurdistan is this exact place where snow meets the mountains.
Just like the mountain ranges of South America, Europe, and North America, the mountains bring protection and the snow brings life giving water. Many of these places are in arid climates that provide for the best snow and the elevations that the mountains provide offer the perfect slopes for snow to fall and accumulate. Kurdistan is this very place.
Along the northeastern border of Iraq lies Kurdistan and part of the Zagros Mountain Range. It's these mountains that capture the imagination of any who have seen the pictures and most definitely has tempted those who have experienced this escape to the mountains and enjoyed the sanctuary that they provide. It is here that you can truly Ski Iraq.
The mountain town of Choman near the border with Iran is similar in spirit to any other mountain town in the world. The spirit and feeling in Choman is the same that exists in the ski communities of Telluride, Revelstoke, Chamonix, Mad River Glen or Killington, or Gstaad, Zermatt, Val Gardena and Gjeravica. This is what has brought us to ski here in Iraq, the spirit of the mountains. It is here that we found how beautiful snow can be in Kurdistan and even more importantly, how wonderful our new Kurdish friends are.
It's the same wonderful people here in the mountains of Kurdistan that greet us with warmth and hospitality.
Some have skis, some don't, but we are sure that we will all have a wonderful time in the mountains. We look forward to exploring more of Halgurd-Sakran National Park and helping as many people who wish to learn more about ski mountaineering, avalanche training, and snow safety.
Come with us on our journey into Kurdistan and Ski Iraq with us!
THE SPIRIT
AND FEELING
IN CHOMAN
