Kővári Zsolt Khan Tengri Expedition: What the Dranaz Pass Teaches Us About Reliable Equipment

Zsolt Kővári's expedition to Khan Tengri has reached another significant milestone. In recent days, he crossed the Dranaz Geçidi Pass in Turkey, marking the highest point of his journey so far.

Since departing from Budapest, Zsolt has already covered more than 2000 kilometers by bicycle. The current section of the route takes you through the mountainous areas of northern Turkey, where the environment, weather and terrain conditions are completely different from the previous parts of the route.

The Dranaz Pass lies at an altitude of about 1365 meters, in the Küre Mountains. This densely forested mountain range runs parallel to the Black Sea coast in northern Turkey and forms a natural dividing line between the drier inner Anatolian plateaus and the humid Black Sea region.

Although an elevation of 1365 meters does not in itself represent an extreme alpine level, the character of the landscape made this one of the first truly demanding mountain tests of the expedition. Zsolt entered the mountains from the south, approaching from the inner Anatolian side, and after long ascents and winding serpentines, he began to descend northwards, towards the Black Sea.

At this point, the landscape changes dramatically. The open, arid plateaus gradually give way to dense pine forests, deep valleys and humid mountain roads. Due to the proximity of the Black Sea, rapid and unpredictable weather changes are common in the area – conditions that can be particualrluy taxing during a cycling expedition.

Over the past few days, Zsolt has repeatedly travelled under exceptionally challenging conditions:

• persistent cold rain, 

• dense fog, 

• strong crosswinds, 

• and significant drops in temperature.

  
  

Wet, slippery serpentines and climbs lasting several hours are not only physically challenging but also demand continuous mental focus. In such conditions, clothing can quickly get soaked, while exposure to cold can significantly slow down recovery. At this stage, physical fitness alone is no longer sufficient – reliable equipment and the ability to consciously adapt to changing conditions become just as critical.

These conditions put a serious strain not only on the person, but also on the equipment. Cold temperature, moisture, continuous stress, and temperature changes affect the condition of all technical devices in the long term.

Fall protection equipment used for working at height often operates in very similar environments. The equipment of a specialist working on scaffolding, roofing or industrial facilities is equally exposed to:

• rain, 

• humid air, 

• UV radiation, 

• low temperature, 

• and continuous mechanical stress 

In many cases, the greatest risks are not caused by visible damage, but by gradual effects that can affect the safe use of personal protective equipment over time. Material fatigue, moisture exposure, or environmental stress are often not immediately visible from the outside.

For this reason, it is particularly important that fall protection PPE is inspected regularly and treated not only as a regulatory requirement, but as a genuine safety issue.

Zsolt Kővári’s journey is currently still in the early major mountain phases of the expedition. In the coming months, far more demanding high‑altitude environments and harsher conditions await him among the mountains of Central Asia. The Dranaz Pass has already made it clear, however, that alongside perseverance, thorough preparation, conscious decision‑making, and reliable equipment play a decisive role in undertaking such a challenge. 

Followers can track Zsolt's journey on our Facebook page.

More interesting stories about Kővári Zsolt's journey and the B2TR expedition.