19th FGA: Meeting with Bartosz Malinowski - The Transcaucasian Trail (TCT) — Grand Trail of the Caucasus — Georgia

In 2022, Bartosz Malinowski started hiking on the still non-existent TCT trail in Georgia, crossing on foot and laying out a more than 1000 km trail running through the endless mountains of the Caucasus.The Great Caucasus Trail (TCT) will be - (it is not known when) - a world-class long-distance hiking trail with a length of more than 3000 km, running along the Greater and Lesser Caucasus and connecting about twenty national parks and protected areas in the region. Bordering Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the region known as the Caucasus, South Caucasus or Transcaucasia is one of the most biologically, culturally and linguistically diverse regions in the world — and yet few have had the opportunity to explore it. Now, united by a shared vision of a network of long-distance trails across the region, a growing community of local and international hikers, cartographers and conservation activists are putting this hidden gem on the map to ensure the region's landscapes and heritage are enjoyed by future generations. TCT has been actively developing since 2015.

Bartosz Malinowski, mountain guide. He works in the Himalayas of Nepal, India and Pakistan as a leader, organizer of treks and expeditions and as a mountain guide. He organized and led more than 50 expeditions in Asia and South America. In 2007 he covered 2500 km on foot following the Arch of the Carpathians from southern Romania to Bratislava. In 2010, he co-organized the expedition following the great escape from the Soviet camp of Witold Gliński Long Walk Expedition from Yakutsk to Calcutta, India. For 6 months, he traveled 8,000 km through Yakutia, Siberia, Mongolia, China, Tibet, Nepal and the Himalayas giving permanent coverage to the Third Polish Radio Program. It observes and tracks the changes taking place in the lives of the nomads of Mongolia in Central Asia and Afghanistan. In 2013, he crossed the Chadar — an icy road on the frozen Zanskar River in the Indian Himalayas. Originator and coordinator of the Great Himalayan Trail 2015-2019 program, within which he traveled and marked more than 3500 km crossing the Himalayas of Nepal, India, Kashmir, Pakistan and Bhutan. Co-author of the book “The Great Himalayan Trail 120 Days Hiking Through Nepal”. On a daily basis, he coordinates the work of the Chilloutdoor Group.