ABSTRACT
In Tajikistan's Bartang Valley, some elder residents express nostalgia for a time when the car road did not exist, when there were no private cars, and when most mobilities to, from, and within the Valley were made on foot. These walking trips, lasting for days and with overnight stays along the way, were an occasion to get to know different villages and to become acquainted with the Bartangi population. Slow mobilities entail a sharp sense of community, which is paramount in a context marked by food and energy insecurity, frequent environmental hazards, and strong community resilience. Nowadays, since road closures and car breakdowns are common, solidarity and mutual self-help are still prominent features of im/mobilities in the Valley. Based on one of the author's walking trips as a young man in the Valley, and on both authors’ travelling experiences, interviews with residents, and analysis of local narratives and cultural production, the chapter seeks to address the nexus between long walking trips and socialities in the region, and the way slow mobilities may result in deeper social ties in contexts of remoteness. Emphasizing the Bartangis’ sense of community in the face of remoteness, we also highlight the socioeconomic vulnerabilities and challenges brought about by low physical accessibility.
