A telephoto view of the highest peak visible from most of Almaty. The peak is less than 10 miles - measured horizontally - from central Almaty. There is a higher peak further east (left in the photo) that is blocked from view by lower - "only" 10,000 foot - ridges.

Of course getting from one to the other is not quite like driving 10 miles on a freeway. Measured along the path one might take to the peak, the distance is probably more than tripled, not to mention the 12,000-foot difference in altitude.