Asia, India, Fifth Ascent of Trisul, Garhwal, and Ascents in Lahul

Publication Year: 1957.

Fifth Ascent of Trisul, Garhwal, and ascents in Lahul. The Bavarian brothers, Adolf and Fritz Hieber, and the Bombay lawyer, Keki Bunshah, with Sherpa Gyalzen Minchung ( H. C. No. 163) and his brother Wangdi, were active in the mountains just south of the Rishi Nala in June 1956. After two unsuccessful attempts, Bunshah and Gyalzen reached the top of Trisul, 23,360 feet, on June 12. Five days later the Hiebers and both Sherpas repeated the ascent. With the Englishman John Albiston, they attempted 22,490-foot Mrigthuni on the southern rim of the Nanda Devi basin. Bunshah and the Hiebers attempted Bethartholi’s northeast ridge, Fritz Hieber and Gyalzen reaching the south peak, 20,729 feet, of this 20,840-foot mountain. Bad weather drove the party off Devistan, 21,500 feet, after they had reached about 19,500 feet on the west face.

In the same region Gurdial Singh’s expedition to Mrigthuni was brought to a tragic end when N. Chuckerbutty died from illness July 14.

After the beginning of the monsoon, the Hiebers and Albiston visited Lahul, where they climbed what they describe as the main peak of the Kulti valley, 19,791 feet, and six mountains over 16,400 feet.