Central Hindu Kush. There was considerable climbing activity in the central Hindu Kush of Afghanistan in 1969. I have been able to find out the following up to this time. The French had for the first time some climbing successes there; M. Gravost climbed to the main summit of Koh-e-Bandaka (22,450 feet) on August 12. At the same time a Japanese expedition of the Shizuoku Mountain Club Shonda was climbing in that group; on August 4 they made a new route, the northwest face of Koh-e-Bandaka. The Austrian Tourist Club expedition was also in the same group, where they climbed Koh-e-Ka-Laghn (18,740 feet) and P 5721 or Koh-e-Sar-Madan (18,770 feet) in the Kog-e-Ghas chain. In Nuristan the German G. Hofsäss climbed with a companion four peaks from 16,700 to 17,700 feet in height; these two also made the second ascent of Koh-i-Askival (19,259 feet). The Overmire group made the third ascent of P 5881 (NF 13; 19,295 feet) and the first ascent of P 5585 (18,323 feet; see Munjan-Sashgal map 1:100,000). (Mountain of January, 1970 tells that Englishman Dave Angus died of pneumonia during an attempt on Mir Samir. – Editor.) Members of an expedition from Barcelona climbed two 16,000ers in the Koh-e-Baba range near Bamian.

Wolfgang Frey, Naturfreunde