Asia, Afghanistan, Sad Ishtragh Group, Darrah-e-Qalat

Publication Year: 1976.

Sad Ishtragh Group, Darrah-e-Qalat. The North of England Expedition was made up of Michael Anderson, New Zealand, Miss Terry Funk, Switzerland, Michael Hosted, my wife Dawn and me. We drove to Kabul and used local transport from Kunduz to Eshkashem. We made a one- day approach march south into the Darrah-e-Qalat, which terminates in the Sad Ishtragh massif. We had bad weather at first but made the following first ascents: Kohe Nova (5200 meters or 17,061 feet; one mile north of Wala 91) via east face on July 19 by P. and D. Bean; Kohe Barabar (5050 meters or 16,568 feet; one mile northeast of Wala 91) via south couloir on July 20 by P. and D. Bean; and Kohe Akhery (5100 meters or 16,733 feet; Wala Peak 98) via north face on July 24 by Hosted, Funk. Anderson and I made the second ascent of P 4750 (15,584 feet; Wala Peak 107) on July 24. We also found and crossed an ice pass (4885 meters) connecting the Qalat and Syarpalas Glaciers and made other minor ascents.

Paul Bean, Cleveland Mountaineering Club, England