Asia, India–Kashmir and Ladakh, La Schal

Publication Year: 1981.

La Schal. Our expedition was made up of Pierre Cier, Dr. Marc Koch, his wife Elisabeth, my wife Francine and me. Our objective was La Schal, near the Hagshu La, a pass which links the Chenab and Doda Rivers. The mountain lies just north of the Barnaj peaks. We established Base Camp on August 11 near the La Schal Glacier on the northern approaches of the pass. We fixed 1000 feet of rope between Base and Camp I at 17,400 feet. Camp II was at 18,500 feet above a second glacial plateau. The weather was bad as we advanced the camps. My wife and I set out from Base Camp finally in fine weather on August 20 to join the other three in Camp I. Dr. Koch fell sick and he and his wife descended to Base. My wife, Cier and I continued to Camp II. On August 22 we three attacked the northeast face and climbed to the summit of La Schal (6135 meters, 20,128 feet) after a seven-hour ascent.

Jean-Paul Chassagne, Club Alpin Français