Climbs in the La Lung and Ringor Valleys, Ladakh, 1980. In July 1980 Mike Tait, Dick Price and I travelled up the Suru River and set up a Base Camp in the La Lung valley at the point opposite the junction of the main La Lung Glacier with a side glacier entering from the east. A day-trip was made by its north ridge up the southernmost of two peaks, separating the La Lung Glacier from the Chilung Glacier. Though recorded as 6000 meters (19,685 feet), our estimate would be 5500 meters (18,045 feet). With bivouac gear, we headed up the eastern side glacier. From its head, Tait and I climbed a peak of about 6000 meters, having gained access to a large snow basin via a small icefall. From the basin we ascended the west ridge. From the La Lung we moved into another valley which drains into the Suru at a point opposite Kun. The local people call it the “Ringor” valley. Price and I climbed an ice spire on the ridge dividing the Suru from the Hang Chu. This was a satellite peak of the highest mountain in the Ringor and was almost 6000 meters.

Kevin Helm, New Zealand Alpine Club