P2, second ascent, via partial new route. On October 13 Ukrainians Sergei Bublyk, Sergei Kovalev, Aleksander Lavrynenko, and Orest Verbytsky, from a five-member expedition led by Kovalev, made the second ascent of P2 (a.k.a. Simnang Himal; 6,251m) via the east ridge, which they approached from the Lidanda Glacier to the south. The first ascent of this peak, which lies on the long east ridge of Peak 29 southeast of Manaslu, was made in May 2001, the year in which it was opened, by Mistislav Gorbenko, Vadim Leontiev, Sergei Pugachov, and Mikhaylo Zagimyak. Those four Ukrainians reached the col on the east ridge from the Pungen Glacier to the north and were part of a large expedition that eventually climbed a new route on Manaslu (AAJ 2002, p.405).

Elizabeth Hawley, AAC Honorary Member, Nepal.