Kang Kuru (6,344m). On April 16 Ted Hessler and I made the first ascent of Kang Kuru, the second highest summit in a remote group of mountains called the Jakriojagga Lek in West Mustang. We trekked from Jomson via Kagbeni and Shyangmochen to Ghami (on the main route to Lo Manthang). From here we headed west up the Ghami Khola, forking immediately left up the Dhuya Khola. We camped in this valley at 4,000m and again at 5,000m, before striking south up the hillside to put our final camp on a small glacier at 5,300m. Leaving this camp at 4:00 a.m. on the 16th, we climbed south to the crest of the west ridge of Kang Kuru and followed this to the summit. The 45-50° ridge was largely rocky, with some snow cover. The climbing was not difficult, and we reached the summit at 10:30 a.m.

The mountain is set in the middle of a long range of peaks that encompass the Jakriojagga Lek, Thiram Lek, and Khyoktun Himal; the highest point appears to be Pt. 6,390m a little to the west-northwest of Kang Kuru. Above Ghami we saw no other people.

Pete Athans, AAC