In January 2024, Grzegorz Bielejec, Piotr Tomala, and I reached the Shimshal Valley and on the 14th began our approach from Ziarat (ca 2,735m) up the Southeast Karun Valley. In summer a wild river flows through a narrow canyon in this valley, and it was believed passage to the upper valley would only be feasible in winter.

On January 16, we reached base camp (4,820m, 36°34'17.03"N, 75° 9'1.65"E) at the terminal moraine of the Hidden Glacier, as designated on Jerzy Wala’s sketch map to the Karun Koh Group. On the 18th we moved north up the Hidden Valley and deposited gear at 5,500m, then on the 21st made a camp at 5,700m at a wide saddle on the divide with the Spesyngov Valley to the north. There was a strong wind, and by morning the temperature had dropped to -40°C.

On the 22nd we climbed along the northwest ridge of Peak 132 (6,043m, 36°34'47.15"N, 75°10'32.51"E) as far as 5,900m, where we left a rope before returning to camp. Grzegorz visited a pass to the southwest of camp, located directly above the point at 5,500m in the Hidden Valley where we had made the gear deposit. He took photographs, notably of an old cairn, which we surmise was probably made by people approaching from the Spesyngov Valley. Unfortunately, when he took off his gloves to take the photos, his fingers were severely frostbitten. Due to this incident, we were evacuated by two helicopters from the valley and flown to Gilgit.

—Robert Cholewa, Poland

Editor's Note: In July 2024, Peak 132 was climbed by an international team, ascending the west face. They named the peak Mashallah Sar. See the report here.