Feature Article AAJ
Bluebell: Freeing the North Norwegian Buttress of Mt. Index Washington, Cascades

I didn’t expect to feel so elated and relieved as I scrambled up the final stretch of Mt. Index’s North Norwegian Buttress (NNB) for the first time on July 28. Although plenty of work lay ahead—days of cleaning, trundling, and bolting—the element ...

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| Published 2023 | Author Nathan Hadley


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Concord Tower, Southwest Face, Up in Arms Washington, North Cascades

On June 4, Michael Telstad and I ventured up the southwest face of Concord Tower in the Liberty Bell group. Our route, which is now perhaps the closest to the Blue Lake trailhead on the west side of Washington Pass, starts in the gully between Con...

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| Published 2023 | Author Gabe Aeschliman


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Bonanza Peak, West Face of Southwest Summit, The Cascadian Route Washington, North Cascades

In late August, Sam Boyce and I took a three-day weekend to climb a new route on the west face of Bonanza Peak’s southwest summit (9,320’). The Cascadian Route (V 5.10+) gains over 2,000’ in 16 pitches and 2,800’ of climbing. Our route is looker’...

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| Published 2023 | Author Eric Wehrly


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Prusik Peak, Prayer for a Friend, Free Ascent Washington, Stuart Range

Photo by Victoria Kohner-Flanagan Prayer for a Friend, a striking line on the southwest face of Prusik Peak, had been waiting for a free ascent for 20 years, ever since Fitz Cahall opened the route at 5.12- C1 in 2003, along with Becca Cahall...

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| Published 2023 | Author Adrian Vanoni


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Cutthroat Peak, East Face, The Swarm Washington, North Cascades

On July 3, Alex Perz and I set out to climb a new route on the east face of Cutthroat Peak (8,050’), near Washington Pass. We hiked two miles from Highway 20, then cut right into the large basin to the east of the peak. Alex, having never climbed ...

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| Published 2023 | Author Justin Willis


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Lake Ann Buttress, Central Pillar Washington, North Cascades

With world-class alpine climbing right out the back door, my enduring curiosity about the Lake Ann Buttress struck friends as lunacy. The comments included “The rock is choss” and “Beckey said it’s repulsive.” But after staring up at the 1,000’ bu...

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| Published 2022 | Author Jere Burrell


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Girls Mountain, Sister Spire, East Face, Bing Bong Buttress Alaska, Chugach Mountains

Sister Spire, a detached gray tower protruding from the south shoulder of Girls Mountain (6,134’), rises to a modest 5,580’. However, the sheer, triangular east face towers about 1,000’ above the Worthington Glacier, near Thompson Pass. Steep head...

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| Published 2023 | Author August Franzen


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Thiel Peak, First Recorded Ascent Alaska, Coast Mountains, Boundary Ranges

On July 3, Matt Callahan made a solo ascent of Thiel Peak (5,910’; 58°41’49.0”N, 134°45’31.8”W). Callahan approached from the north end of the Juneau road system via the Davies Creek drainage, reached the saddle between Thiel and Dean Peak (Peak 5...

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| Published 2023 | Author The Editors


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
The Shark's Tooth, First Winter Ascent Alaska, Coast Mountains, Boundary Ranges

The Shark’s Tooth (ca 5,700’, 58°43’4.45”N, 134°45’32.11”W) is a mountain that continues to lure me. Matt Callahan and I made its first ascent via the southeast ridge in 2018, and Evan Hartung, Mike Miller, Ben Still, and I opened the south rib in...

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| Published 2023 | Author Dylan Miller


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Seahpo Peak, Tanuki Ridge Washington, North Cascades

The southeast ridge of Seahpo Peak is one of the longest continuous ridges in the continental United States. Sprouting out of the Cascadian jungle, it rises more than 4,000’ over 1.5 miles of horizontal travel before reaching the summit of 7,441’ ...

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| Published 2023 | Author Sam Boyce


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Quimsa Cruz, Ski Ascents and Descents Bolivia, Cordillera Quimsa Cruz

On April 23, Mikiko Fischel, our camp cook Lucrecia Chambi, and I camped by the shores of Laguna Huallatani in the central part of the southern Quimsa Cruz. The following day, Mikiko and I skied the glacier northeast of the lake to reach Coricampa...

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| Published 2023 | Author Josh Fischel


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Pico Milluni, North Summit, Northeast Face; Chaupi Orco Ascent Bolivia, Cordillera Real

On August 24, Gregg Beisly and I climbed a short new route up the northeast face of the northern summit of Pico Milluni (ca 5,450m), following a prominent corner system (4 pitches, New Zealand 21). However, the main goal of my visit to Bolivia was...

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| Published 2023 | Author Erik Monasterio


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Mururata, South Face, Matti Ma Felici Bolivia, Cordillera Real

On July 4, 2022, Maria Teresa Llampa Vasquez and I climbed a new route on the south face of Mururata (5,871m). [Although always traditionally called the south face, this broad snow/ice wall faces more southwest.] We started near Guias AGMTB, the A...

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| Published 2022 | Author Daniele Assolari


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Huallomen, Southwest Face, Via del Triangolo and Ruta Imantata Bolivia, Cordillera Real

At the start of June 2022, Maria Teresa Llampa Vasquez and I decided to try one of the mixed routes on the southwest face of Huallomen (5,463m). Looking at the face from Condoriri Base Camp, we immediately saw the potential for a new line. We lef...

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| Published 2023 | Author Daniele Assolari


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
La Popa, El Visitante Mexico, Nuevo León

In February 2023, Jacob Cook and Drew Marshall opened another route on the east face of La Popa. El Visitante (7 pitches, 5.13c) is now the hardest route on the wall. The duo dedicated six weeks to exploring the remote desert and establishing the ...

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| Published 2023 | Author Whitney Clark


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Dzashez Kangri and Manlung Kangri India, Ladakh, Eastern Karakoram, Saser Muztagh

Our expedition, jointly organized by the Himalayan Club and Chakram Hikers, uncovered a hidden treasure of unclimbed peaks in the Thangman Lungpa, located in the Saser Muztagh, the easternmost subrange of the Karakoram. In August, Sudeep Barve, Mo...

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| Published 2023 | Author Divyesh Muni


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Muchu Chhish, Attempts Pakistan, Karakoram, Batura Muztagh

In July, two teams attempted unclimbed Muchu Chhish (7,453m) in the Batura Muztagh, north of the Hunza Valley. As with previous expeditions, they followed a prominent ridge that extends to the south from the Batura Wall. This was the route followe...

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| Published 2023 | Author Lindsay Griffin


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Trivor, Attempt on North Face Pakistan, Karakoram, Hispar Muztagh

In June, Thomas Franchini made a solo attempt on the north face of Trivor (7,728m) in the Hispar Muztagh. He approached up the Momhil Valley, where he had climbed the previous year (AAJ 2023). Unfortunately, in June and July 2023 the conditions we...

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| Published 2023 | Author Lindsay Griffin


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Kjerag, Silverback Norway, Rogaland

On the north face of Kjerag, the 1,100m wall rising above the south shore of the Lysefjord, Jon Egil Auestad and Jan Eivind Danielsen (Norway) completed a new route on September 9 and 10. The two had explored the upper route earlier in the summer,...

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| Published 2023 | Author Dougald MacDonald


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Gunj-e-Dur Valley, Tuki Sar and AK Sar Pakistan, Karakoram, Ghujerab Mountains, Shuijerab Subgroup

(A) Peak 282 and (B) Peak 283 (Tuki Sar, 5,850m). The ascent of Tuki Sar was near the right skyline. The climbers then traversed to Peak 281 (AK Sar), hidden behind Peak 282. Photo by Jacob Dyer. In August, after over a year of planning, Will...

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| Published 2023 | Author Jacob Dyer