Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, Canada, Bugaboos, Northpost Spire, North Face

North post Spire, North Face. When studying aerial photographs, we noted that the north face of Northpost Spire, almost closer to the Bobbie Burns group than to the remainder of the Bugaboos, presented a long unclimbed wall above the terminus of t...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Nepal, Khumbu Region, Mahalangur Himal, Nangpai Gosum I New Route; Dazampa Tse, First Ascent

Nangpai Gosum I new route; Dazampa Tse, first ascent. In the middle of October Slovenian expedition made first ascent of Nangapi Gosum 1 (7,351m) or Pasang Lhamu Peak from the southeast (Nepal side) and also made first ascent of Dazampa Tse (6,295...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Pakistan, K7 Attempt

K7 Attempt. K7 (6934 meters, 22,750 feet) lies at the head of the Charakusa Glacier in the Hushe valley. Japanese climbed it in 1984, but it has resisted nine other attempts. After delays, Britons Bob Brewer, Greg Cotterill, Denis Gleeson, Mark Be...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, Washington, Cascade Mountains, Colchuck Peak, Northeast Ridge and North Face

Colchuck Peak, Northeast Ridge and North Face. On July 15, Ray Lilleby and I approached the peak from Colchuck Lake, ascending toward the Dragontail-Colchuck col to a point just below the Colchuck Glacier. Talus slopes lead to a narrow, snow-fille...


Book Reviews AAJ
The Dolomites

The Dolomites, by C. Douglas Milner, xiv+105 pages of text, 150 photographs by the author (including colored frontispiece), six map-diagrams and end-paper map. London: Robert Hale, 1951. Price, 25/10.This is one of the loveliest illustrated books ...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
South America, Peru, Southern Peru, Cordillera Urubamba, Qujoc (Punta de Lanzadera) and Waqaywilki (Verónica or Padre Eterno)

Qujoc (Punta de Lanzadera) and Waqaywilki (Verónica or Padre Eterno), Cordillera Urubamba. On August 12 Ray Sharpies and I and the American Tom Hendrickson made the first ascent of Qujoc (16,404 feet; formerly known as Punta de Lanzadera) via the ...


Notes AAJ
Asia, China, Sichuan, New Regulations

New regulations. Beginning January 1, 2011, new Chinese regulations make it financially much harder for small parties to attempt virgin peaks in Sichuan. Climbers will face up to five or six times the cost compared with 2010, with the rise in roya...


Book Reviews AAJ
I Come From the Stone Age

I Come From The Stone Age, by Heinrich Harrer. Translated from German by Edward Fitzgerald. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., 1965. 256 pages, 38 pictures, 18 in color, 5 maps—sketch. Price: $6.95. Harrer is an illustration in the best tradition o...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, Canada, Yukon Territory, Mount Logan, Catenary Ridge

Mount Logan, Catenary Ridge. Frank Sarnquist, Al Bergland, Steve Ericson and I had chosen to repeat the popular east ridge of Mount Logan. Though the north side of Logan was clear after eight days of waiting, we were still unable to land at the fo...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, Washington—Olympic Mountains, Sue Peak

Sue Peak. The second highest peak in the seldom visited Bailey Range was first climbed on July 7 by Roy Etten, Jack Christiansen, Dennis Pruitt, and Dan Baker. The party tentatively named the 6950-foot mountain “Sue Peak” in honor of Christiansen’...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, Greenland, Alfred Wegener Peninsula

Alfred Wegener Peninsula. Our expedition was made up of Emil Galehr, Heinz Grasbon, Berhard Grimm, Gerhard and Waltraut Huber, Helmut Koch and me as leader. We were carried by fishing boat from Umanak to Base Camp at Tuperssuatsiait on the western...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Pakistan, Baintha Brakk Ascent

Baintha Brakk Ascent. It was reported that Jean Annequin and Pascal Chataing, both of France, climbed this pillar (c. 6400 meters) in six days (July 1-6). The ascent involved some 30 pitches at up to 7a. (High Mountain Sports 157)


Accident Reports ANAM
Washington, Mt. Erie

Washington, Mt. Erie. On April 8 a group including Robert Wiley was descending the mountain. The group of five lost the trail, and they were descending a rocky gully with some brush. They were close together. A rock was dislodged and the warning c...


Accident Reports ANAM
Fall on Rock, Inadequate Belay, California, Mount Whitney

FALL ON ROCK, INADEQUATE BELAY, POOR COMMUNICATIONCalifornia, Yosemite Valley, Lower Yosemite FallsOn June 24, Raj Dhingra (39), my brother Hugh (34), and I—Dan Sakols (37)— decided to tackle Commitment (three pitches, 5.9), one of the “Five Open ...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, California, High Cathedral Rock, East Face

Higher Cathedral Rock, East Face. In June, Chris Fredericks and Jim Bridwell made the first ascent of the east face of Higher Cathedral Rock, which they rated at NCCS VI, A4, F9.


Accident Reports ANAM
Avalanche-Backcountry Snowboarding, Poor Position, Alaska, Mount St. Elias

AVALANCHE—BACKCOUNTRY SNOWBOARDING, POOR POSITIONAlaska, Mount St. EliasOn April 7, John Griber was carefully working his way down a 45-degree ice face on Mount St. Elias. He turned at the sound of a “swish” above. Forty to 50 feet away, he saw co...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Nepal, Annapurna IV Attempt, 1976

Annapurna IV Attempt, 1979. We were Jaume Serrat, Kim Prunes and I, Catalans, Felipe Uriarte and Martín Zabaleta, Basques, Carlos Buhler, American, and others. We began our approach march from Dumre on the Kathmandu-Pokhara road on October 3, 1979...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
South America, Chilean Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, Central Tower of Paine, Macaroni-Porridge Junction

Central Tower of Paine, Macaroni-Porridge Junction. Our team was composed of three members: Filip Šilhan, Marek Holecek and David Štastný. We left for Patagonia on January 26 with the aim of climbing one of the routes on the 1200-meter east face o...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, California, Yosemite, Wapama Rock, South Face, Hetch Hetchy Valley

Wapama Rock, South Face, Hetch Hetchy Valley. Hetch Hetchy Valley lies a scant 15 air miles from Yosemite Valley, still within the confines of the park, but until April, Hetch Hetchy had never heard the blow of a piton hammer. Both climbers and hi...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, Alaska, McKinley, South Buttress Alternate

McKinley, South Buttress Alternate. Our route may be a valuable alternative for attaining the crest of the South Buttress from the Kahiltna east fork. Our choice was based upon a desire to avoid the objective avalanche hazards to be found on the J...