Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, India—Sikkim, Kangchenjunga Ascent and Tragedy

Kangchenjunga Ascent and Tragedy. A 62-member team from the Indian Army Assam Rifles, including three women, was led by Major General Prem Lal Kukrety. They left Gangtok on March 8, heading for the northeast face of Kangchenjunga, the route previo...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
United States, California—Sierra Nevada, Moro Rock, East Face, Sequoia National Park, "Piece de Renaissance"

Moro Rock, East Face, Sequoia National Park, “Pièce de Renaissance.” In mid April during a spell of clear weather, Jon Gatti, John Vargas and I completed this 9-pitch route just left of the climbs, Moro Oro and Full Metal Jacket. Fantastic face cl...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
South America, Peru-Cordillera Blanca, Huandoy Este, 1988

Huandoy Este, 1988. In May, 1988, Adrian Baker and I climbed a new route on the southeast face of Huandoy Este. This direct, 900-meter-high line to the summit had some truly frightening snow formations. We abseiled down the north face.Graham E. Li...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Europe, Switzerland, Monte Rosa

Kl. Doldenhorn. John St. Boalt, of Ohio, joined E. v. Fellen- berg and P. Gosset, of Bern, in an attempt on the Doldenhorn, May 27th, 1862, resulting in the first ascent ofthe lower W. peak. Their guides were Christian Lauener, Johann Bischof and ...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, California—Sierra Nevada, Keeler Needle, East Face

Keeler Needle, East Face. In September 1973 John Weiland and I made a new route on the east face of Keeler Needle. We started on the right side of the face and climbed six pitches all free except for 30 feet up into the base of the huge red dihedr...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, California, New Yosemite Routes

New Yosemite Routes. Eric Kohl added four new routes to Yosemite’s walls in 1993. In April, he soloed Indecision Time (VI, 5.7, A4), just east of the Ribbon Falls amphitheater. The eight-pitch route climbs the center of the Hourglass formation and...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, Washington—Cascades, Snow Creek Wall

Snow Creek Wall. A direct route up the 900-foot Snow Creek Wall near Leavenworth was completed by Fred Beckey and Ron Niccoli in two days of climbing. The upper section was featured by a 300-foot solitary crack on a flawless wall that required the...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Nepal, Everest Post-Monsoon Ascents by a Mexican, Japanese and Koreans

Everest Post-Monsoon Ascents by a Mexican, Japanese and Koreans. On October 13, Mexican Carlos Carsolio, leader of a four-man team, reached the summit of Everest by the South Col route. That same day and by the same route, Japanese Toichiro Mitani...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, Canada, Interior Ranges, Mount Nelson, East Ridge, Southern Purcells

Mount Nelson, East Ridge, Southern Purcells. The east ridge of Mount Nelson is the most direct route to the summit starting from Paradise Mine. On June 23 Hans Gyr and I left the mine, followed the ridge and traversed along the southern slopes of ...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Nepal, Gangapurna Attempt

Gangapurna Attempts. There were two unsuccessful expeditions to Gangapuma (7455 meters, 24,457 feet) in the post-monsoon period. Eight Spaniards were led by Francisco José Palacios. After getting to 5900 meters on the north face on October 17, the...


Accident Reports ANAM
Falling Rock, Dislodged on Rappel, Wisconsin, Devil's Lake State Park

FALLING ROCK, DISLODGED ON RAPPEL Wisconsin, Devil’s Lake State ParkOn September 14, 1988, Kelly Hill (20) fractured his ankle when he dislodged a rock while rappelling from West Bluff. (Source: Devil’s Lake State Park)(Editor’s Note: Our thanks t...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, California, Sierra Nevada, The Needles, Southwest Face of Witch, The Witch Doctor

The Needles, Southwest Face of Witch, The Witch Doctor. In June Mike Grabor, Rick Ridgeway and I climbed this improbable-looking route. The southwest face is distinguished by a prominent bomb-bay chimney on the upper-half. Our route, however, stay...


Accident Reports ANAM
Stranded, Climbing Alone, Free Solo Climbing, Off Route, Inadequate Equipment, Colorado, First Flatiron

STRANDED, CLIMBING ALONE, FREE SOLO CLIMBING, OFF ROUTE, INADEQUATE EQUIPMENTColorado, First FlatironLate in the afternoon on December 10 Xavier Rojas (20) became stranded while free soloing the Direct (Standard) East Face (5.6), a six- pitch rout...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Pakistan, Nanga Parbat Attempts

Nanga Parbat Attempts. Few of the expeditions to Nanga Parbat this year were successful. Among those which did not get to the summit were parties made up of British and Swedes led by Michael Scott, Germans under the leadership of Fritz Schreinmose...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Tibet, Himalaya, Cho Oyu Ski Descent and Discussion of 8,000-meter Ski Descents

Cho Oyu ski descent and discussion of 8,000-meter ski descents. Fewer than 40 people have skied from an elevation of 8,000m or greater. In 1978 Nicolas Jaeger and Jean Afanassieff quietly made tracks into history when they strapped their skis to t...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, Washington, Cascade Mountains, Little Johannesburg, Plumline Buttress

Little Johannesburg, Plumline Buttress. Unnamed on maps, this 7945-foot monolith sits directly across the valley from Easy Pass, just inside the boundary of North Cascade National Park. On August 21 Steve Costie, Chris Martenson, Ken Small and I m...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
Asia, Pakistan, Nanga Parbat Climbed by Bulgarians

Nanga Parbat Climbed by Bulgarians. An expedition of five Bulgarians led by Minko Zankovski climbed the normal route on the Diamir Face of Nanga Parbat. Camps were established at 4800, 6000, 6700 and 7400 meters. After setting up Camp IV on August...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, Idaho, Sawtooth Range, Silicon Tower, Verita Ridge

Silicon Tower, Verita Ridge. On a long one-day trek in September, 1961 into Goat Lakes, Louis Stur, Jim Ball and I climbed the west face of Silicon Tower, the very prominent tower in the lowest point of Verita Ridge, north of Warbonnet Peak. Later...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
North America, United States, California - Sierra Nevada, Pinnacles in Little Slide Canyon

Pinnacles in Little Slide Canyon. In July, Joe Kiskis and I trudged to the head of Little Slide Canyon from Twin Lakes. Originally interested in something of greater magnitude, we were diverted by the lure of the beautiful pinnacles sprouting from...


Climbs And Expeditions AAJ
South America, Argentine and Chilean Patagonia, Fitz Roy

Fitz Roy. On February 28 Alan and Adrian Burgess and I climbed Fitz Roy via the American route; this was the third time on that route and the ninth ascent. We had difficulty in digging a snow cave in the usual place near Terray's route but found a...