Readers of certain sections of the AAJ may notice references to the “Wala maps” and to the numbered peaks labeled on those maps. Polish mountaineer Jerzy Wala created maps from the Karakoram, Hindu Kush, and other ranges over many decades. Even in the age of Google Earth, these maps provide useful orientation to little-explored ranges, valleys, and glaciers. And in places where few mountains are named, Wala’s peak numbers remain the standard reference points—at least until a mountain is climbed and gets a name of its own.

Born in 1930, Wala began creating his maps in the 1960s, with field work performed during numerous Polish expeditions to the Greater Ranges. Subsequently, over the years, Wala compiled his maps and others, along with photos and articles documenting mountainous areas, into loosely bound collections. These references are annotated in Polish, but also supplemented with articles and notes in English and other languages, and will be useful to climbers from anywhere in the world who are researching the history and climbing possibilities of little-traveled ranges.

Most of Wala’s works are in the collections of the American Alpine Club Library and other institutions, but the binders are fragile and may not be available for loans. Now, the AAC Library has scanned most of these documents and will be making them available here. The collections are organized geographically and are briefly described below, with keywords for subranges, major mountains, and glaciers. Each can be downloaded as a PDF.

Thanks to Janusz Majer, American Alpine Club Library director Katie Sauter and her staff and volunteers, and of course to Jerzy Wala for making this resource available to the world’s climbers.

HINDU RAJ

Chiantar Glacier and Darkot Hinduraj, 1st Edition, 2022.

Mountains of the Hindu Raj surrounding the long Chiantar Glacier, which flows east to west into the Yarkhun River valley, just south of the Wakhan Corridor of Afghanistan. Also the extensive mountains surrounding the village of Darkot. Peaks include Koyo Zom, Thui, Garmush, Kachqiant, and Ghamobar. Download the PDF (162 MB). 

KARAKORAM — Ghujerab Mountains

Ghujerab Mountains, Collection of orographical sketch maps from years 1990 – 2018.

Extensive collection of maps, photos, and articles covering the Ghujerab ranges, north of Shimshal in the far northern Karakoram. Includes the Khunjerab, Shuijerab, Karun Koh, and Tupodan subgroups. Download the PDF (162 MB).