Region: Central Asia & The Far East

Es Tresidder (with Neal Crampton, Blair Fyffe and Guy Robertson) July-August 2002

There is only one recorded ascent of Kyzyl Asker, 5842m, in the Western Kokshaal-Too - siege style in 1985, as part of the Russian competition scene. This team hoped to climb a new route on the 1500m West Face using more modern techniques, but the vehicle taking them in could not get to their intended base camp due to extremely boggy conditions. They did however reach the 1200m SE Face, which was attempted by Robertson & Tresidder, who climbed a number of pitches (up to Grade VII), reaching approximately mid-height before aborting due to danger from rapidly thawing ice. Meanwhile, Crampton and Fyffe made the second ascent of the N Face of Pic Babuchka, c.5300m, and also the first ascent of the N Ridge of Pt .4850, a peak previously climbed via its W Ridge by a Russian team. Both these routes were c.700m TD Scottish V and, being N facing, were not affected by the thaw.
[This expedition received the Nick Estcourt Memorial Award for 2002]