Region: China and Tibet

Tom Chamberlain with David Evans, Dave Hollinger and Dr Andy Sharpe (April-May 2004)

Mick Fowler's success on Siguniang (6250m) in 2002 (MEF Ref: 02/32) has alerted other British mountaineers to the scope offered by the Qionglai Range of Sichuan Province, and this team hoped to climb a new route on the N Spur or the W Ridge of Siguniang itself. However, bad weather intervened, and their attempt on the former was terminated when they met compact slabs overlaid with wet loose snow at 5200m. In view of its length and the continuing bad weather, the W Ridge was not attempted, but two other peaks were tried. On Pt 5672, dangerous avalanche conditions stopped them at 5500m, and on Pt 5700 they reached 5400m before meeting similar conditions. However, they did succeed in climbing both Camel Peaks (c5510m) - snowy mountains with easy mixed ground.