Region: Central Asia and The Far East

Paul Hudson with Ian Arnold, Ken Findlay, Susan Jensen, Paul Lyons and William Parsons (July-August 2004)

Once again, this leader selected a relatively unfrequented area for his exploratory expedition - the Zaalaiskiy range in the far south of Kyrgyzstan. They had originally planned to operate from the Nura Glacier, but actually went to the even less visited western end of the range, close to the Tajikistan border, where they climbed 10 snow peaks up to 5513m and with grades ranging from F to AD and Scottish III. Although nothing was known about previous ascents, several summits were adorned with 'piles of stones that did not look natural' so probably only 3 were first ascents.