Region: Central Asia & The Far East

Alan Dickinson with Tom Lambert (July-August 2005)

'The best laid plans oft go awry' - especially when conditions on the ground fail to march their appearance on maps and satellite photographs. When this duo eventually reached Monhh Khiarhan (4202m) (Mongolia's second highest mountain) in the Altai Nuruu range, they found that a 70km ridge traverse that had been their prime objective - 'looked rather tame' so they turned their attention to the peak itself. This they climbed from the north over a subsidiary peak (spotting footprints of what may have been a snow leopard en route) and returning the same way. After moving to the Tavanbogd National Park, they attempted a route on Huiten (4374m) the highest peak in Mongolia, but turned back 150m from the summit because of bad weather. However, they did complete what may be a new mixed snow and rock route on a peak of 3542m to its south-west.

[For further information see website: www.mongolia2005.org.uk]