Region: China and Tibet

Jez Thornley with Ian Gibb and Felix Hoddinott (March-April 2006)

Unseasonably heavy snowfall one week before this team arrived in Sichuan Province created high risk avalanche conditions on the approach to Peak 5609m, one of their prime objectives, so they turned their attention to other peaks. They made the first ascent of Dorsal Peak (5050m) via its NW Ridge (PD+), and what they thought was the first ascent of Ding Ding Peak (5202m) via its SW Ridge (AD) - until they found signs of an unknown previous visitor on the summit. An attempt on Peak 5260m via its South Flank/West Ridge had reached c.5000m when a sudden deterioration in weather prompted a rapid retreat.