Chiling II 2024 North Face Expedition

The expedition arrived in India on 12 September, established base camp in the Lalung Valley on 20 September, and an advanced base camp the following day. On 23 September, Wright and Hutchins climbed Chiling I (6349m) via the 1978 Italian Route on the south ridge at roughly AD-. The expedition then made an attempt on the north face of Chiling II (6253m) where they found conditions to be extremely unfavourable with a lack of ice and an abundance of poor-quality rock and sugary snow. They retreated after approximately 500m of difficult, dangerous and unenjoyable climbing. The expedition then prepared to attempt a route on the east side of the mountain, but before doing so received the unfortunate news that American climber Michael Gardner - a close friend of the expedition - had fallen to his death on Jannu East (7710m). In light of this, it was decided that the expedition was best concluded early. The team quit India on 15 October.