Eagle Ski Club Ak-Shirak

After planning an expedition to the Kangri Garpo range of Tibet, this team was able to switch to an alternative venue in Kyrgyzstan when much of Tibet was closed early in 2008. The new plan was to make a west-east traverse of the Ak-Shirak range on ski, then strike north to make a circuit of the largely unexplored glacier systems of the North Eastern Ak-Shirak range. Unfortunately high winds and clear days had stripped snow from south-facing slopes, making the intended route impossible. However, they did achieve the first ski crossing of the Kyondy Pass (4,327m) and first ascents of five peaks between 4,767m and 5,004m plus first British ascents of two others of 4,837m and 4,966m, the routes ranging from PD to AD.