Kazakh Apogee 2000

In previous years the Royal Engineers Military Survey Department had organised major exploratory mountaineering expeditions to Ecuador, India and Chile; but for their Millennium Expedition they selected the Dzungarian Alatau of Southern Kazakhstan. Despite the collapse of a bridge under their 4x4 bus during the approach, a base camp was established in the Abay Glacier Valley, from which team members climbed 15 peaks between 3,330m and 4,622m, 7 being first ascents. They also explored an area covering 600sq km, collecting data to populate a Geographic Information System (GIS) which will eventually be accessible via their website.