Northern Chuiskiy

The Maashey Valley is virtually unknown, and had never previously been visited by British or American climbers. Hence this enterprising team had no problems in finding something 'new' to climb. They started by putting up two new 23-hour epic routes on Maashey, at 4,177m the highest peak in the Chuiskiy mass: N Ridge (up to VS) and NE Ridge, descent in each case being via the 'normal' W Ridge route (Russian 4A). Moving to the eastern end of the Maashey Wall, they then made first British/American ascents of Burevestnik, 3,700m and Tamma, 3,200m, and finally put up new routes on Ak-Tru, 4,044m and Kurkurek, 3,989m.