Alichursky Mountains Ski Expedition

Exploration of the North Alichursky region of the Tajikistan Pamirs in the vicinity of the Bazar-Dara Pass, visiting remote unexplored side valleys, and unclimbed mountains near the Bazar-Dara lake. After being responsible for organising the expedition, unfortunately Alex Reid was unable to take part, and Derek Buckle took over leadership. The team flew to Osh in Kygyzstan, and drove via Sary-Tash and the Kyzlart Pass into Tajikistan and to the town of Alichur. Three camps were established at 4057m, 4349m and 4525m, and these were used for exploration over 14 days. From Camp 2 Jachmich soloed Pk 4982 via its S ridge, almost entirely on skis, and named it Pik Perestroika. From Camp 3 all three explored a side valley, and Buckle and Jachmich skinned up the S face of Pk 4918 to an awkward traverse to a rocky summit at Alpine PD. They named this Pk Glasnost. Returning to Camp 2 the party skinned to a 4856m col, from which Buckle and Jachmich climbed Pk 5021, and named it Pik Druzhba. At Camp 1 they found snow cover had deteriorated, and they left for home.