Arganglas 2001

This was the first mountaineering team ever to visit the Nubra Valley of Ladakh, near the Siachen Glacier in the Eastern Karakoram. Travelling by road from Leh, they crossed the Khardung La, one of the highest motorable roads in the world, to establish a base camp at 5,300m on a dry lake bed at the foot of the Phunangma Glacier. Operating as small independent parties, from here a wide area was explored, with first ascents of Abale Peak, 6,360m, Amale Peak, 6,312m, and Yamandaka, 6,218m, which was climbed by a serious route up its N Face which was named Barbarossa. Unfortunately, an attempt on the highest peak, Argan Kangri, 6,789m, had to be abandoned at 6,200m because of soft unconsolidated snow.