Jopuno

Although Jopuno (5936m), has had three previous ascents, they had all been via its ridges, but this team hoped that the recent designation of certain peaks in Western Sikkim as ‘Alpine Peaks’ would allow them to explore the peak’s unknown east side. However, they found the approach unfeasible due to extremely difficult vegetation, so they turned their attention to nearby Lama Lamani. On this, Cohen and Swienton climbed the SW spur to a notch, then traversed left on snow to gain the North summit (5655m), while Hamilton and Kennedy continued up the harder mixed crest to reach the summit ridge which they followed to the top at PD or AD-. All four descended via the NW Face. They also climbed a peak of c.5500m near the col between Jopuno and Lama Lamani, and investigated the West Ridge of Jopuno, but were climbing too slowly to reach the summit.