Swachand West Face 1998

On his expedition to Chaukhamba in 1995 (95/07) Yearsley spotted a challenging new route on the 1,400m W Face to the summit of Swachand, 6721m, a peak that had only received one previous ascent. This team found that, in fact, the route offered more of a challenge than had been anticipated - horrendous rock fall. After climbing to UIAA grade V-, Scottish grade 6 and two bivouacs on the face, several near misses and puncture holes in the tent persuaded them to abandon the attempt at 6,100m whilst they were still alive.