༄Zanskar is an ancient kingdom in western Ladakh, with most people visiting the region to interact with the fascinating locals, and experience a subsistence pastoral lifestyle that has persisted for the past ~1200 years. We will do the same, and do some great climbing and trekking as well. We will arrive in Leh, acclimatize on the surrounding hills for a few nights, drive to Zanskar, and trek into a base camp. Once we are in base camp, we will set to rock climbing, ice climbing, and then finally climbing a wild 6000 meter peak. This is a great first Himalayan experience, and also a new one for the Himalayan veteran that wants to pick up some new climbing skills in a spectacular location. All in two weeks. Join us.

FIRST ASCENTS?

For many of the peaks and certainly rock faces in Zanskar there are no records of prior ascents.  We also oftentimes find no evidence of other humans visiting the summits of peaks before.  Instead of looking at these peaks as our being the first to put boot prints on the summit, we like to simply enjoy the solitude of the region.  With the popularized trekking routes being fairly busy from day to day in Ladakh, we usually don’t see another soul in the Zanskar region, save for a local boy out searching for his grazing yaks.

TRUST

Climbing a peak at 4000+ meters is no place to be short on resources.  We make the proper advance preparations to ensure that our team will be properly cared for, from airport to summit to airport.

FEATURES

• Zanskar region 6000m ascent
• Spectacular camps in remote grassy meadows next to snow melt streams
• Team mentality
• Instruction in mountaineering for those interested in learning or honing their skills in glacier travel, crampon technique, ice axe use, and the “nuts and bolts” of Himalayan mountaineering.
• Instruction in multi-pitch alpine rock climbing
• Instruction in ice climbing
• Suitable for beginners

Maitreya Buddha, two stories in height, in one of the monasteries we will visit while acclimatizing in the Indus valley.