The team's high point on Argan Kangri. The summit slopes
might not look very steep but this huge easy-angled snow slope can be
particularly dangerous in avalanche conditions.
September 24, 2001
Report by Chris Bonington (unedited)
Base Camp
Final Expedition Report
On 20 September Jim Lowther, Divyesh Muni, Cyrus Schroff, Samgyal Sherpa and I waded through knee deep snow up the Central Arganglas Glacier to Argan Kangri. The snow had not consolidated since the storm and the risk of
avalanche on the huge snow slope leading to the summit appeared too
dangerous to be justifiable. We therefore decided to turn back and dropped
down to advance base to find the two Marks.
In view of the international situation and the fact that we now have winter
conditions with the snow not clearing from the glaciers or the steepest
slopes we have decided to head for home. It has been a superb expedition
with everyone getting on really well together, one major first ascent of the Argan Eiger by Mark Richey and Mark Wilford, two other first ascents by
Divyesh Muni, Cyrus Schroff, Satya Dam and Vrijendra Lingwal. Harish Kapadia has explored the Rassa Glacier. Jim Lowther and I have done an awful lot of walking and reached the head of the Phunangma Glacier.