Mustagh Ata 2004!!

Mustagh Ata 2004!!

Expedition Leader: Neil McKearney

Mustagh Ata 7,546m

Starting on 15.06.2004

Members: 6

Mustagh (Muztag) Ata (Father of Ice Mountains) is located in China, close to the Pakistan and Chinese borders.  First summitted in 1956 by a Sino-Russian team it is not a technically difficult mountain but one that offers some very interesting opportunities for a ski descent.

The Team will ascend by the Goldeneye Route opened in 1981 and repeated in 2003 by Chad McFadden.  The descent will be by the same route to make only the third descent on this side of the mountain.

Expedition Team

Neil McKearney:

Splitting his time between Lausanne and Chamonix for the last four years Neil has developed a love for the mountains. Spending most winter weekends snowboarding and climbing in the French Alps he is looking forward to testing his boadriding as well as his leadership skills!! in a high altitude scenario. One previous high-altitude expedition to Nepal in 2002 where he reached the summit of Mera Peak (6,500m) and reached 6,200m on Baruntse before avalanche risk turned the whole team back.

Sarah Thain

Living in Chamonix Sarah has experience of many local rock, ice and mixed routes (Rebuffat routes on the Aiguille Du Midi/ Ravenel-Frendo, Aiguille Vert / Nuit Blanche, Argentière glacier), as well as having climbed in all 5 continents. Two visits to Nepal have included summits of Mera Peak and an attempt on Baruntse (7,129m) with Chris and Neil.

Chris Mann

Based in London but with four previous trips to the Himalaya and two full winters in Chamonix is no stranger to the high mountains. Highlights include reaching 6750m on the South-East ridge of Baruntse. Summitting on Mera Peak (6450m), Island Peak (6,189m), Pokalde (5,806m) and the false summit of Lobuche East (6000m+), in Nepal.  As an accomplished boardrider, the chance to combine high altitude mountaineering with a snowboard descent is too exciting to miss...

Rick Hardy

Rick Hardy (34), born in Yorkshire, England, started climbing in 1990 on the crags of the Lake District in Northern England. He has made varied ascents on both rock and ice in Europe, the USA and Africa. Ascents include: Silly Arête (Wales), The North West Arête of Half Dome (USA) and The Italian Ridge of the Matterhorn (Italy / Switzerland).

Andrew Kerr

A 23 year climbing career has taken Andrew all over the world. From classic Scottish routes like Comb Gully (IV) on Ben Nevis to the Mittelegi ridge on the Eiger and an attempt on Putha Hunchuli (7,206m) in the Nepal Himalaya.  Also a keen ski-mountaineer he has a number of technical descents to his name including the North East couloir of the Grand Golliat. So, he is looking forward to combining his climbing and skiing skills and putting them to the test on Mustagh Ata.

Thierry Garcon

An enthusiastic skier since he was 4 years old Thierry has considerable downhill competition experience. He has also ski-toured extensively in Switzerland and the Caucasus Mountains. A keen parapenter and hot-air balloon enthustiastic Thierry is lookng for any opportunity to combine the skiing with an interesting twist....

Anders Gimand

Born in Denmark but now living in Switzerland Anders spends most of his spare time in winter snowboarding, skiing and mountaineering. A skilled skier and ski mountaineer he has climbed a number of 4,000m+ peaks in the Alps including Gran Paradiso, The Bretihorn and Mont-Blanc. One previous trip to the Nepal Himalaya took him to the summit of Mera Peak (6,500m). A keen 'off-roader' he is still considering the possibility of driving his Landrover from Lausanne to China!!

Millet One Sport Everest Boot  has made some minor changes by adding more Kevlar. USES Expeditions / High altitude / Mountaineering in extremely cold conditions / Isothermal to -75°F Gore-Tex® Top dry / Evazote Reinforcements with aramid threads. Avg. Weight: 5 lbs 13 oz Sizes: 5 - 14 DESCRIPTION Boot with semi-rigid shell and built-in Gore-Tex® gaiter reinforced by aramid threads, and removable inner slipper Automatic crampon attachment Non-compressive fastening Double zip, so easier to put on Microcellular midsole to increase insulation Removable inner slipper in aluminized alveolate Fiberglass and carbon footbed Cordura + Evazote upper Elasticated collar. Expedition footwear for mountaineering in conditions of extreme cold.  NOTE US SIZES LISTED. See more here.

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