Climbing and naming virgin summits in Kyrgyzstan

September 2016, what a month that turned out to be! After a year of planning, training and a general feeling of being excited, I joined up with a bunch of other climbers and adventure seekers from around the globe to take part in a rather brilliant expedition in Southern Kyrgyzstan, organised by the equally brilliant International School of Mountaineering (ISM).

ISM have been pioneering climbing trips in this part of the world for some time now, but, as was the plan, our group of climbers were the first to climb and summit mountains in the stunning Zaalay Range of the mighty Pamir Mountains, a huge expanse of peaks that form the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

14 nights in a tent, being cold, then hot, then cold again, there was no lack of adventure on this one. From the wolf howling outside of our tents at Advanced Base Camp, to the incredible sunsets witnessed up at 4100m, we had it all. The team summited 5 previously unclimbed mountains, and in doing so made climbing history in the region by laying claim to and naming the peaks. Follow no footsteps….that was the plan. For the adventure! A quick video of the expedition here: