Gomukh, snout of Gangotri Glacier, 12,500ft
'Tapoban', (our base-camp, 14500 ft). Bhagirathi group of peaks in backgroud
Mt. Shivling, also known as 'Matterhorn of East' in mountaineering circle is one of the most technically challenging peak of Indian Himalayas
Shivling from base-camp
Mt. Bhagirathi II, III, I
Ghural (or Goral), Mountain-goats. Seen in Western Himalayas, between 1000 to 4000 mt, remarkable for their ability to move at high speed even over near vertical terrain
On the way to camp 1... famous Meru wall in the front
Meru wall and 'Shark fin', another one technicaly difficult peak of Indian Himalaya
Load ferry to camp 2
1st section of technical climb starts from here.. a 40 ft high vertical rock-wall
Last stretch before reaching camp-2. a 200 ft long rock face
Shivling main summit at the left with the ice-wall (serac) at front
Preaparing with the gears
Rest day at camp-1
From left: Binay Bhoumick, Dipen Samanta (Deputy Leader), Kalyam Banik, Sumit Day (Leader), Barun Majumdar, Arindam Jana, Upal Chakraborty
Leadersaab
Shivling at sunset
Move to camp-2
Shivling twin summits, main summit at left and west-summit at right
Meru glacier... view from camp-2
frost
Move to camp-3 (summit camp)
Sherpas
Camp-2 to camp-3... A strenuous 6 hrs of continuous rock-climbing at an altitude of 18,000ft.
Camp-3, after a snowfall
Pasang Sherpa, went to Everest 9 times
Summit camp.. on a cliff hanging over Meru glacier
The gigantic serac (ice-wall)... awe-inspiring
Sherpas fixing rope on the serac
Mt. Thalaysagar (behind Meru 'Shark fin') at sunrise... Two of the most challenging peaks ever known..
Summit camp as seen from the ridge
Summit day... reached at the base of the Wall
Breathtaking view of massive Meru wall at 1st light of sun
The difficultmost section of the entire expedition.. we started climbing..
Icicles hanging from the overhangs
View from the base of the ice-wall
Barun almost reached the top..
My turn now..
Towards the col (col between two summits)
Bergshrund (large crevasse)
Now starts the bad weather... white-out.
Crossing the bergshrund.. through an ice-bridge
A 550 ft vertical climb to the summit-ridge
The summit-ridge can be seen... and the summit too
On the summit-ridge.. and yes that is the SUMMIT.. still a 500 ft climb
Cornice was the route.. sheer drop at right!!!
We almsot made it by then..
On the top of one of the legendary peaks of Indian Himalaya, Shivling (6543 mt) .. 1st September, 13:15 hrs. we started from the summit camp at 05:00 hrs. The summit greeted us with the worst piece of weather..
The ridge.. viewed back from the summit.. looked horrible
Returning back.. the fixed rope hanging over the void..
Camp cleaning
Pasang, the sherpa leader
1st sight of greenery after we left the base-camp long back. A homelike feeling...
The weather.. everything was perfect once the game is over..
Last look
The Bhagirathi massif
Picture postcard
Bhujbas, 12000 ft
