Expedition to Tajikistan 2022

Exploratory mountaineering in the Rushan Range of the Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan.

Alex Metcalfe

Images

20220827_METCALFE_TJ_Expedition_to_Tajikistan_Day_24_Return_Trek_to_Bachor_Day_1_21463.jpg
Snow Capped Mountains in the Pamirs

by Alexander Metcalfe

Creative Commons: No Derivatives
20220826_METCALFE_TJ_Expedition_to_Tajikistan_Day_22_Drovers_Return_21260.jpg
One of the Drover's Donkeys

by Alexander Metcalfe

Creative Commons: No Derivatives
2c7bf76d-2235-47a0-aa85-f1a0d5270378.jpeg
The River Crossing From Bachor

by Alexander Metcalfe

b2f331a8-43c9-4a63-8052-0d3912dad3c4.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

813e5280-7f55-4e0b-92f7-a535c8217118.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

cd5ee181-b37a-4619-a2d7-295e9eb08544.jpeg
Alex at Camp end of Day 2

by Alexander Metcalfe

b1599c62-3837-48c3-a521-ef450afb7414.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

a76995df-5895-4d99-86b3-cb4638d63dae.jpeg
Base camp on the shores of Lake Zaroshkul

by Alexander Metcalfe

5c6624f1-fddf-4be2-b2c1-1198581f57ae.jpeg
Crossing the river to base camp

by Alexander Metcalfe

5df1f2d5-9d88-490d-816b-45ef4593659b.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

ed429bc6-f43a-45ad-b2b2-c50d3e8ce00a.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

f36fc2e4-0c7e-490d-af13-8ea86806017c.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

c31deb9d-323a-498c-921e-e0539c726c0c.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

9282dd01-f92e-4c63-bce6-effac71c994a.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

684ed07b-a545-4e19-95c6-9940824a4b4e.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

815f1965-e1b9-44ca-ab14-cb2051daab80.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

d36d76e0-1af0-4b4a-a378-6aa1953484a0.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

e5f71b45-3228-4c72-af4b-c82092d8f8df.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

2c4d64e7-ec47-4502-b829-1436f1b71e2f.jpeg
Alex abseiling down the west ridge

by Chris Lewis

c84d610a-5eb5-49b6-b1cd-d9d60e1c89f3.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

0d2ef948-3c6b-463c-a79f-f773966a6d9a.jpeg
The return

by Chris Lewis

73e3f241-e906-47e7-8bb5-3eff9d14b182.jpeg
The return

by Alexander Metcalfe

c7f583ba-f73b-4524-9c43-34f8f51d97e4.jpeg
Alex & Chris at their highest point on PK 5783

by Chris Lewis

d4afde81-c2a9-4af7-ad80-a91e181bf6f1.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

0e3defb6-9d88-4ef2-9b9b-0416af4404c6.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

dcbc128b-a4ed-4ca3-b473-1780ebb662c0.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

2c7bf76d-2235-47a0-aa85-f1a0d5270378.jpeg

by Alex Metcalfe

b2f331a8-43c9-4a63-8052-0d3912dad3c4.jpeg

by Alex Metcalfe

813e5280-7f55-4e0b-92f7-a535c8217118.jpeg

by Alex Metcalfe

8a77d5eb-60b0-42d0-b9d8-ecf7b4cc0837.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

c06ce721-9379-44d2-a007-6661f9e8df19.jpeg

by Alexander Metcalfe

Description

In August 2022 Alpine Club members Alexander Hale, Christopher Lewis, Alexander Metcalfe and Sarah Wysling went on an exploratory mountaineering expedition to Zarushkul Lake in the Rushan Range of the Pamir Mountains, Tajikistan. The expedition aimed to climb new lines and achieve first summits in alpine style on peaks between 5000 and 5800m.

Tajikistan was in the midst of its hottest summer on record; when they arrived temperatures were between 10 degrees in the daytime and 2 degrees overnight at 4500m. This cooled throughout their time there, but meant there was a high risk of rock fall and collapsing ice features.

Despite the unfavourable temperatures, the expedition made a successful first ascent of Redstart Peak (Pk 5248) via the North Ridge (PD+). An attempt was made on Pk 5783 by the West Ridge (D-), but the team turned round at a high point of 5652m due to concerns about rockfall and possibly unstable seracs on the final push.

Adventures