Singu Chuli (6501m/ 21328ft ):

Singu Chuli is the mountain formerly known as Fluted peak. A few days after, enjoying that view of “ Fluters”, wilf Noyce and David Cox went on to make the first ascent of this attractive and difficult mountain by its North-East Face and the top section of the East Ridge. Despite the relative ease of access to the Sanctuary this mountain has proven too difficult for most commercial climbing groups who have tended to concentrate their efforts on Tent Peak.

As you approach the Sanctuary and reach the simple lodges at Machha-puchhare base camp little can be seen of the mountain, which is toward the head of the valley, cradling the West Annapurna Glacier .It is the first summit on the long ridge thrown down from Tarke Kang (Glacier Dome), which separates the South and West Annapurna Glaciers.

The approach to the first ascent route follows a shelf and a trough above the west bank of the West Annapurna Glacier, skirting round the base of the mountain’s rocky east ridge to gain the foot of the North-East Face, which is unseen, even from the moraines above the lodges.

Perhaps the best distant view of the mountain is from Annapurna South base camp. From the moraines above the lodges the fluted South Face presents a ‘beautiful shape, buttressed by pencil-shadowy ridges of snow and ice’ well seen, rising above the ridge connecting it with Tharpu Chuli.

To date, apart from the original route, most efforts to climb the mountain have concentrated on the face and ridges seen from this viewpoint. The South-West Ridge, the one that ultimately connects to Tent Peak, is an obvious, albeit corniced, line although a far more complicated connecting ridge than at first at first it appears. The terrain between the two peaks is quite confused and not at all a straightforward ridge. The fluted face to the right of the ridge, although menaced in places by ice bulges and seracs is set at a reasonable angle and appears an attractive proposition. However, despite rumours that routes have been made on these, no route descriptions have been made available and the NMA have no record of ascents.

Yala peak ( 5500 m/ 18,045ft):
    
This peak is situated north of Kathmandu in Langtang area. This is an easy peak to climb and suited for anyone with trekking experience. We start in Syabrubesi after a 5 hour drive from Kathmandu and spend five days hiking up the beautiful Langtang valley to Kyanjin Gompa at 3800 m. Kyanjin Gompa is situated below Langtang Lirung (7246 m) and we spend three days acclimatizing taking day-hikes in spectacular surroundings. We establish base camp on a meadow at 4800 m and climb Yala Peak the next day. The last 400 m is on ice so we will be using crampons, ice axe and rope. From the summit we can see Shishapangma (8046 m) and the fluted Gangchempo (6388 m). After the climb we return to Syabrubesi and drive to Kathmandu.

Parchamo (6187m/ 20298ft ):

The Nepal Mountaineering Association call this peak Parchemuche, a name by which, as far as I can find out, no one else knows it! The peak, which lies due south of the Tesi Lapcha, is unnamed on the Schnider Rolwaling Himal map, but is given a spot height of (6273m/20581ft). The Mandala Lamasangu to9 Everest map calls the peak Parchome, which is quite possibly a spelling mistake. Bath Shipton’s and Gregory’s expedition surveys gave the peal an altitude close to 6318metres(20700ft).

Seen from the pass the mountain is an attractive but straightforward snow peak with a well defined north by north-west ridge rising from the relatively flat, crevassed glacier astride the Tesi Lapche. To the west of the ridge the face forms a uniform snow slope broken by crevasses and small seracs rising from the rocky lower buttresses above the Drolambau Glacier. The mountain had an interesting early history, some of which was outlined in 1955 by Dennis Davis and Phil Boultgee, members of the highly successful Merseyside Himalayan Expedition led by Alf Gregory. As well as climbing nineteen summits in and around the Rolwaling Valley, their explorations took them to the head of the Drolambau, where numerous peaks were climbed, up the Ripimu Glacier and into the Menlung Basin via the Ripimu La. This was the most extensive exploration of the area first entered by Shipton that there has been, using a style of expedition, light weight and free ranging, that alas is no longer possible within the kingdom of Nepal.

Ramdung ( 6187m/ 19439 ft):

Situated south of Na in the upper Rolwaling, Ramdung, also called Ramdang-Go on the Schneider map, is one of a cluster or peaks around the Yalung La (5310m/17421ft), a pass giving access to the upper Rolwaling from the south , via the Khare Khola.

This form of mountaineer in the exploration of unknown peaks, glaciers and valleys, the finding and crossing of new passes to connect one area with another, the most fascinating occupation I know. The variety of experience, the constantly changing scene, the gradual unfolding of the geography of the range are deeply satisfying, for they yield a very real understanding, almost a sense of personal possession, of the country explored.’

Although the mountain by its normal route of ascent, the glaciers of the North-East Flank, is straightforward, its virtues lie in its magnificent position and splendid summit panorama that ranges from Langtang to Everest and provides a splendid view of Gauri Shankar and Menlungtse

Tharpu Chuli (5500 m/ 18045 ft ):

Situated in the heart of the Annapurna Sanctuary, Tharpu Chuli is an attractive mountain; part of the eidge line, thrown south from Glacier Done, that includes Singu Chuli and acts as a central divider between the semi-circle of peaks enclosing the Sanctuary. The mountain is sometimes confused with Rakshi peak, a small summit and viewpoint to the west of Tharpu Chuli, that stands above named after Roberts’ dog!

As well as enjoyable climbing the mountains offers one of the outstanding viewpoints of the Annapurna massive. From its summit you have a superb panorama of Hiunchuli (6331m/20771ft), Annapurna South (7219m/ 23684ft), Fang (7647m/ 25089ft), Gangapurna (7455m/ 24459ft), Annapurna III (7555m/ 24787ft), Machhapuchhare (6993m/ 22943ft) and of course Singu Chuli or Fluted Peak (6501m/ 21329ft).

Seen from the moraines above the huts at the Annapurna South base camp, the mountain takes on a shape, aptly described by its former name Tent Peak, with its long South-East Ridge forming the sloping ridge pole. The lower half of the South-West Face is a series of rocky gullies and buttresses giving way to strongly etched snow flutes. Under a lot of snow this gecomes a very attractive aspect indeed with a good number of lines. The North-West Ridge, itself the normal line of ascent, which is gained by the flat glacier to the west.

Tharpu Chuli’s relatively low altitude and reasonable approach, without serious objective danger, make this an attractive mountain, especially when combined with its position and ease of access. At present three routes have been recorded and many more are obviously possible. Because of the large number of climbing expeditions that enter the Sanctuary it might well be the peak has received a lot of unnoticed attention.

Dhampus Peak ( 6012 m/ 19725 ft):

Situated in the heart of the Dhawalagiri region, Dhampus peak is an interesting peak for climbers. The path to High Plains Viewpoint is part of an adventurous trail to Dhampus-pass, from where a gently rising slope leads to Dhampus-peak. Though the mountain exceeds the 6000-meter frontier, no technical climbing is involved to reach the summit. Nevertheless, impressive surroundings of seven and eight thousenders make this undertaking a real Himalayan adventure. This peak provides you more than thirty mountain views and as well as Dgawalagiri glacier and deepest gorge of the world

Huinchuli (6331 m/ 20771ft ):

Hiunchuli, with Annapurna South, forms the massive south-facing wall, well seen when trekking north from Pokhara. Hiunchuli is the eastern bastion of this rampart, with its East Face overlooking the Modi Khola, guarding the entrance to the Annapurna Sanctuary. An impresseve mountain in its own right, and not, as it was at one time dubbed, ‘the eastern outlier of Annapurna South’. Despite the relative ease of access to the mountain and the popularity, rightly so, of the Sanctuary as a trekking destination, it has, like Fluted Peak , received little attention from mountaineers although it obviously offers major new route porential.

From the south, Hiunchuli has few weaknesses in its defences. A precipitous south wall rises above the untracked Chomrong Khola, seemingly menaced by snow avalanches from the slabby, ice-veined buttresses above. The easter flank from afar appears the most approach- able; however, once beyond Kuldi Ghar, it seems far less so. Out of sight, the mountain remains an unknown quantity approached by only a few, through steep and dense bamboo forest, menaced by unseen avalanche danger from hanging glaciers above. From the north the mountain rises steeply above the moraines of the Annapurna South Glacier in a series of slabby buttresses and an ill-defined and complicated North Ridge. These in turn lead to a final triangle of fluted ice that form the summit.The summit is bounded on the east by a ridge that rises in an icy parabola from a small col , from which a steep couloir descends towards the moraines above the lodges at base camp. This is a feasible looking route, and is as yet unclimbed. The mountain’s western arm is the ridge connecting it with Annapurna South, and forming from the north an icy wall. It is this wall that has provided the key to new things.

Paldor Peak ( 5928 m/ 19450 ft):

On a clear day the Ganesh Himal, with the icy fangs of pabil (7101m/ 23300ft), Lobsang Karpo (7150m/ 23458ft),GI (7406m/ 24298ft) and GV (6950m/ 22802ft) can be seen forming an imposing backdrop to the north- west of Kathmandu. Paldor, which can just be picked out from the mass of shapely summits, was first climbed by Bill Tilman, Peter Lloyd, Tenzing Sherpa and Da Namgyal during the monsoon of 1949 by the North-East Ridge, although it must be said that it is difficult to fit Tilman’s description to the actual route.

Paldor lies at the south-east end of the Ganesh Himal marking the junction of the Tiru and Khurpu Dandas at the head of the Mailung Khola, a tributary of the Trisuli Gandaki.

The name Ganesh is taken from the elephant-headed Hindu god of good luck, probably the most popular deity in the Kathmandu valley. As the son of Shiva and his consort Annapurna, or Parvati, his head was severed by his father who then promised to replace it with the first head that came to hand; the first happened to be an elephant’s. Images of Ganesh, sitting astride a shrew, can be seen all over the valley. Since he can cast aside obstacles, his help is invoked whenever a difficult task is to be undertaken. Think on!