Beyond the 8,000m crowds, many silent valleys in Nepal are drawing alpinists aiming for new routes or first ascents. Here are some of the confirmed teams and what (little) we know about their goals, which they often keep secret.
Bielecki, Berg, Barmasse
Adam Bielecki of Poland is teaming up again with Felix Berg of Germany, his climbing partner on Annapurna’s South West Face and Gasherbrum II’s West Face. This time, they have added Herve Barmasse of Italy to the team for a new expedition to Nepal’s Rolwaling Valley.
The three will try to open a new route on Numbur Peak, also known as Numburchuli. This spiky mountain’s altitude varies between 6,957m and 6,959m, depending on the source. A Japanese-Nepalese team first climbed it in 1963 via the south face.
“In 1981, there was also a French expedition that reached the summit via the southwest ridge,” Bielecki noted.
He didn’t say if his team has a specific line in mind. The climbers are looking forward to “exploration and ambitious climbing in less accessible and less popular places,” Bielecki said.
Numbur Peak. Photo: Wikipedia
Fowler and Saunders
Mick Fowler, 69, and Victor Saunders, 74, of the UK are somewhere in Nepal, tackling a new route on one of the country’s 6,000’ers and demonstrating once again their enduring thirst for adventure.
Mick Fowler, left, and Victor Saunders on the summit of the Karakoram’s Yawash Sar last year. Photo: Berghaus
Fowler and Saunders first climbed together back in the 1980s, when they achieved the first ascent of the Golden Pillar of Spantik in Pakistan. After an extended break, they reunited in 2016 for a first ascent of the north face of Sersank in the Himalaya. They had more expeditions planned until Fowler’s cancer diagnosis delayed them.
Following successful treatment, Fowler returned to fitness and expeditions and continues to climb in the greater ranges while using a colostomy bag and adapted outdoor gear. Last year, the pair achieved the first ascent of Yawash Sar in the Karakoram.
“Over the last few years, we have discovered that we enjoy each other’s company and we make a pretty good climbing team, too,” Fowler told sponsor Berghaus.
Schupbach, Siegrist, Sala
Left to right, Sala, Schupbach, and Siegrist at the airport before flying to Nepal. Photo: Silvan Schupbach/Instagram
Silvan Schupbach, Stefan Siegrist, and Philippo Sala of Switzerland shared their departure for Nepal on social media, but not their goal. Sala, 22, is the youngest of the team but not a mountain rookie. Two weeks ago, he and Schupbach climbed what they think could be a new mixed route in the Bernese Oberland.
Himalaya Camp
The young members of the Himalaya Camp 2025 expedition and their leader, Yasuhiro Hanatani, are already in Nepal. Yesterday, they obtained a permit for unclimbed 6,111m Bijora Hiunchuli in Western Nepal.
