British mountaineer Mick Fowler has revealed plans for his latest expedition.  Leading a team of four, Fowler departed from the UK on Thursday to visit a remote valley in the Indian Himalaya and attempt to make the first ascent of Kishtwar Kailash, the highest peak in the area at 6,444m. 

Fowler will be accompanied by regular expedition partner Paul Ramsden, and also Mike Morrison and Rob Smith, who will both climb and provide essential support.  Together, the four climbers will attempt their main objective and also explore the surrounding peaks and area in general.  As far as can be established, the valley they will travel to was last visited by mountaineers as long ago as 1989.  After that, political troubles became more acute and from 1994 the area was closed to mountaineers until last year.

Mick Fowler comments:

“Kishtwar Kailash is now a plum objective in that part of the world and we are very pleased to have an opportunity to attempt a striking line on the west face.  We will climb pure Alpine style which means that we will accept the true challenge of the mountain and not use fixed ropes, bolts or siege tactics.  The mountain will be left as we find it with no trace of our passing.

“The line satisfies just about all of the criteria that I list for my perfect climb – a remote, rarely visited, ethnically diverse area, with a spectacular unclimbed peak, and of course a striking technical line leading directly to the summit, with, finally, a different descent route.  Another great adventure beckons.”

Fowler will be using the latest technical clothing and equipment from Berghaus, including new water resistant Hydrodown™ products that he has helped develop with the company’s MtnHaus® innovation team.  Berghaus has recorded a short interview with Fowler ahead of his trip  and news from the expedition will be posted on www.berghaus.com and the Berghaus Facebook page as soon as it is available.