Mick Fowler and Paul Ramsden have returned from the Chinese Tien Shan range with a first ascent to their names. During a four week expedition to the area, they succeeded in completing a route on the north face of Sulamar (c5,380m), which is on the north side of the Xuelian massif.

Sulamar was first climbed in 2008, by a route on the north east flank. In a six-day round trip from base camp, Fowler and Ramsden climbed the prominent central buttress. They enjoyed two sitting/hanging bivouacs on the face of the mountain during the climb.

Fowler commented:

“This was a good trip with plenty of memorable action for Paul and me. During our initial stay in the region, we endured mega snowfall and a couple of falls into crevasses, which were firsts for both of us. It was deep snow that kept us away from our original objective, which was the north west ridge of Xuelian East, so we turned our attention to Sulamar and we're glad that we did. Not only is it nice to record a first ascent of an eye catching line, but the experience itself was very enjoyable and fulfilling.”

After their success on Sulamar, Fowler and Ramsden explored the previously unvisited Chulebos peaks, approaching them via the historic Xiate trail. Once a major trade route in that part of the world, the trail is now virtually unused because the glaciers are so broken.

They found more to do, as Fowler explains:

“Walking up a glacier which had never been visited by climbers before was good invigorating stuff. And while we were there, we found plenty of great objectives for the future – there is so much to be done! All in all, this expedition has been very pleasing.”

Photo Gallery - Fowler and Ramsden on the north face of Sulamar:

Mick Fowler and Paul Ramsden were supported by Berghaus. The expedition was approved by the BMC and awarded a grant by the Mount Everest Foundation.

Berghaus presents The Adventure Tour Autumn/Winter 2010 Leo Houlding & Mick Fowler This year sees the start of Berghaus' athlete Adventure Tour, the Series will run from late October until early December and will see Leo Houlding and Mick Fowler entertain audiences at venues across England and Scotland. Tickets are £10 each, apart from the joint lecture at the RGS in London, which is £18. There is also a £1 handling charge per order. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. apart from the joint lecture which opens at 6:30 p.m. Leo Houlding Lectures Sunday 24th Oct Bristol Tobacco Factory Monday 1st Nov Manchester Dancehouse Theatre Wednesday 3rd Nov Newcastle Gateshead College Performance Theatre Thursday 4th Nov Edinburgh Ratho Climbing Centre Mick Fowler Lectures Wednesday 24th Nov Manchester Dancehouse Theatre Sunday 28th Nov Bristol Tobacco Factory Monday 29th Nov Sheffield Showroom Cinema Wednesday 1st Dec Newcastle Gateshead College Performance Theatre Thursday 2nd December Edinburgh Ratho Climbing Centre Leo and Mick Joint Lecture Saturday 27th November London Royal Geographic Society Buy tickets at: www.berghaus.com/community