Pik Pobeda East (6762 m) - The First Ski Descent
Skiing my dreamline in the Kyrgyz Tian Shan
In the summer of 2010, Anders Ödman and I travelled to the Tien Shan of Kyrgyzstan. Just back from a difficult ski descent of Skhara (5193 m) in the Georgian Caucasus, I was motivated for more - a sustained, long and aesthetic ski line on a big peak. Our initial objective was the north face of Pik Pobeda (7439 m), but, as so often, it was too avalanche-prone for a serious attempt. After some scouting, we discovered the NE ridge of the remote East summit (6762 m). We acclimatised on Khan Tengri (7010 m) first. Skiing was less the objective than acclimatisation and just standing on top of this stunning peak. The views from the summit to Pik Chapaeva, an elegant, airy ridge above the clouds, were stunning. A few days later, we started the several-days-long approach up the Zvezdochka glacier, skinning into a world of ice and snow far away from the base camps. The over 2500 m north face of Pik Pobeda was towering above us, and the noise of avalanches was constant. One morning, the powder cloud of a massive avalanche whips over our tent at 4800 m. Steeper terrain led us to the Chon Teren pass (5450 m). Several days after leaving base camp, we started the ascent of the up 50+° steep NE ridge of Pik Pobeda East.
Anders turned 200 vertical meters below the summit, sparing his energy for a safe descent. I continued alone, punching through wind slabs on crust and loose snow on rocks. Exhausted, I reached the summit at 14:30. To the north, the Chinese, to the south, the Kyrgyz Tian Shan. The vast scale and extent of the mountains are just beyond anything I had seen before. With time ticking fast, I snapped a few summit images with my Contax T3, clicked into my skis and descended back to the tent on the pass. A lone ski descent - steep, exposed and above a remote desert of ice and snow - and, indeed, my finest. A short article on the descent is found in the >> AAJ.
