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http://www.alpinist.com/doc/ALP17/newswire-siguniang-new-eldorado-batoux
A member of the French Young Alpinists team on an attempt on the prominent central couloir on the south face of Siguniang (6250m) in Chinese Sichuan. After fixing 500 meters of rope on the line, the team attempted the route in a day, reaching 5950 meters at the crest of the southwest ridge before poor conditions slowed them down and forced a retreat. All the team members but two went on to make the first ascent of Siguniang North (5700m). [Photo] Philippe Batoux
Siguniang North (5700m, left) and Siguniang (6250m) from the west-northwest. Marked in red on the left is the approximate line of an attempt in May 2004 by Dave Hollinger and Andy Sharpe, who retreated in heavy spindrift after 200 meters on the right flank of the northeast ridge. In the center (red) is the route of the French first ascent via the southwest face (V 4+ M4, Batoux-Blair-Bodin-Jacquemond-Rolinet-Valla, 2004), while in yellow to the right is the north couloir: the Inside Line (WI 6, Fowler-Ramsden, 2002). After their ascent Fowler and Ramsden descended the left skyline (north ridge) of Siguniang and then down the slopes below the col in a similar line to the French ascent. [Photo] Philippe Batoux |
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