SHIVLING 2003
Area: Gangotri Area (Garhwal)
Height: 6543 m
Team 1: Indian (West Bengal)
Leader: Anand Kumar Mandi (15 members)
Summary
This expedition established the base camp at 4880 m near Tapovan in early May. Three camps were established on the mountain. However they could reach only up to 6000 m on the west ridge. They could not negotiate a 60 m high overhanging serac and as it broke they had a narrow escape.
Team 2: Joint British Spanish expedition
Leader: Andy Perkins (organised by Martin Moran Mountaineering from Scotland, 5 members)
Summary
A team of three experienced members from Holland climbed Thalay Sagar by the northeast face to the southeast ridge. All the three members made an 11-day push from base camp to summit, from 14 th September to 23 rd September. This was one of the best climbs in the Indian Himalaya this year. They too faced bad weather in the early part on their climb but they waited out the period to make this attempt.
Team 3: Czech expedition
Leader: Pavel Novak (10 members)
Summary
This large expedition established itself at the foot of Shivling on 12th September. However continuous bad weather stopped them from proceeding anywhere on the west ridge and the highest they reached was Camp 3 at 6000 m before giving up the climb.