(Back to: China, Sichuan, Daxue Shan, Minya Konka Range)

Peak 6,134m, Carte Blanche.

By Alexander Ruchkin, Russia

Mikhail Mikhailov and I planned to be in Sichuan by mid-March. Our goal was the southeast face of Edgar (E Gongga, 6,618m), a large, steep, mixed granite wall. However, at the last minute the Chinese authorities canceled our permit because of the 50th anniversary celebrations in Tibet. Fortunately, a month later China reopened its doors, and it was not too late to continue with our project. We flew to Chengdu, traveled easily by road to Moxi on the east side of the Minya Konka Range and walked for only three hours with horses up the Yangzigou Valley to an altitude of 3,150m. “Base camp is here”, said the horsemen, and, pointing vaguely to the north as they set off for home, added, “and your mountain is somewhere there.” We were also told that Koreans had climbed Edgar, when we thought it was still virgin…. (read more)