CORRESPONDENCE

Josef Hala
Jungmannova 14
110 00 Praha 1
Czech Republic
21 February 2002

Dear Mr. Harish Kapadia,

Five days ago I received beautiful Himalayan Journal 2001 and yesterday your excellent detailed information about climbing in the Indian Himalaya in the last year. Thank you very much for your kindness.

The Himalayan Journal Vol. 57 has as usually very high standard. I have been enjoying especially reading your article about the expedition to Rimo mountains and Karakoram Pass. Seeing the obituary of your brave son Lt. Nawang Kapadia on website and reading about him in The Journal left me really deeply moved.

May I ask you some questions in connection with this my list? I found some interesting claims of Indian ascents not mentioned in most authoritative sources in the concise alphabetical register of world mountains published in Tokyo in the year 1984 by Ichiro Yoshizawa (670 pages):

1. Concerning your extremely interesting article about your last trip to Arganglas Karakoram:
   PUNANGMA 6788 (but in brackett of Mt. I. Y. 5186!!) - 34°35 N, 77°50'E (identical with Argan Kangri?) climbed on 4, and 5 August 1970 by six Indians under leadership of R. C. Naidu¹.
   
2. Concerning Bhutan Himalaya:
   Three peaks on 28°10'N. 90°15'E attempted by expedition led by C. S. Nugyal: Kangri I 6919 : climbed by 2 Indians and 2 Bhutanese, Kangri II 6447 : not climbed and Kangri III 5989 : climbed by 3 Indians and 1 Bhutanese in October 1971.
3. (b) South Summit of Ganker Punzum 6760 (newest Bhutanese spelling: Ganghar Puensum) climbed 15.9.1973 by K. I. Kumar from the expedition led by D. N. Tankha.
4. (c) In Himalayan Mountaineering Journal I found a notice about Indian ascent of Mukteshwar 6490 somewhere in Bhutan by expedition led by O. P. Sharma. Climbed on 4.10.1974 by 1 Indian and 1 Bhutanese I could not find these peaks on any lists.

 

What do you think about these claims?

Please accept my congratulations to your team for hard work compiling such a wonderful Journal as well as congratulations to your exploratory effort to find every year new fascinating targets for expeditions to mountain areas not so well known.

With warm greetings and thanks.

Yours sincerely

Josef Hala

 

 

Full details appearing are as under, regarding point 1 above.
Argan Kangri climb 1970
The Himalayan Club Newsletter No. 28, June 1971
Compiled by Soli S. Mehta

 

Ladakh: (Page 2)

2. PHUNANGMA 22,272 ft. First Ascent

This peak in Ladakh was a climbed on 4 August 1970 by Capt. F. C. Bahaduri, Nk. S. K. Thapa, Nk. S. Tashi, Hav. S. S. Bhandari and two Sherpas. The peak was again climbed on 5 August 1970 by Capt. N. K. Kalia, Nk. P. Stobdon and a porter. The expedition was led by Maj. R. C. Naidu.

Also mentioned in Ichiro Yoshizawa (670 pages) Concise Alphabetical Register of World Mountains, published in Tokyo, 1984.

PHUNANGMA 6788 (5186) 34 degree 35 N and 77 degree 50 E

— Ed.

 

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