It’s undoubtedly one of the most beautiful mountains in the Himalayas: Thalay Sagar, 6904 meters, is located in Garhwal, not far from the sacred sites of Gaumukh (the source of the Ganges) and Shivling, another jewel of the Indian Himalayas. The magnificent north face of Thalay Sagar has seen some of India’s finest ascents, including that of the French Stéphane Benoist and Patrice Glairon Rappaz team, who won the 2003 Piolets d’Or for opening their route on the north face, a few years after the Australians, Andrew Lindblade and Athol Whimp, did so in 1999. Two visionary climbers.
This year, in 2023, Keith Ball, Mike Pescod and Guy Buckingham from UK attempted the Thalay Sagar, aiming for the superb southeast ridge. They failed to reach the goal, but nevertheless brought back spectacular views of this ridge of compact rock, sometimes overhanging or festooned with snow.