India Himalayas expeditions

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India Himalayas expeditions - Welcome to Martin Moran Mountaineering. We are one of Britain's most experienced guiding businesses, established in 1985, offering mountaineering courses, holidays and expeditions in the north-west of Scotland, Norway, the Swiss Alps and the Himalayas. The company is directed by Martin Moran, a British and international IFMGA Mountain Guide. Professional organisation, personal service, qualified instructional staffing and an adventurous spirit are the key ingredients of our success. Browse our pages and follow a ladder of ambition from beginner to expert level then join us to discover the sheer thrill and lasting pleasure of mountaineering.

Climbing Shivling is one of the popular India Himalayas expeditions, the towering sentinel to the Gangotri Glacier and the holy source of the River Ganges, which is visited by thousands of Hindu pilgrims every year. The standard route up the mountain's West Ridge demands skills in steep snow and ice climbing to Alpine AD/D and Scottish grade III/IV standard. The route also has one serious section of 200 metres where it climbs through the central serac wall. First ascended in 1977 Shivling now sees several successful ascents each year. Tapovan base camp with grassy flats, its naked resident Holy Man and scattering of expedition tents is one of the most prized and convivial sites. Though one of the busiest spots in the Garhwal the Gangotri Glacier retains a penetrating mystique and icy beauty. Applicants should have Scottish winter and relevant Alpine climbing experience. With a sound technical and Alpine backgorund this could be attempted as your first trip. Acclimatisation demands are however considerable as both trek and climb are steep. The trip is offered on a 25 day schedule with maximum 3:1 guiding ratio.

TRISUL AND NANDA GHUNTI : SPRING 2001

A party of 7 including guides Martin Moran and Andy Nisbet visited the peaks on the western edge of the Nanda Devi range with the twin aims of climbing a new route on the South Face of 6309m Nanda Ghunti and ascending the West Face of 7120m Trisul.

Having left Britain on May 10th the team made a four and a half day approach trek up the beautiful Nandakini valley starting from Ghat at 1334m and passing through the villages of Sitel and Sutol before taking to the forested upper gorge of the valley. The forest scenery was very fine and the whole area surprisingly untouched by commercial tourism. A 12 yearly pilgrimage in honour of the goddess Nanda Devi called the Raj Jat follows this route. The last had taken place in summer 2000 with some 15,000 people involved in the route, yet there was little evidence of litter or erosion en-route.

The first view of the awesome 3000 metre West wall of Trisul was gained at the forest campground of Lata Kopri. Thereafter, low cloud and drizzle accompanied the trek and base camp was established at 4300m in a snowstorm. The site was around 250m below the holy meltwater tarn of Hom Kund which is cradled close under the massive walls and seracs of Nanda Ghunti and Trisul. The tranquillity of the setting persuaded the expedition leader to take a ritual swim in its icy waters. Others contented themselves with photgraphic homage. click here for more