ASIAN ALPINE E-NEWS
Issue No.3, January 2017
Asian Alpine Associates

Heart of unclimbed Nyainqentanglha East – over 6000m peaks

Contents
Records of Nakamura’s Journey in November 2016
Page
The11th Piolets D’or Asia 2016, Seoul – Korea

2Nakamura awarded “Lifetime Achievements”

Unveiling Hidden Mountains along the Yarlung Tsangpo

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In forbidden South Tibet

Yarlung Tsanpo – a Hive of Construction

15“What is happening in the frontier” Paradox of Development

Bon’s nine (9) Creators of Tibetan Universe

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Father – Ode Gungyel (Worde Kongge)

Three International Events in Kathmandu, Nepal

24November 17 – 23, 2016

Langtang Valley, Nepal November 201628

Restoration/reconstruction from Earthquake

Photo Gallery of Golden Flying Route over the Himalaya
Kathmandu – Lhasa – Chengdu
132The11th Piolets D’or Asia 2016
The Piolets d’Or Asia Awards, whose purpose of establishment is to encourage Asian
mountaineers who achieved pure and visionary ascents and explorations, celebrated its
11th anniversary. This award sponsored by Man and Mountain Publishers (Korea) andknown as Oscar Award of Alpinism, has been leading the development of Asian
mountaineering culture for the last 10 years, and also suggested the way offuture-oriented climbing and exploration to Asian mountaineering community.
The Award Ceremony was conducted on November 4, 2016 in Seoul, Korea. Chairman ofthe juries was Koji Hagiwara, Yamakei Publishers (Japan). The winners of the award
were the following.
Lifetime Achievements – Tamotsu (Tom) Nakamura, Japan
Korean Team – Gangapurna south face new route (Annapurna Region)
Chang-Ho Kim, Suk-Mun Choi, Joung-Yong Park
Japan Team – Kurobe Golden Pillar at Tsurugidake in North Japan Alps
Koji Ito, Yusuke Sato, Kimihiro Miyagi(from left) Dr. Lee In-Jeung, Tom Nakamura, Kim Chang-ho, Christine Pae2

(from left) Suk-Ha Hong (president of Man and Mountain), Koji Ito, Kim Chang-Ho----(from left) Dr. Lee (UAAA President), Nakamura, M. Kawasaki, K. Hagiwara (Yamakei)
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Unveiling Hidden Mountains along the Yarlung Tsangpo
South Tibet–November 2016
An elderly team of T. Nakamura and T. Nagai entered the forbidden south
Tibet for exploring and identifying hidden/unknown 6,000m peaks along theYarlung Tsangpo.
The region is very sensitive and now strictly restricted and controlled
because of being close to China (Tibet)-India border. No foreigners areallowed to travel unless they obtain a special permit from the Public Security
Bureau and Chinese Liberation Army in charge of Tibet Autonomous Region.
Objectives of the explorations are as follows (see the map below).
Main objective: Peaks surrounding Bobonung Glacier Scenic Spots
Other objective: Outstanding rock peaks of Nyel Japo massif
Holy mountain Worde Kongge north of Yarlung Tsanpo
They also visited a holy mountain and lake shown in the end of this photogallery. The mountain is one of nine Bon’s creators of the Tibetan universe.

4Shelrika 6045m south face northeast of Jindong 金東郷
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5842m peak west face southeast of Shelrika 6044m

6041ｍ peak north face in the middle of Bobonung massif

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Peak close to 6000m northwest face of Bobonung massif

Stunning 6000m peak northwest face of Bobonung massif
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6000m peaks surrounding Bobonung Glacier valley, north face (1)6000m peaks surrounding Bobonung Glacier valley, north face (2)86000m peaks surrounding Bobonung Glacier valley, north face (3)6000m peaks surrounding Bobonung Glacier valley, north face (4)9Chipula 6152m northeast face of the west end of Bobonung massif

6000m peak southeast of Chipula northeast face of Bobonung massif10

(left) Chipula 6152m northwest face, (right) 6121m/6215m northwest face ofBobonung massif viewed from Dalha Gampo Monastery 4180m

6121m (foreground) and 6215m (background) northwest face of Bobonung
massif viewed from Dalha Gampo Monastery 4180m

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Nyel Japo 6150m (Russian map) east face, a massif of rock peaks

Leftmost: Nyel Japo 6150m (Russian map) north face
Next of rightmost: Lang Lha Risang ca. 5700m
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Nyel Japo 6150m north face soaring immediate south of Yarlung Tsangpo

ca. 5500m rock peak east face west of Nyel Japo

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Holy Worde Kongge (Ode Gungyel) main peak 5996m northwest face

Beautiful Lake Yamdrok and two 6000m peaks of Kareg Jawpo (left 6100m, male) andKareg Jawmo (right 6000m, female)
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Yarlung Tsanpo – a Hive of Construction“What is now happening in the frontier” Paradox of Development
We travelled through the Yarlung Tsangpo valley for unveiling hidden unclimbed
mountains close to the south bank from the 8th to 23rd of November, 2016.
Problem was to obtain a permit to enter the areas not opened for foreigners. Since 2008
when fierce turmoil by local Tibetan broke out in Lhasa, controls and restrictions overforeigners have been becoming tighter year by year. In particular a route along Meilingto Zetang is sensitive and foreigners are not allowed to travel because of the reason why
the area is close to the Indian border, notwithstanding Chinese nationals may freely
visit. We met no foreigner at all throughout travel from Bayichen to Zetang. We werewatched and inspected every day by police of Public Security Bureau (PSB).
In the other hand, the Yarlung Tsangpo valley is in a hive of construction of dam andtunnels–bridges of 500km railway from Lhasa to Bayichen. In fact the narrow valley isjust sites for tremendous civil work. We visited historical places too en route.
Lhasa, capital of Tibetan Autonomous Region which was previously a forbidden andmysterious city, is now rapidly changing to most modern town.

Map of Yarlung Tsangpo and surrounding area
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Completed dam (1) between Gyaca and Sangri 12/11/2016

Completed Dam (２）12/11/201616

Construction site for new dam between Gyaca and Sangri 12/11/2016

Railway (Lhasa-Bayichen) construction between Langxian and Gyaca 11/11/2016
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Railway construction on river stream between Sangri and Zetang 12/11/2016

Memorial Hall of Dalai Lama 13th birth place between Langxian - Gyaca 11/11/201618

Lhasa – Potala Palace and city main road, department store (left)

19Bon’s nine (9) Creators of Tibetan Universe
Father – Ode Gungyel (Worde Kongge)
Eight Sons –1. Yalaxianbo
2. Nyainqentanglha
3. Maqen Kangri（Amnye Maqen）
4. Gokchen Dolra
5. Gampo Lhaji
6. Xialha Guipo
7. Jewo Yulgyel
8.

Kareg Jawpo (male) and Jowmo (female)

Beautiful Lake Yamdrok and two 6000m peaks of Kareg Jawpo (left 6100m, male) andKareg Jawmo (right 6000m, female)

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Yalaxianbo 雅拉香波 main peak 6635m (left) west face and south peaks (right) west faceslightly lower than the main peak. South peaks remain unclimbed.

Nam Tso and Nyainqentanglha north face(from left) Southeast Pk 7046m, Central 7117m, Middle 7111m, Main 7162m
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Nyainqentanglha northeast face seen from near Damshung

Father of Bon’s creators, Ode Gungyel (Worde Kongge) 5596m (left) northwest face22

Gampo Lhaji north of Yarlung Tsangpo with historical Dalha Gampo Monastery

Maqen Kangri (Amnye Machen) 6282m north face in Qinghai Province23

Three International Events in Kathmandu, Nepal
November 17 – 23, 2016
① Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the First Successful Ascent ofMt. Kangchengjunga and Mt. Makalu② International Conference on Mountain Tourism, Climate Change, andEarthquake in Nepal③ UAAA (Asian Alpine Association) General Assembly
Sponsored by The Nepal Mountaineering Association

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Hotel Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu
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Langtang Valley, Nepal November 2016
Restoration/reconstruction from Earthquake(left) Langtang II (Chenge Liru) 6596m, (right) Langtang Lirung 7227m south face28

(above) at Kyanjin Gumba 3870m, (below) Langtang Lirung 7227m east face29

(left) Kingshung 6781m, (below, foreground) Lantang Lirung Glacer.
(right) Yubra 6264m and Yunbra Glacier

Trace in the aftermath of earthquake, Langtang (1)30Trace in the aftermath of earthquake (2)(above and below) Holy place, Gosainkunda after earthquake
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Photo Gallery of Aerial Views
Golden Flying Route over the Himalaya:
Kathmandu-Lhasa-Chengdu
The pictures were taken from a airplane of Air China commercial flight enroute of Chengdu-Lhasa, Lhasa-Kathmandu and Kathmandu to Chengdu.
Areas covered are eastern part of Nepal, Central Tibet, Sikkim, Bhutan,
Easternmost Himalaya, Nyaiqentanglha West / East and Sichuan. High
resolution pictures are available upon request. I owe principally Richard
Salisbury and also Marko Prezelj and John Nankervis for peak identificationof the Nepal Himalaya, and Harish Kapadia for Sikkim and Bhutan.

Peak ID from this page to page 5 : Richard Salisbury
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Peak ID: Marko Prezelj
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Peak ID of this page: Harish Kapadia

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Peak ID: Harish Kapadia

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Photo: Wuri Wusa

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Nyaiqentanglha East is the last frontier for exploration and mountaineering.
Nearly 200 peaks remain unclimbed.

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Below are the mountains in Sichuan Province.

Photo: Yoshiharu Sugiura

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