2025 Nominee: Bhalu and a Biscuit. First ascent of the Point Walkers in the Satling Glacier, Garhwal Himalayas

The Cirque of Seven Pillars 

The Khatling Glacier and the Bhilangna River drain one of the largest valley systems in the Garhwal Himalaya. At their foothills rises the majestic southern face of the Talai Sagar (6,904 m), surrounded by peaks ranging from 5,500 to 6,500 m. The valley, with its exquisite forest beauty and virtually untapped mountaineering potential, is often overlooked by the masses.

Satling Glacier is one of the side cirques of the Bhilangna River valley south of the Talai Sagar. The local name, “Sat ling” means seven pillars. The British Thalay Sagar expedition of 1992 gave some of them individual names appropriate to their shape and features, for example The Cathedral and Rabbit’s Ears.

First ascent of the Point Walkers (5300m, Garhwal Himalayas) by East ridge, Bhalu and a Biscuit route, 250m, 6a, 5.10b, TD+/ED

Lise Billon:

We went on that glacier and acclimatized in the same valley. Went from the base camp to the advanced base camp. It was not an easy task because of extra 60 cm of snowfall. So we had to set up track, which was pretty exhausting. 

We made our acclimatization and we saw Brahmasar, we wanted to attempt a route on that ridge. We went back to base camp and after two or three days of rest we walked up back to the advanced base camp. Made an attempt on Brahmasar. It was very snowy. The tricky thing was that there was about 60 cm of fresh snow on the North face, not getting frozen, on loose rock, where all the snow from the summer just melt down. So, it was very tricky, on very loose rock.

We went on, after one day of climbing rested for a day in advanced base camp and climbed on the following day to the Point Walkers West. The terrain was easy at the beginning, then some steep crag… you can find some very good rock there. As soon as we reached the ridge, it was slower, because the left side of the ridge was north, and we would find some snow patch. We didn’t bring any boots, had climbing shoes only.

We made all the way to the top. The summit is two spikes, and we reached the left one, and then we rappelled down at night, straight down the face, not following the route. 

It was pretty cool, was the first time for the girls to set up a new route. Was pretty interesting. 

Next day, we rested and then made the normal route to the East summit of the Point Walkers through the other side.