In the summer of 2025, an all-female team — Galina Terentyeva, recipient of the Steel Angel Award (2023) for her free ascent of Perestroika Crack, and Daria Seryupova, Steel Angel (2022) and Piolet d’Or Russia awardee — completed a series of technically demanding ascents in the Karavshin Valley (Tajikistan), giving preference to free climbing style.

Their guiding principle was simple: “Minimum aid, maximum free climbing.”

“Our motto is: free climbing — no aid, no jumars, ” says Daria Seryupova.

Free Climbing in Karavshin: A Series of Women’s Ascents. “Steel Angel”: women’s climbing award

Sourire Kirghize on the Yellow Wall (3,800 m) 600 m, 13 pitches, 7b, ED

A French line first climbed in 2018 by Sylvain Di Giacomo and Frédéric Gentet.

Free Climbing in Karavshin: A Series of Women’s Ascents. “Steel Angel”: women’s climbing award

The route Sourire Kirghize on the Yellow Wall (3,800 m) impresses with its clean logic, purity, and the complete absence of “easy” ground. Almost every pitch demands full concentration and technical precision.

The entire line was climbed free by the all-female team, with both climbers leading and seconding in free style. Only on the crux did Daria, seconding that pitch, briefly rest on the rope.

“A very lively line right in the middle of the Yellow Wall, up to 7b, through a roof — almost no easy pitches at all. Six hundred meters of pure enjoyment, without a moment to relax. We found the route in a foreign guidebook — in French it’s beautifully called ‘Kyrgyz Smile’, ” Daria recalls.

Free Climbing in Karavshin: A Series of Women’s Ascents. “Steel Angel”: women’s climbing award
Free Climbing in Karavshin: A Series of Women’s Ascents. “Steel Angel”: women’s climbing award

“Alperin Route” on Peak Asan (3,900 m) ~800 m, 5B Russian Grade

This longer route required a bivy, so the team had to slightly bend their motto of “no aid, no jumars.” The second followed on jumars with a heavy haul bag since bivouac gear was needed. 

Daria: “A very cool 5B on Asan — though we had to break our rule a bit and jumar in turns as seconds. The packs were just too heavy. We clearly don’t know how to go ultralight if we’re staying overnight. But the route was worth every pitch — endless cracks, offwidths, and chimneys, just the kind of climbing we love. We carried two #6 and two #5 cams — not ultralight either — but at least we felt safe.”

Offwidths are the classic “horror stories” of traditional climbing — especially in the U.S. (think Yosemite offwidths). Those who master them earn respect for their strength, technique, and persistence. Climbing an offwidth in pure free style, especially in the mountains, is a real feat.

The leader climbed the entire Alperin Route free. Only on the crux was the style slightly compromised — Galina, leading that section, briefly held at the belay point once but then finished the pitch cleanly.

“A powerful roof crack that felt harder than 7a, as it’s graded in reports. Everything else went clean, ” said Daria.

Previous Female Ascents of the Alperin Route

In 2012, Maria Mikhailova, Olga Gorodetskaya, Svetlana Smaykina, and Elena Badanova completed the Alperin Route in four days, fixing the lower four pitches and using about 65 m of A1 aid. 

In 2025, Galina Terentyeva and Daria Seryupova did it in two days, with the leader climbing free and without prior fixing.

Free Climbing in Karavshin: A Series of Women’s Ascents. “Steel Angel”: women’s climbing award
Free Climbing in Karavshin: A Series of Women’s Ascents. “Steel Angel”: women’s climbing award
Free Climbing in Karavshin: A Series of Women’s Ascents. “Steel Angel”: women’s climbing award

Little Asan (3,900 m), route West Face Corner and Crack, 400 m, 10 pitches, 6b+.

A European line that the team climbed entirely free.

Free Climbing in Karavshin: A Series of Women’s Ascents. “Steel Angel”: women’s climbing award
Free Climbing in Karavshin: A Series of Women’s Ascents. “Steel Angel”: women’s climbing award

Little Asan (3,900 m), Prokofiev Route, 5A

The pair also climbed a European route fully free — easily and beautifully, even in the rain. 

“A gorgeous crack line with a chimney crux — and of course, it started raining though no rain was forecast. But we honestly climbed all the way to the top, even on wet rock, slipping around on moss but refusing to give up, ” said Daria.

Free Climbing in Karavshin: A Series of Women’s Ascents. “Steel Angel”: women’s climbing award
Free Climbing in Karavshin: A Series of Women’s Ascents. “Steel Angel”: women’s climbing award

Summary

Three major routes were completed in the cleanest possible style, prioritizing free climbing — including a technically demanding French line with overhangs and roofs on the Yellow Wall.

Even though not every pitch was climbed in perfect style, that doesn’t diminish the achievement. The goal was clear: to climb as free as the rock and physics allow — not for formality, but for essence.

Despite a brief rest on the rope on one crux, the rest of the routes were climbed entirely free. This makes the ascents not only technically strong but also a rare and significant achievement for an all-female team in high-mountain terrain.

Women’s mountaineering in Russia

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