1. Ascent type - winter.

2. Region - Tien Shan , Kirghiz ridge.

3. Peak - Free Korea 4740m., along the left part of the Northern wall.

4. Supposed - 6 А grade, first ascent. ( ФАиС of Russia sentenced the route to5 Б grade. The route is situated between two routes, which have not yet been repeated: Shvab а 82. (5 Б ) and Студенина (Studenina) 66. (6 А )). The route achieved II place in Russian Winter Championship 2000.

5. Route deion:
Height: till the ridge-530m. till the summit – 650m.
length: till the ridge – 680m. till the summit - nearly1000 m
length of 6 grade sections - 300 m., 5 grade – 380m.
Average slope till the ridge - 65° slope of main wall part - 77°

6. Gear used on the route:

Nuts 68/25
Pins 17/9
Bolts 12/2
Ice crews 67

The team left to right: Standing: Vladimir Alexandrov, Yuri Stepanov, Andrew Zakrepa, Sitting: Sergey Cherezov, Valery Balezin, Alexander Terentyev.

8. Nights - 3, +1 on descent. All the nights on ascent were in platform.

9. Team membership:
Balezin Valery МСМК - leader
Alexander ов Vladimir Master of Sports
Zakrepa Andrew Master of Sports
Stepanov Yuri candidate to Master of Sports
Terentyev Alexander candidate to Master of Sports
Cherezov Sergey candidate to Master of Sports

10. Team trainers:
Zaharov Nicolay МСМК
Balezin Valery МСМК

11. Dates:
Start of the route – February 21, 2000.
Summit -- February 26, 2000.
Return - February 27, 2000.

12. Organization: Krasnoyarsk Committee in physical training and sports

Tactical team movements

Path. Aksai Gorge.

This route is accessible only in winter, in summer it is real stonefalling danger!

February 21 we ascended to koron night places, made boot track for the route and in the evening party of two Terentyev - Alexandrov worked out bergshrund in three hours and three ice pitches.

February 22 – route continuation. Party of two Zakrep – Stepanov worked ahead. Made 4 pitches (till section № 5). Two vertical rocky levels were especially difficult, (sections 1 - 2, and 3 - 4) 20 meters each. The upper part of the section is an abrupt, about 80°, ice-covered gully-chimney.

Stepanov – a platform man

February 24. Party of two Balezin – Alexandrov led. They worked out four pitches of the upper part of the wall and went to the roof, (point 11) The night spent in the same place, in a platform.

February 25. Party of two Stepanov - Balezin led. Against our wishes the roof was very difficult, rocks were ice coverd and covered with snow. That day three and a half pitches were passed, 30 meters before the ridge. Ad interim the rest of the team take off the platform and carried it up, to section № 13, and installed it in 2 pitches below the ridge, under the cornice in the base of the abrupt corner.

Under the face.

Along the whole length of the route a leader went on double rope only, the second and the last went along the lines with the belay, and on especially rockfall dangerous sections all the ascenders had an additional belay. Main belay points were made in at least 3 places (nuts, pins or bolts), blocked with local loop, a block was made in the middle of lines.

Winter tactics was used in the ascent, in its base were comfortable nights, and working out the route was made from them. A tent-platform is moved from one safe and convenient place to another while ascending. This tactics allows to improve ascent safety, because party of two can descend along the lines to their tent any time, or to call party of four for help.

Couloir

Diring the ascent a rescue team and observers were staying under the wall: Arhipov V. - MASTER OF SPORTS, and members of another team who returned back: Railko Yu. -candidate to Master of Sports, Karukin I. - candidate to Master of Sports, Obednin К . -MASTER OF SPORTS, Hvostenko О .- I degree. Glazurin Yu. - I degree, and Muravyev V - candidate to Master of Sports, doctor. Radio communication was regular.

On the route all modern gear was used. For rock belay nuts were used, pins were placed only when it was impossible to use nuts all the bolts were portable and weren't left on the route.

The team had enough fuel and food on the route. There were no fallings, frostbites on the route, in spite of the fact that we continued to ascend in bad weather.

Brief section deion

The route with its sections

Section 0 - 1. In the base of the section there is a difficult bergshrund, then a wide icy couloir with vertical walls. The couloir narrows in its upper part and connects the first rocky level.
130m. 50° V
Ice crews used: 10.
On 21.02 - 3 working hours.

Section 1 - 2. First rocky level, vertical, sometimes destroyed face. It is passed in the left part, climbing is difficult, mainly by AID.
20m. 85° VI А3
Gear: nuts 10/6, pins 6/4, bolts 2

Vladimir Alexandrov

Section 2 - 3. Icy gully - couloir, firstly abrupt (~75°), then it becomes more inclined up to 50°.
60m. 60° V
Gear: ice crews 10.

Section 3 - 4. Second rocky level , the beginning of the route wall part. Vertical face in the gully, difficult climbing, AID.
20m. 90° VI А 2
Gear: nuts 7/4, bolt 2, ice crews 1

Section 4 - 5. A wide ice-covered chimney.
30m. 80° VI
Gear: ice crews 6
On 22.02 - 9 working hours

Section 5 - 6. Abrupt gully - couloir, filled with ice.
40m. 70° V+
Gear: bolts 2, ice crews 6
Nights in platform on February 23 - 24 2000.

Andrew Zakrepa

Section 7 - 8. a corner inclined in the right direction, filled with ice.
40m. 70° VI
Gear: ice crews 8

Section 8 - 9 - 10. Big, almost vertical corner, filled with ice .
90m. 80° VI А1
Gear: nuts 14/3, ice crews 12

Sergey Cherezov

Section 11 - 12. A series of rocky walls and inclined icy ledges.
45m. 45° V-
Gear: nuts 5, ice crews 1

Section 12 - 13. Traverse upwards up to 45° along the icy slabs, the beginning of the big corner. Belay is on bolts.
45 м. 45° V-
Gear: nuts 3, bolts 3, ice crews 1
Night in the platform on February 25 2000.

Section 13 - 14. Big, abrupt corner with a cornice in the beginning. The cornice is bypassed on the left, climbing is difficult, sometimes with AID.
45 м. 75° VI А 2
Gear: nuts 9/4, bolts 3/1, ice crews 4

The route

Face of 5-th Crown. Situated opposite Free Korea .

Section 14 - 15. A corner, filled with ice.
30 м. 75° VI А 2
Gear: nuts 6/3, bolts 2/1, ice crews 1
On 25.02. - 10,5 working hours

Section 15 - 16. Snow-covered and destroyed face, leading to the left bypassing the cornice on the ridge.
30 м. 70° V
Gear: nuts 5

Section 16 - 17. A sharp, snow-covered and destroyed ridge.
350м. 20° III
On 26.02.- 5,5 working hours