New Big Alpine Route in Kyrgyzstan is 22-Pitch Big Wall

Slovak alpinists Martin Grajciar, Jozef Kristoffy, Ondrej Huserka and Vladimír Linek have climbed a new 22-pitch route called Summer Bouquet up the west face of Pik Aleksander Blok in Kyrgyzstan.

The team spent over two weeks climbing the steep granite 900-metre wall. The new route was reported on PlanetMountain.com, where it mentions they battled poor weather while climbing through overhangs and corners.

They hauled a portaledge up the wall to work on the aid pitches until they were free. The 50-metre pitch-13 was the crux at UIAA 9+ (5.12d) at an elevation of 5,000 metres.

In the 1990s, a Russia team established Stairway to Heaven 5.12 A3 up the north face.

The team placed 51 boltes, 36 at belays, and rappelled the route after it was complete. Watch this short video with highlights from their climb.