{"id":2582,"date":"2022-09-07T18:01:39","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T18:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kineticmag.com\/?p=2582"},"modified":"2022-10-28T16:49:54","modified_gmt":"2022-10-28T16:49:54","slug":"snow-test-article","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kineticmag.com\/rock\/the-kinetic-staff\/snow-test-article\/","title":{"rendered":"Unclimbed Routes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Unclimbed Routes: Can You Still Charge Into the Unknown?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this era of V17 first ascents and speed running the world’s highest peaks, you wouldn’t be alone in wondering, “Is there anything left for me?”<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Nearly two centuries of alpine ascents built the colorful history of mountaineering, littered with stories of peril, success, betrayal, and death…but it also took something from Us.<\/h5>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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In an essay originally published in the American Alpine Journal<\/a>, Leigh Ortenburger outlines a brief history of American alpinism. In the early days, he talks about major peaks being undertaken by \u201centhusiasts.\u201d It isn\u2019t until the 1930\u2019s that surveying teams reach high points as a professional undertaking. As Grand Teton National Park was founded in 1929, the next 5 years would see over 30 first ascents in the Grand Teton range according to Ortenburger. All this, he writes, before \u201cthe notion that there was lasting significance associated with first ascents.\u201d That popular notion it seems became only more popular after World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why are we still chasing it today? And where can you even find unclimbed peaks or unsent routes? There aren\u2019t many and most require a level of dedication, physically, mentally, and monetarily, that not everyone can achieve. Here are just a few:<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Karakoram mountain complex is an alpine climber\u2019s fevered dreamscape. A grouping of massive mountains stretching across Afghanistan and northern Pakistan, the yet unclimbed crown jewel is North Ridge of Latok 1.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n

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The North Ridge of Latok 1<\/strong><\/em>, Karakoram Complex<\/strong><\/em><\/h6>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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After the mountain\u2019s initial defeat at the hands of a group of Americans in 1978, it\u2019s since maintained its allure in the stronghold of the North Ridge. 40 years of climbers, and none have been able to stay on the route above 5,500 feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2018, a group of climbers supported by CAMP made it nearly 2 \/3 of the way up but were forced onto another route for safety, leaving the remainder of the 8,200-foot North Ridge unfinished.<\/p>\n\n\n

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A post shared by Edmund Stump (@otherworldly__antarctica)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>