Rónán’s Asian adventure

Rónán’s Asian adventure

26 September 2012

A DOWNPATRICK student has scaled uncharted territory in the mountains of Central Asia.

Rónán Kernan travelled to the remote Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan last month to climb peaks that have never been climbed before, in a valley that has only ever seen one recorded human visit.

The major undertaking by Rónán and the team of six from the Queen’s University Mountaineering Club, was one of the most significant mountaineering expeditions to come out of Ireland in several years.

Far removed from the crowds, no guides or porters were used. In all, 10 routes in the mountains of Central Asia were climbed, including three peaks that had never been climbed.

Rónán, a 21 year-old mechanical engineering student, cut his teeth on the crags of the Mournes and Fair Head before undertaking winter climbs in Scotland and major routes in the Alps.

“Living in Downpatrick, there are plenty of mountains around and I had always enjoyed hill walking,” said Rónán, explaining how he got into his demanding hobby. “Then at the Freshers Bazaar at Queen’s I saw the mountaineering club being promoted.

“It has a tradition of adventurous and exploratory mountaineering and most recently ran an expedition to Greenland in 2008, successfully climbing new routes on several previously unclimbed mountains.”

Previous members include Dawson Stelfox, member of the 1993 Everest Expedition — the first successful Irish attempt to climb the highest peak in the world.

“The Central Asia trip was my first major expedition in an area not really explored,” said Rónán. “It was a natural progression. I’m confident climbing the Alps, which are quite similar, but this was stepping further into the unknown.”

After flying to Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, the team’s first task was to

buy enough provisions

for their month cut off from civilisation. Several days of off-road travel followed.

They then carried equipment and supplies on foot to a

base camp on a glacier and lived there for a month while acclimatising and then undertaking new routes on mountains up to 5500 metres in height.

“I did spend a lot of time in the gym in preparation, building up fitness, but it is mostly walking,” said Rónán. “The physical part is more about the altitude rather than technical difficulties.

“It is difficult in the general sense that it is near vertical ice.”

Tackling the glaciers with ice axes from 4am every morning for around two-and-a-half weeks isn’t everyone’s idea of a good summer, but Rónán insists it is “mostly fun”.

“You always forget how hard it is,” he said. “For the best conditions you have to get on it early and after that you normally walk until 2pm or 3pm. After that the snow and ice starts to melt.

“Where we were on the glacier three to four degrees and minus ten at night.”

Having made three runs up to the glacier with supplies before they started, however, the cold conditions were made a little more bearable by the 29 kilos of chocolate and 22 kilos of dried meat they had stored away.

“We also ate porridge with dried milk, dried fruit, flapjacks, noodles, pasta, cheese, anything that was palatable really,” said Rónán.

“After our day climbing it was chess, books, tea and trying to recover.”

Rónán and his team mates, who were also supported by the QUB Annual Fund, Mountaineering Ireland and the Mount Everest Foundation, are currently compiling a report of their climb. Rónán, a former St. Patrick’s Grammar School student, will also be giving a talk on his experiences in February in Belfast.