2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - ASAJYA TUPPA
This team reached base camp over 13 days from Simikot. This was followed by 4 days of heavy snow.
While they were able to identify a likely gully leading to the ridge east of Asajya Tuppa's summit, the avalanche risk remained too high for an attempt.
2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - HLQP
Part of a larger project looking to assess the drivers of late quaternary palaeoglaciation in the Himalaya, this expedition undertook bathymetry of Pyramid Lake to identify appropriate sample locations, before extracting 3 cores from the lake bed for analysis.
A crowded lecture hall with a figure on stage in front of a slide reading 'Welcome to Summits, Science & Survival'.
Many thanks to everyone who joined us last night for 'Summits, Science & Survival' and in particular to our two teams of fabulous speakers for thrilling and educating us in equal measure.
Getting things ready at the RGS ahead of tonight's lecture.
If you'd like to join us to hear some fascinating stories from the frontlines of mountain exploration, tickets are still on sale ➡️ tinyurl.com/9a9s5vmc
A climber steps out onto a steep wall of snow and ice.
You abseil down, move to the side and immediately hear the ice above you collapse.
This was the experience of James Price and George Ponsonby as they established one of the hardest routes of 2025.
Join us tomorrow night at the RGS to hear the full story ➡️ tinyurl.com/9a9s5vmc
A climber crossing a snow slope towards a rocky summit.
The summit of Sumna Himal, a final rocky pinnacle accessed via a snow slope on its left.
A view of Sumna Himal from the valley, showing an archetypal pyramidal peak among cloud above a fractured glacier.
2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - CHANGLA HIMAL
After a 55km approach on foot from Simikot, James O’Sullivan and Andrew Attfield succeeded in making the first ascent of Sumna Himal (6084m), climbing by the mountain's north ridge before crossing the north face to access the summit via the west ridge.
There's just one week to go until our 2026 lecture, which features talks on one of the most impressive first ascents of the last 5 years and an emerging threat to mountain communities.
Book now for SUMMITS, SCIENCE & SURVIVAL.
A climber ascending a snowslope towards the camera in the dark of early morning as an orange horizon indicates that the sun is rising.
Three horses being led into a river valley with a set of snowy mountains on the horizon.
A climber descending ropes towards the camera as an icy summit pyramid lloms above them.
2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - SAPAR
This young expedition team successfully identified a route into the Nura valley in the Alay region of south Kyrgyzstan. Once established, they made the first ascents of 4 peaks & attempts on 2 more, bringing back vital information about the valley's geogrpahy.
The west face of Peak 6010 in northwest Nepal, showing little snow and evidence of recent rock collapse.
The north face of Peak 6010 in northwest Nepal showing a heavily-crevassed glacier approach and recent serac collapse.
The east face and south ridge of Peak 6010 in northwest Nepal showing a very dry, rocky aspect.
The south face of Peak 6010 in northwest Nepal showing large quantities of hard, exposed ice and bare rock.
2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - LIMI
Challenging conditions put paid to this expedition's plans as they arrived to find the west face of their objective bare (Pic1). With no safe route to the north face (pic 2), they planned for an ascent from the east (pic 3), but heavy snow prevented an attempt.
A photo of a climber from below with two ropes snaking up towards them. They are looking down to inspect their foot placement and we can see that they are trying to find a good spot for their crampons on a blank, steep section of rock. In the bottom right of the image in white block capital text are the words 'ONE MONTH TO GO'.
There’s just one month to go until our 2026 Lecture!
If you want to hear the full story of ‘one of the gnarliest routes’ of 2025, then make sure you grab your tickets now for ‘Summits, Science & Survival’, 26 March at the @rgs.org, London
🎟️ Book your place now ➡️ tinyurl.com/9a9s5vmc
A climber wearing several warm layers abseiling a rock face towards a glacier.
A climber stemming up a rock corner towards a striking sky of dark blue dotted with light clouds.
A climber traversing away from the camera up a slab that hangs above a rippling glacier. In the background is a pyramidal peak in the centre of a rocky ridgeline.
2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - STIRLING UNIVERSITY
This team of four established several new trad and alpine lines to the north of their basecamp on Rodin Bay in eastern Greenalnd. Two of the team also completed a 23km loop of the main rock massif, during which they undertook nanoplastic sampling.
Two large, deeply coloured lakes below a line of mountain ridges,
As glaciers around the world recede, they leave behind them a new & unpredictable threat.
Glacial lakes look beautiful, but when their banks burst they threaten the lives & livelihoods of the communities downstream.
Join us to learn more about this growing threat on 26 March ➡️ tinyurl.com/9a9s5vmc
A purple line traces a line of ascent up an impressive ridgeline on a twoering mountain face. Camps are indicated on the ridge and just shy of the summit. A dashed line shows a different line of descent between two huge glaciers,
A pair of ropes lead out away from the camera towards a climber making difficult moves in crampons on a blank rock face.
Two climbers in sunglasses and many layers of clothing smile into the camera on a mountain summit.
Climbing Magazine described it as 'one of the gnarliest routes' of 2025.
Over 9 gruelling days, George Ponsonby and James Price made the first ascent of the northwest face of Aikache Chhok (6673m).
Join us on 26 March at the @rgsibg.bsky.social to hear their incredible story ➡️ tinyurl.com/9a9s5vmc
A climber descends a snow slope, their pole and walking axe spread to either side for stability.
2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - SPANG NALA
In August 2025, Shar Mathias & Oak Jones linked the 3 main peaks in the Spang Nala area in a single-day.
After crossing 2 unnamed glaciers, they went on to link all of the major peaks at the head of the Mantang glacier ➡️ www.mef.org.uk/expeditions/...
A graphic showing a picture of an abseiling climber and two large glacial lakes. In large text on the left of the image it says 'Summits, Science & Survival' below a ticket-style graphic that reads '2026 MEF Lecture'. In the bottom right corner, there is a similar ticket-stub-style graphic which reads: "RGS, London 26 March 2026"
As the mountains change around us, this year's MEF lecture looks to the future, bringing together alpinists who represent the fresh face of modern mountaineering & scientists working to protect mountain communities from new climate hazards.
📍RGS, London
📆 26 March
Book now 🎟️ tinyurl.com/9a9s5vmc
Three climbers walk along a striking snow ridge as it rises towards the base of a peak.
Two climbers ascend a snowed-up rock face.
A climber in a yellow jacket stands, arms outstretched, on a mountain summit.
2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - BAFFIN ISLAND
Travelling mostly by ski between camps, this team of four from the UK succeeded in making seven ascents of previously unclimbed peaks in the area around the Nerutusoq and Fork Beard glaciers.
Full report here ➡️ www.mef.org.uk/expeditions/...
Fantastic to see this MEF-backed expedition profiled in the American Alpine Club's 'The Line' feature.
Exactly the sort of expedition we love to support. One which headed off the beaten track to find unclimbed peaks and new connections between glacier systems.
A woman in a yellow down jacket sits beside melting ice, monitoring something on a screen.
2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - LOSTMELT
This scientific expedition successfully trialled a novel technique which used nobel gasses to trace groundwater.
They plan to return to the Khumbu glacier in Spring 2026 and assess where the 'lost' meltwater from the glacier's hydrological system goes.
2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - PROJECT TOGETHER
This Nepali team aimed to make the first ascent of Khayang Peak (6186m) by the SW face.
Despite making good progress through the Khayang glacier, they were forced to turn back at 5,220m due to whiteout conditions. ➡️ www.mef.org.uk/expeditions/...
Two climbes skin across a snowy slope, a mountain-ringed glacier laid out behind them.
Our next funding round closes on 31 January.
If you're planning a mountaineering or scientific expedition in 2026, you could qualify for MEF funding.
Don't miss out 👉 tinyurl.com/4v8ev3py
#ExpeditionFunding
There's still time to grab your tickets for our panel at this year's Kendal Mountain Festival.
Get a front row seat to hear tales of unseen summits and untouched valleys from the climbers and scientists operating on the edge of exploration ➡️ tinyurl.com/5debvte6
"If single unclimbed peaks are hard to find in this era of online beta, imagine an entire range where no climbers have set foot ever before."
Great write-up on ExplorersWeb about one of this year's more eventful MEF-backed expeditions.
A blue rope snakes away from the camera towards a climber in red on a broken glacier.
We're excited to be returning to Kendal Mountain Festival next month to run our 'Spirit of Discovery' session with @alpineclub.bsky.social.
Join us to hear from mountaineers & scientists at the cutting-edge of exploration ➡️ tinyurl.com/2evacf45
We're beyond thrilled to see six climbs achieved by MEF-supported teams on the Piolets d'Or 'Significant Ascents of 2024' list.
A fantastic mark of both the climbers' abilities and their high ethical and stylistic standards.
A climber seen from behind advancing up a large snow field towards rocks.
Our current funding round closes to applications on the 30th of this month.
If you're from the UK, New Zealand or Nepal and are planning an exploratory mountaineering or scientific expedition, don't miss your chance to apply ➡️ tinyurl.com/c2pnhhhn
Two young Nepali men smile at the camera as they collect samples from a river.
A quick reminder that we support scientific expeditions as well as mountaineering ones and that our current funding round for both closes at the end of this month.
Don't miss your chance to apply ➡️ tinyurl.com/5c2xnxxj
Planning a mountaineering or scientific expedition? The @mef-official.bsky.social offers grants for eligible expeditions. Deadlines: 30 Sept 2025 (for trips Dec 2025–mid-April 2026) and 31 Jan 2026 (for later trips). More info on eligibility & available funding options ➡️
Two red tents pitched in a snowy landscape surrounded by pulks and ski equipment. There are mountains on the horizon.
Our next grant application deadline is the 30 September 2025.
If you have an exploratory mountaineering or scientific expedition planned between December this year and the end of 2026, don't miss your chance to secure MEF funding.
Details here ➡️ tinyurl.com/5c2xnxxj
📷 Ben James
2024 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - FOOTSTEPS 55
This team visited the Jugal Himal to honour the 1955 Ladies Scottish Expedition, the 1st all-women expedition to visit the Himalaya.
They made an attempt on an unclimbed peak of ~6,200m but closing weather forced a retreat at 5,500m.
2024 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - ROLWALING
This expedition achieved the first ascents of the east face of Takargo East (6152m) and of a highly difficult line up the ridge that splits the north and northwest faces of Linku Chuli II.
Full report here ➡️ tinyurl.com/3d2tyk2e