CRITICAL THINKING

IN 2024 FEEDING THE RAT EXPEDITIONS OBTAINED THE FIRST PERMITS TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE K2 MASSIF SINCE 2011, INCLUDING THE NORTH SIDE OF K2 ITSELF. THE OBJECTIVES WERE A +6500m FIRST ASCENT, OBSERVATIONS OF GLACIAL CHANGES OVER THE PAST DECADE, RECCE OF THE NORTHERN CHINA SIDE OF K2 IN EARLY WINTER CONDITIONS, AND A BRIEF VISIT TO THE CHINA SIDE OF THE GASHERBRUMS.

THIS IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED.

THERE’S A LOT GOING ON HERE

WE BARTERED OUR SOULS AT THE CROSS ROADS OF TURKESTAN AND TIBET A LONG TIME AGO, IN EXCHANGE FOR GAINING ACCESS TO THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF UNCLIMBED HIGH ALTITUDE PEAKS ON EARTH. WE WILLINGLY HANDED OVER ANY PLACE IN THE COMMERCIAL CLIMBING INDUSTRY, TO HAVE PERMISSION TO PLACES FAMOUS FOR BEING KNOWN AS FORBIDDEN

AS MUCH AS WE CAN SELL THIS AS ‘RETRO’, ‘PROTO’, ‘RETURN TO’, ‘OLD SKOOL’, ‘STRAIGHT EDGE’ OR ‘RAW DOG’ WE ARE NOT – WE SIMPLY DO ALPINISM AT ITS MOST STRAIGHTFORWARD, WHICH IS TO GO CLIMB COOL STUFF IN AMAZING PLACES WITH AS LITTLE BULLSHIT AS POSSIBLE.

“WE HATE TO ADVOCATE COOKING INSIDE TENTS, FRANKEN-STOVES, AFTER-MARKET PARTS AND PATCHED TOGETHER HEAT EXCHANGERS TO ANYONE, BUT THEY’VE ALWAYS WORKED FOR US” – HUNTER S THOMPSON (SORT OF)

IN 2025 WE HAVE LARGE BLOCKS DEVOTED TO VARIOUS REGIONS AND OBJECTIVES, CAPITALIZING ON CONDITIONS ACROSS AN AREA THE SIZE OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE. WITHIN THIS REGION ARE THOUSANDS OF OBJECTIVES INCLUDING THE WORLDS HIGHEST, REMOTEST, MOST OBSCURE AND LEAST ATTEMPTED MOUNTAINS, THAT AWAIT THE RIGHT CLIMBERS WITH THE RIGHT STUFF TO CLIMB THEM.

BETWEEN NOVEMBER 1st AND DECEMBER 16th 2024 WE ARE ON EXPEDITION IN TIBET AND THE KARAKORUM. WE EXPECT NO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS DURING THIS TIME. PLEASE SEND ENQUIRIES AS USUAL, AND THEY WILL BE ANSWERED IN ORDER OF ARRIVAL AND PRIORITY ON RETURN. IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL UNTIL THE DAY OF DEPARTURE.

THE ONE THING WE WILL SAY IS THAT THE TRAINING OUTLINED HITS HARD, AND DOESN’T MINCE WORDS WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT ENDURANCE MEANS. THIS IS THE STUFF YOU WOULD WISH YOU HAD DONE ALL THOSE TIMES WHEN FACED WITH YOUR LIMITS, AND CONCERNS THE TEARING OF REALITY OUT BEYOND WHERE MOST – MAYBE ALL – OTHER DEFINITIONS OF ENDURANCE END.

THE TRIPS OUTLINED HERE ARE NOT ONLY ALL HAPPENING – THEY ARE CONFIRMED, SCHEDULED AND BOOKED – BUT ARE ALL UNIQUE, TRUE EXPEDITIONS, INTO PLACES RARELY IF EVER VISITED. SOME OF THESE TRIPS ARE CLOSED, TEAMS FINALIZED MONTHS AGO, BUT OTHERS STILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO JOIN OR TO ADAPT INTO THEIR OWN OBJECTIVES.

THE NORDA 001s MAY JUST BE THE BEST CHECK-IN TO GLACIER SHOE AROUND, NONE OF WHICH THEY REALLY MARKET FOR BUT WHICH LOOMS LARGE IN THE THINGS WE LIKE. A CLIMBER COULD MAKE THESE THEIR ONLY SHOES ON A TRIP OTHER THAN THEIR BIG BOOTS IF THEY WERE TO TRAVEL VERY LIGHT AND DIRECT ONTO THE RIGHT SORT OF OBJECTIVE.