Congratulations to the members of the 2026 Alpine Club Misgar Valley Expedition who, over a month in Pakistan, succeeded in making the first ascents of three previously unclimbed peaks: Murghi Sar (5597m), Mahal (5355m) and Pehradar (5488m).

2026 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - TIEN SHAN Despite being forced to relocated the site of their planned base camp due to high river levels, this team of six succeeded in climbing 21 peaks between 4057m & 4739m, of which they believe 15 to be first ascents. More here ➡️ www.mef.org.uk/expeditions/...

Ready for takeoff? There are just 15 days until our Autumn funding round closes to applications. If you have an expedition taking place from this December onwards, make sure you've applied for funding ➡️ www.mef.org.uk/information/...

We are extremely grateful to the judges at the 2026 Mountain Festival in Ladek, Poland who have recognised the MEF-funded film 'The Five Treasures of The Snows' as the 'Best Adventure & Exploration Film' at the festival. Full story here ➡️ tinyurl.com/4tnfwyzr

We we were absolutely thrilled to learn that a route achieved as a result of MEF funding for the Young Alpinist Group, James Price and George Ponsonby's first ascent of the NW face of Aikache Chokk, is one of four climbs to be recognised with a 2026 Piolet d'Or. Congratulations James and George!

MEF-Supported Ascent Receives Piolet d'Or

The pair's new line,  Secrets, Shepherds, Sex and Serendipity (M7, A2+, AI5, 3,000m), which marked only the second ascent of Aikache Chokk, was hailed as…

mef.org.uk

The MEF has been shocked & saddened by the loss of life & devastation caused by flash flooding in Nepal & Tibet. Our thoughts are with the many people killed in the disaster, as well as the friends & family of the dead and missing. We are encouraging donations to a number of emergency appeals 👇️

Emergency Appeal: Nepal Floods

Our thoughts at this time are with the many people killed in the disaster, as well as the friends and family of the dead and missing.  Following such…

mef.org.uk

This year's Doug Scott Memorial Lecture is a rare opportunity to hear from 2 of the climbers who knew him best, as John Porter & Paul 'Tut' Braithwaite discuss the 1975 Everest Southwest Face Expedition. Pick up tickets for 6 Oct at Oxford Uni Museum of Natural History ➡️ www.canepal.org.uk/events

2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - GLACIER LAKE OUTBURST FLOODING This scientific expedition asessed the bathymetry of Thorthormi lake in Bhutan, which poses significant flooding risk to the surrounding areas. The team also used a drone to survey four high-risk glacial lakes (including Thorthormi).

2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - EVEREST EROSION RATE Elevation-dependent erosion rates form a significant gap in the academic literature which this expedition set out to fill. Poor weather forced them to work in the Pyramid valley rather than the Khumbu as planned, but they did gather usable data.

2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - TENGKANGPOCHE The south ridge of Tengkangpoche (6487m) is a striking unclimbed line. This team had hoped to achieve its 1st ascent by utilising the post-monsoon conditions. Unfortunately, a late storm put paid to their plans with the lingering threat of avalanches.

2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - LANGTANG VALLEY Building on work from November 2024, this scientific expedition conducted research into disconnected & fragmented glaciers, collecting dGPS and drone surveys, as well as snow depth and density datasets that will allow glacier-wide modelling.

2025 MEF EXPEDITION SUMMARIES - YUKSHIN GARDAN SAR Extremely warm conditions forced this team to acclimatise on their objective: the north ridge of Yukshin Gardan Sar. They made good progress over 2 days before an accident with an ice axe saw Wright sustain a serious injury & forced a retreat.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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/...

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

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.

The American Alpine Club

The American Alpine Club is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Our vision is a united community of competent climbers and healthy climbing landscapes.

americanalpineclub.org

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.