Exit from Nuamkuan Icefall Bypass coloir

Nuam Kuan (a.k.a. Nuamkuam) Glacier is a southern tributary to Dychsu (a.k.a. Dykh-Kotyu-Bugaj ) glacier, which is the crevissed body of ice visible far below. The upper glacial plateau is nested just North of the Main Range of the Caucusus just off the Eastern end of Bezengi Wall, in the shadow of mighty Shkhara. A very large dual-tier icefall blocks off direct ascent from Dykhsu glacier. A giant snow coloir branches North below the icefall, and provides a convenient bypass to the Upper Plateau. In the upper reaches of the coloir, the route turns sharply left (SW) into a lesser snow coloir with a chockstone, and up class 3-4 rock. This picture is taken on the exit from the second coloir, where we placed a short section of fixed rope. August 1987