Having struggled to recruit porters for their approach to basecamp, the team was forced to split at Carpogoro with Thompson concluding that he would be unable to make the 26km carry to Virjerab Sar’s (6,497m) ABC. De-Berger and Lessa reached their ABC two days later. They made two attempts to access the mountain, first via the north col and then by the west. Despite climbing through the night in the hopes of finding colder conditions, they were forced to turn back by poor snow conditions and the added challenge of navigating significant crevasses in the dark. On 01 July, having relocated 6km down the glacier, the pair were able to make what they believe to be the first complete ascent of PK5880, simul-climbing the entire way. Lessa’s GPS measured a height of 5,905m on the summit.