Photo Gallery

15,600′ basecamp at the foot of the North Ridge of Annapurna IV. Morning clouds burn off the summit of Annapurna III in the background.

Ben Clark locks his down his heel. The team had to disassemble and reassemble skis for portering in to basecamp.

Tim Clarke (with cup) and Ben Clark eye the line they hope to climb and ski.

Josh Butson takes it all in below the North face of Annapurna II.

Josh Butson in the lead on the Approach to Annapurna I basecamp. The 11,000′ North face that spans between Annapurna II and IV can be seen behind him.

Tim Clarke skins a steep section en route to the face at the base of Annapurna IV’s North Ridge.

Ben Clark post holes up some steep and deep snow in a chute on the North Ridge of Annapurna IV

With Josh Butson in the lead, Tim Clarke and Ben Clark climb up a 45 degree chute they will later ski.

Josh Butson throws on his harness at Camp 1 on the North ridge of Annapurna IV.

The various layers of buildup present at 8AM on any given day. The peak in the distance is Makalu

Josh Butson leading out on a steep section of climbing on the North Ridge of Annapurna IV

Ben Clark, relaxed and ready on a steep section in a Serac band on the north ridge of Annapurna IV.

Ben Clark leads the meat of the route, a steep section of snow and ice followed by a disentegrating roof. This was the crux of the route.

Josh Butson taking it easy after a long hard day of technical climbing to reach High camp on Annapurna IV.

After snowing a foot in four hours, Josh (left) and Ben (right) elect to retreat.

Clark and Butsons ski bindings, the skies are bound together one directly on top of the other and almost buried while sitting on the slope above the tent. It snowed a foot in four hours and after slogging through considerable to high avalanche danger for most of the climb, this storm was the last warning before descent.

Higher than most summits in the region, Josh Butson flakes out the rope before he and Ben Clark began the harrowing descent.

Josh Butson leads down after the storm that snowed a foot on four hours and took away the summit, but luckily granted the last day to get down.

Ben Clark rappels a section of steep ice on the descent of Annapurna IV.

Ben Clark carves through a steep chute as the team skis Annapurna IV for the first time-ever!

On the first foray of the mountain, Josh Butson stays on top of the deepest corn snow around.

Tim and Josh navigate the deep corn snow of the lower section of Annapurna IV.