Illustrative Himalayan snow ridge, not a photograph of the Ramjak Peak ascent

Expedition report · 25 September 2026

Ramjak Peak. The fast ascent.

White Expedition's team reports a 25 September 2026 ascent of Ramjak Peak (6,318m). Ricky Mountaineer and Rakesh Negi continued from the planned camp to the summit and returned to the roadhead that evening.

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Illustrative Himalayan image; Ramjak ascent photographs have not been supplied.

25 September 2026

Ramjak Peak 2026: an unplanned fast ascent

White Expedition field report / RAMJAK-2026-09-25

A safety-first account from the mountain.

An expedition record covering the team's route, conditions, decisions, and return from the White Expedition field team.

Expedition outcome

Summit reached; team returned to the roadhead

PeakRamjak Peak, 6,318m

RegionShinkula, Indian Himalayas

Field dates24–25 September 2026

StartAbout 4,600m roadhead, 6:45 AM

SummitAbout 3:40 PM, 25 September

ReturnRoadhead before 7:00 PM

Elapsed timeAbout 11h 38m, per team account

Summit climbersRicky Mountaineer and Rakesh Negi

Back to expedition timeline

The account

Expedition overview

The White Expedition team set out on 24 September 2026 with a two-day summit plan for Ramjak Peak. After travelling from Leh through Padum and Gongbo Ranjan, they checked the route near Shinkula Pass and spent the night at Gongbo Ranjan.

On 25 September, four team members moved from the approximately 4,600m roadhead towards the planned summit-camp area. Ricky Mountaineer (Rahul Thakur) and Rakesh Negi later made the final summit push; Kishu Chauhan and Masab supported the approach and helped carry tents, sleeping bags and other equipment to the advanced camp section.

The climbers reached the planned camp around 11:45 AM. In their account, favourable snow, good weather and remaining daylight prompted a fresh route assessment. Ricky and Rakesh continued to the 6,318m summit, reached it at approximately 3:40 PM and returned to the roadhead before 7:00 PM. The team reports an approximately 11-hour-38-minute roadhead-to-roadhead journey.

This was an experienced team's response to conditions on one day. It does not describe the standard Ramjak participant itinerary or guarantee that a similar pace or summit attempt is appropriate for other climbers.

Expedition log

Day by day in the field

A concise record of movement, conditions, teamwork, and the decisions that shaped each day in the field.

Day 124 September 2026

Leh to Shinkula reconnaissance

The four-person team left Leh at approximately 11:30 AM, travelled through the Zanskar region via Padum and Gongbo Ranjan, and continued towards Shinkula Pass.

After assessing the route and snow conditions, the team returned to Gongbo Ranjan for the night. The plan was to reach and establish summit camp on 25 September, then attempt the summit on 26 September.

Day 225 September 2026

From the roadhead to the summit and back

The team left Gongbo Ranjan around 6:00 AM and began climbing from the approximately 4,600m roadhead at 6:45 AM. A steep initial section brought them to roughly 5,000m at 8:45 AM.

They reached the planned summit-camp area at about 11:45 AM, several hours ahead of their expected schedule. After assessing snow, weather, the remaining terrain and daylight, Ricky Mountaineer and Rakesh Negi continued towards the summit while Kishu Chauhan and Masab supported the camp section and equipment load.

The final route involved steep snow-covered sections and long ridges. Ricky and Rakesh report reaching the 6,318m summit at approximately 3:40 PM, returning to the planned camp around 4:30–4:45 PM, and reaching the roadhead before 7:00 PM.

6:45 AM — climb began at the roadhead
8:45 AM — approximately 5,000m
11:45 AM — planned summit-camp area
3:40 PM — summit reached
4:30–4:45 PM — back at the camp area
Before 7:00 PM — return to the roadhead

Field notes

An opportunity assessed on the mountain.

The report records how a planned overnight summit schedule became a same-day push, with credit to the full four-person team.

Why the plan changed

The original plan reserved 25 September for reaching and establishing summit camp
The team arrived at the planned camp area around 11:45 AM
The summit decision followed an on-site assessment of snow, weather, terrain and remaining daylight
A fast ascent was an outcome of that assessment, not the original objective

The upper route

Steep climbing sections and long ridgelines
Snow-covered terrain and changing alpine conditions
Sections of an earlier route alongside direct alpine climbing
Continual route selection on the summit push and descent

Four-person team

Ricky Mountaineer (Rahul Thakur) and Rakesh Negi made the final summit push
Kishu Chauhan and Masab supported the approach to the advanced camp section
The support pair helped carry equipment for the original overnight camp plan
The report credits both summit climbers and support members

How to read the time

The team reports approximately 11 hours 38 minutes from roadhead to roadhead
The start and return clock times in the account are approximate
This is described as the team's fastest recorded Ramjak ascent in its own records
No independently verified mountain-wide speed record is claimed

What the mountain taught us

A faster route decision belongs to the conditions, skills and daylight of that particular climb; the mountain still requires a conservative plan and the option to turn around.

The team reports a successful summit and return to the roadhead. This account is a record of that climb, not a suggested pace or acclimatisation model for clients.