Gangshika

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Gangshika

Page Type:	Mountain/Rock
Lat/Lon:	37.69230°N / 101.50660°E
Activities:	Mountaineering
Season:	Summer
Elevation:	17238 ft / 5254 m
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Overview

Gangshika is the main peak of the Qilian mountain range, which separates Qinghai and Gansu provinces. The easy access, high altitude, and only moderately technical climbing makes it a popular mountain for climbers from the Xining and elsewhere in China.

Getting There

This is a mountain to do only if you're already in the area, most likely. But in general: Regular flights from Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Urumuqi and other cities to Xining （西宁）. Already at 2200m!

Bus or arrange a car to the town of Qingshizui (青石嘴). This is not far from the city of Menyuan (门源) in Haibei county (海北).

Route

The normal route is quite straightforward, and most teams now do it in two days, if you're already up on the plateau.

Travel: Xining to Qingshizui on the plateau (3200m). About 2 hrs drive. You could stay in this little town to acclimitize and get supplies, or head straight in and make a base camp as described below.

Day 1:

Drive to Gangshika Snow Mountain spot -- there is a small glacier toe at the parking, called the 'Seven Colors Waterfall' for the algae that sometimes grows on it. Already 3700m, and only 30min from Qingshizui.

Hike up the obvious trail to a grassy section, then follow the numerous red flags marking the rocky trail to another grassy flat section around 4100m. Here there is a stream and you can optionally make camp if coming straight from Xining.

Continue up the rock to the beginning of the glacier ~4300m, head up to an large flat rocky section directly below a ~300m round hill. This is the traditional Camp 1 4600m. You can identify it positively by the mass of trash all around. If acclimatized, no more than 3 hrs from parking to C1.

Day 2: Up the hill to the flat, crevassed foot of the main peak 4800m. A large prominant rock band runs almost the whole length of the main peak. Right of the rock appears to be the most common choice; left works as well. The rock is crap and essentially unprotectable. Snow is never steeper than 60°, usually more like 40°. To the top! About 3 hrs if moving well.

Descent: Back down the snow/ice, using Abalakovs and down climbing, appears to be the typical descent. We went down via the north ridge, both for a more interesting route and also to enjoy being up high for longer.

The route could certainly be done car-to-car in a day by a motivated team.

Normal route

Keywords for Chinese readers:

岗什卡雪峰攀登，登山，门源县雪峰，祁连山，岗什卡5254米。

Red Tape

While there is no red tape for the mountain (no fee, no permit required), Haibei County is currently restricted for foreigners. You need a special permit to transit and stay in the county. Unless this changes, few foreigners are likely to get a chance to climb this beautiful mountain!