Kuh-e Bandaka

Kuh-e Bandaka (Pashto: کوه بندکا) or Kohe Bandaka, Koh-i Bandaka, Bandako, or incorrectly Koh-i-Bandakor[3][4]) is one of the highest peaks of the Hindu Kush mountain range in northeastern Afghanistan. It is northeast of Kabul and west of Chitral. Separated by a relatively low pass from the core of the Hindu Kush, it is the second highest mountain entirely within Afghanistan,[3] and the most topographically prominent peak in all of Afghanistan.[1]

Kuh-e Bandaka
Kuh-e Bandaka Location in Afghanistan
Highest point
Elevation	6,812 m (22,349 ft) [1][2]
Prominence	2,834 m (9,298 ft) [1] Ranked 118th
Isolation	75 km (47 mi)
Listing	Ultra
Coordinates	36°10′45″N 70°59′00″E [1]
Naming
Native name	کوه بندکا  (Pashto)
Geography
Location	Afghanistan
Province	Badakhshan
Parent range	Hindu Kush
Climbing
First ascent	1960 by Wolfgang von Hansemann, Dietrich Hasse, Siegbert Heine, and Johannes Winkler[3]
Easiest route	Glacier/snow climb

On September 22, 1960, the second German expedition to visit the Hindu Kush made the first ascent of Kuh-e Bandaka. The members of the expedition were Wolfgang von Hansemann, Dietrich Hasse, Siegbert Heine, and Johannes Winkler, all from West Berlin; all attained the summit. They made four camps, with their base camp in the Dare-Sachi Valley at an altitude of 4,100 m (13,451 ft). The expedition also made multiple first ascents in the Pagar Valley of the Hindu Kush, and made meteorological and geological observations and sketch maps.[3]

There have been over fifteen subsequent ascents, via a variety of routes; however there have been no recorded ascents since 1977.[5]

References

1. Afghanistan ultra-prominent peaks on peaklist.org
2. Some sources, e.g. the Himalayan Index, give 6843 metres; the AAJ 1961 article gives 6660 metres.
3. Siegbert Heine, "Berlin Hindu Kush Expedition", American Alpine Journal, 1961, p. 418.
4. Robin Hartshorne, "Bandako", American Alpine Journal, 1966.
5. Himalayan Index (Alpine Club)