Mick Fowler and Vic Saunders were regular climbing partners in the 1980s when both men lived in London.  They became well known in mountaineering circles for completing many challenging Scottish winter routes, including Shield Direct on Ben Nevis, which was the first to be graded VI in a Scottish guide book. Fowler and Saunders also explored the Himalaya and their last climb together before an extended break was the first ascent of the Golden Pillar of Spantik (Pakistan) in 1987. They reunited in 2016 to achieve a first ascent on the north face of Sersank in the Indian Himalaya, and had planned more expeditions before Fowler's cancer diagnosis delayed them.

Following successful treatment, Fowler has returned to fitness and expeditions, and now explores the Himalaya with the additional challenge of needing to use a colostomy bag. In 2019, he teamed up with Saunders for two attempts to make a first ascent of Chombu in India, but they were thwarted by a combination of bad weather and illness caused by freeze dried food that had gone off. The two climbers have now identified a new unclimbed objective and will fly to the Himalaya later this month.

If the expedition goes to plan, Fowler and Saunders will return to the UK towards the end of September. Updates will be shared via Berghaus' social media channels as soon as they are available.