Mick Fowler on a Himalayan expedition two years ago

Two British climbers have posted a first ascent of a route in the Indian Himalaya.

Mick Fowler contacted his sponsors Berghaus briefly on a dodgy connection to say he and his climbing partner Paul Ramsden had successfully climbed the North-East Face of Hagshu.

The 6,515m (21,375ft) peak lies in the East Kishtwar region and has only been climbed twice, in the same year 25 years ago. The North-East Face route had never been successfully scaled.

The route defeated an SAS member’s expedition in the late 80s, but Mick Fowler, an HMRC inspector dubbed the Climbing Taxman, emailed to say: “Success! Back in Leh now.

“No phone contact here so I am trying to email on a wonderfully intermittent connection.

“Anyway, all good here with the run of successful trips continuing. Paul and I managed the first ascent of the North-East face of Hagshu followed by a traverse of the mountain to descend by the route that was followed by the first successful climbers of the peak back in 1989.

“The climb was a total of six days round trip from base camp. Our climb was brilliant and we should have some great pics and footage.”

A Berghaus spokesperson said Fowler was expected back in the UK later this week.

The former Alpine Club president was recently appointed a patron of the British Mountaineering Council.