March-May scoring 5/5 — the under-talked shoulder season. Snow recedes from the ridges, rhododendrons bloom, the high-altitude passes start to reopen. Each pick had to score peak in this specific window.
Match altitude to month — March picks are sub-2,500 m (Almora, Tirthan); April-May open up to 3,000-3,500 m (Tabo, Sangla); late-May handles up to 4,000 m once the passes clear. Don't push higher than the pass-opening calendar.
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