2024/25 Winter Himalaya Climbs Update 2: Jost Successful

The winter season is underway for four of the 8000ers: Everest, Makalu, Manaslu and Annapurna. High winds are stalling two, and two are effectively over. One has met their their goal.

Jost Kobush tags 7537m on West Ridge

German Alpinist Jost Kobusch is in Dingboache after accomplishing his objective of a winter, solo, no-O’s climb to reach over 7500 meters on Everest’s West Ridge. He made it in six days after arriving at base camp. An earthquake in Tibet forty miles north of Everest shook Jost in his tent as he returned to Camp 1 after tagging 7537, so he decided it was enough for 2025 and headed down. In his own words, he posted an update about the earthquake mission on Instagram:

This morning I was shaken by an earthquake in my camp1 at 5700m. Avalanches shooting down with ice chunks and rocks right and left. One pressure wave of a collapsing serac explosion hit the tent, so I was leaning against it. I was a bit confused if that was the earth-shaking from a huge mass of ice crashing down the mountain or the other way around. My tent was pierced at a few places, and a window ripped out. But then things calmed down and I went back to sleep. Only when I made breakfast in the morning I received a lot of satellite message on my Zoleo device & came to the realization that it really was a serious earthquake. I waited for a few hours for things to settle down and started my descent. I definitely don’t want to experience any aftershocks up there.

You can see his climb on the excellent tracking map at 3D Reality Maps, which uses Zoleo, and on his social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and his website. I did two interviews with Jost at:

A more recent interview was by for Alpismonline.com on December 31, 2024. 

Moro Moving to Manaslu BC

Italian Simone Moro and team are finally headed to Manaslu base camp after acclimatizing on Ama Dablam. He is back for the sixth winter attempt on Manaslu, the eighth-highest at 8,163m/26,782 ft. He prefers winter climbing, especially on 8000ers, with four first winter ascents: Shishapangma, 2005; Makalu, 2009; Gasherbrum II, 2011; and Nanga Parbat, 2016. His partners are Nima Rinji Sherpa, the youngest to summit all 14 800ers, Polish climber and filmmaker Oswald Rodrigo Pereira. Moro notes, “This morning we finally move to Manaslu base camp, from where we will officially begin our winter attempt on the mountain. It will be a chess game with the wind and elements, hoping to find a window of good conditions.” It appears Moro and crew will have to wait for the high winds to calm if they do.

Makalu Surprise

A tiny team of two climbers, Abolfazl Gozali,62, of Iran and Sanu Sherpa,49, of Nepal, want to try Makalu this winter. As reported by ExWeb, Gozali has no winter experience outside of Iran. Zinc has Manaslu and Lhoste via the normal routes in spring. Sanu has summited all 14 8000ers twice. High winds are currently attacking the peak.

Txikon Over on Annapurna

Alex Txikon wanted a winter climb in Annapurna but developed appendicitis and was evacuated to Kathmandu for surgery. The plans of the two climbers with him, young Pakistani climber Sajid Ali Sadpara and Italian Mattia Conte and Pole Waldemar Kowalewski, are unknown but reportedly over. Txikon’s media team posted on Instagram:

Alex is recovering well after undergoing emergency surgery for appendicitis in Kathmandu. The appendicitis surgery he underwent was successfully completed and the mountaineer is now out of danger. Although his evolution is favorable, specialists have recommended total rest for the time being.

Climb On!
Alan
Memories are Everything


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The winter season is underway for four of the 8000ers: Everest, Makalu, Manaslu and Annapurna. High winds are stalling two, and two are effectively over. One has met their their goal. 

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