2019/20 Winter Himalaya Climbs: Summit!

The first Himalayan summits of this winter season were on Ama Dablam while poor weather bogs down the other climbs. Ama Dablam – Summit! Alex Txikon and the team summited Ama Dablam. They will now move to Everest for an attempt on the standard SE Ridge route. His team includes Spaniard Oscar Cardo, Jonatan García and Nepalese […]

2019/20 Winter Himalaya Climbs: Progress in Bad Weather

Quiet across most of the Himalaya today. Progress on Ama Dablam while poor weather bogs down the Everest and Broad Peak advances. The K2 winter team is at base camp and will start climbing in a few days. Jost on Everest is back at base camp holding due to weather Everest – At Base Camp […]

2019/20 Winter Himalaya Climbs: Arriving at K2

The K2 winter team is almost at base camp but has been slowed by deep snow. Excellent progress on Ama Dablam and Broad Peak and Jost on Everest is back at base camp after overnighting on the Lho La. Summits on the Antarctica volcano Mt Sidely. Everest – Back to Base Camp German alpinist Jost Kobusch, […]

2019/20 Winter Himalaya Climbs: Moro Escapes Death & Ends Gasherbrum Attempt

If you climb long enough in icy, crevassed terrain, you or a teammate will fall in a crack. It happened to Simone Moro on Monday, January 20, 2020, in the Icefields at the base of Gasherbrum.  Thankfully he and his partner knew what to do. Basically, it appears a snow bridge collapsed under Moro’s boots […]

2019/20 Winter Himalaya Climbs: Moving Higher!

Broad Peak

Excellent progress on Gasherbrum and Broad Peak and Jost is on the move on Everest. There are expeditions on K2, Everest, Broad Peak, and the Gasherbrums plus a few others. Big Picture – Patience Pays Off Taking advantage of lower winds, but still, mind-numbing cold, teams from Everest to Broad Peak are climbing and establish […]

2019/20 Winter Himalaya Climbs: Cold Progress

K2 summit winds July 13, 2016. Courtsey of Dawa Sherpa Seven Summits Treks

It’s cold in the Himalaya!  Teams are fighting the conditions yet are making as good of progress as you might expect for the middle of winter. Camp 2 reached on Broad Peak. There are expeditions on K2, Everest, Broad Peak, and the Gasherbrums plus a few others. Big Picture – Cold The winds have calmed […]

2019/20 Winter Himalaya Climbs: Winds Stall Climbers

High winds on Denali preventing summit attempt

Big winds have returned to Everest and the Karakorum forcing teams to remain at base camp waiting out the storm. There are expeditions on K2, Everest, Broad Peak, and the Gasherbrums plus a few others. Big Picture To state the obvious, climbing big peaks in the winter is all about the weather. Regardless of your […]

2019/20 Winter Himalaya Climbs: Cold, Tough, Slow but Progress

Taking advantage of a small window of good weather progress was made on a few of the Himalayan peaks this week. More bad weather is expected later this weekend.  Meanwhile, Everest and K2 climbers have arrived in Nepal and Pakistan respectively to begin their trek to base camp. There are expeditions on K2, Everest, Broad […]

2019/20 Winter Himalaya Climbs: Poor Karakorum Weather, Everest WR Video

Jost Kobush on Winter 2019 Everest

Poor weather has hampered progress on Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums meanwhile we get a good look at the Everest West Ridge route. There are expeditions on K2, Everest, Broad Peak, and the Gasherbrums plus a few others. Everest – West Ridge Animation German alpinist Jost Kobusch, age 27, has announced on his Facebook page that […]