K2 2023 Coverage: And the Summits Keep Going on BP, GI and GII
Record summits are happening all over Pakistan this summer, including Broad Peak, GII and even GI. Pakistan has joined Nepal is monetizing their 8000ers with record permits issued this season. Pakistan reportedly issued a record number of climbing permits this year, even after a record 1,937 visitors to the Northern Territories last year. This despite raising the permit for their flagship peak, K2, from $5000 to 12,000 for a seven-member group.. #k2023
K2 2023 Coverage: Harila and Tenjen (Lama) Sherpa get 12th, More Summits on BP and GI
The peak bagging continues with summits on Broad Peak, GII and even GI. Kristin Harila got her twelfth summit leaving Broad and K2 to nab all fourteen in three months. Teams have continued their acclimatization rotations on K2. #k2023
K2 2023 Coverage: Weekend Summits on BP and GII
It was a good weekend on Gasherbrum II and Broad Peak, with multiple summits. Teams have continued their acclimatization rotations on K2, but some of the Nanga Parbat climbers will skip any rotations and go directly on their summit push. Kristin Harla did this on GII. #k2023
K2 2023 Coverage: Climbing Begins
Climbing on K2 has finally begun for the estimated 250 people there. They’ve been stalled by weeks of poor weather. Similarly, activity is picking up on Pakistan’s four other 8000-meter peaks. While it may seem late, most K2 summits occur at the end of July, so while the delay is annoying for the teams, it doesn’t pose a big problem. The larger issue is the condition of the mountain with the recent heavy snows and, now, an increased avalanche danger. The flip side of this is perhaps with the snow, rockfall will be less this year. #k2023
K2 2023 Karakorum: Nanga Parbat Climber Safe at Base Camp
Good news from Nanga Parbat with reports that Pakistani climber Asif Bhatti who became snowblind and was stranded at 7300m at Camp 4, is now back to base camp. Karrar Haidri, Secretary Alpine Club of Pakistan issued this statement:
Asif Bhatti arrived at Base Camp safely. He will be taken to Skardu by an army chopper from Nanga Parbat Base Camp. He’ll return to Islamabad after obtaining first care.
He has been assisted by Azerbaijan climber Israfil Ashurli who without a doubt saved his life when he joined him at Camp 4 and helped him though the difficult rock faces to C2. Mohammed Younis and Fazal Ali met them between C2 and C3 and then helped Bhatti to base camp. For a full good end to this story, we need to see Ashurli reach base camp. #k2023
Similar conditions last year caused most professional climbers to abandon Nanga. And even this year, seasoned professional Marco Confortola turned back, demonstrating excellent judgment in light of poor climbing conditions: #k2023
K2 2023 Karakorum: Nanga Parbat Death and Missing Summits
One climber died on July 3rd, and another needed rescue on Nanga Parbat. Polish media, wspinanie.pl reported that Paweł Kopeć died from Acute Mountain Sickness near Camp 4 at 7300 meters. He had summited with teammates Piotr Krzyżowski, and Waldemar Kowalewski. Reports from other climbers that day were of poor weather, even rain and high winds at the summit.
Similar conditions last year caused most professional climbers to abandon Nanga. And even this year, seasoned professional Marco Confortola turned back, demonstrating excellent judgment in light of poor climbing conditions: #k2023
K2 2023 Karakorum Update: More Nanga Summits
Summits continue on Nanga Parbat as teams arrive at K2 Base Camp. What used to be considered a massive technical challenge is now routine, with the Nepal guides using Everest techniques to fix rope, break trails, and establish camps. #k2023
K2 2023 Summer Coverage
The summer climbing season is fully underway, with summits on Nanga Parbat. Nepali operators are overpowering the peaks with a massive number of Sherpa support to fix ropes and break trail. Seven Summits Treks reported a massive team of twenty people, ten clients with ten Sherpas. #k2023
Podcast with Author, Journalist Billi Bierling of the Himalayan Database
Close followers of mountaineering know the Himalayan Database and Ms. Elizabeth Hawley. Who you may not know is Billi Bierling who worked with Ms. Hawley since 2004 and continues her work today along with a small team in Kathmandu and the US.
Billi, born in the Bavarian Alpine resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, is a well-traveled journalist working primarily for Swiss Humanitarian Aid as a communications expert. She also writes mountaineering articles for German and English-speaking magazines, translates or writes books and leads mountain treks and expeditions in Nepal and around the world. And she climbs mountains, big mountains including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Manaslu (fore summit) and Broad Peak – the latter three she summited without the help of supplemental oxygen.
Billi recently published a book, a memoir, Riding my Bike iN Kathmandu.
This in-depth podcast introduces us to Billi, her background in humanitarian work, her book and some of her climbs before discussing the changes we are seeing in the ever-commercialized world of mountaineering, especially in Nepal. Finally, we wrap up discussing the future of the Himalayan Database.
Grab a beverage or take a walk and please enjoy meeting Billi Bierling.
Everest 2023: An Insider Story
The 2023 Everest spring season is over, and most of the climbers are back home with their families. They’re providing an intimate look at their experiences, sharing tears, laughs and holding hands as their loved one reveals their true story. Often are is difficult, as no one likes to see their partner in pain, yet it comes through in their eyes as they describe seeing a dead body or being told the summit push is canceled because of winds. Yet they also share the joy of the summit. While one climbed, the other stayed home, often wondering.
Summit Coach client, Asher Perez, summited Mt. Everest in May with Phil Crampton’s Altitude Junkie team. His wife, Elianna Perez stayed home with their one-year-old daughter, wondering. After all, this spring was the deadliest season in history on Everest. This is her story.
#everest2023