Nanga Parbat Summit Bid: Tomek and Elisabeth at 7200m

Tomek Mackiewicz and Elisabeth Revol have reached 7200m on Nanga Parbat, and aiming to reach summit tomorrow or day after.

Tomek Mackiewicz and Elisabeth Revol have reached 7200m on Nanga Parbat. Although precise details about their location and plan for further ascent are not available, it’s believed that they will launch summit push either tonight or tomorrow night. Excellent conditions are predicted for at least a couple of days. Mountain Forecast suggests that weather will be sunny and windless till Sunday.

The duo went up from C3 (at around 6600m), today. Simone Moro thinks, Elisabeth and Tomek should establish two camps – C4 (where the climbers currently are) and C5, before launching summit bid. Daniele Nardi says, they have a good chance but need to be quick.

It’s Tomek Mackiewicz’ sixth consecutive year on Nanga Parbat and he knows the mountain better than anyone else. The Pole have climbed and reached high on both Rupal (made it to 7400m) and Diamir side (7800m) of the mountain. Elisabeth Revol have attempted Mummery Ridge (reached 6400m) and the Messner-Messner-Eisendle-Tomaseth 2000 route (7800m).

Tomek and Elisabeth reached around 7800m on Northeast side, last year. Although, they were roughly 300 vertical meters below summit, it was a long route. They needed at least two days to reach the top. Having already spent more than a week high on the mountain and amidst deteriorating weather, they turned back. The duo reached BC after an eventful descent.

They are getting closer to the summit and would want to pull it off this time. Due to a long walk (including descent and rise) at high altitude, they have decided not to follow footsteps of Reinhold Messner, Hubert Messner, Hanspeter Eisendle, and Wolfgang Tomaseth. Tomek and Elisabeth rather wanted to go up the couloir to join Kinshofer route somewhere around 7000m. As of now, the duo’s actual route is not confirmed.

On Kinshofer route, the climbers have two advantages; a) shorter path to summit. b) Safety of newly fixed ropes till 6500m (installed by Alex Txikon and Ali Sadpara). The Kinshofer route team may also be on the mountain for next couple of days. However, there are no reports from BC, of Tomek and Elisabeth being seen on Kinshofer route. (Messner-Messner-Eisendle-Tomaseth route remains hidden from BC).

Daniele Nardi left for C1, this afternoon. It was his first ‘encounter‘ with the mountain since suffering a fall. Depending upon weather, he – along with Ali and Alex – will set up C3 (6700m) and if possible C4 (7400m). Simone Moro and Tamara Lunger are still in BC.