Leading Austrian mountaineer Hansjörg Auer has soloed the 7000er Lupghar Sar West in the Karakorum. By completing this climb safely, Auer has succeeded in transferring his formidable alpine skills to the greater ranges.

When Auer began the climb at the end of June, unstable weather and high winds buffeted the Lupghar Sar summits. A clear weather window opened up only recently, and Auer hurried up the west face, topping out yesterday, July 8.

Auer took a line to the left of the face itself and finished up on the steep northwest ridge, which was awash with loose rock to the summit.