Guillaume Pierrel of France has died in an avalanche on Pakistan’s K6 today, according to a report issued by local Hushe Valley authorities, where the peak is located.
“According to preliminary reports, the accident occurred during the ascent when a sudden avalanche of snow and rocks swept over the climber, killing him on the spot,” The Pamir Times wrote.
K6 West Face. Photo: Alpine Adventure Guides
Two others missing
Pierrel, 40, was with two other international climbers, whose names have not been revealed. A rescue team comprised of local police officers and volunteers has been deployed to retrieve the body and locate the other two climbers, whose whereabouts are unknown. Officials and rescuers only noted that they have not yet returned to Base Camp.
Christina Lustenberger and Guillaume Pierrel. Photo: Mathurin Vauthier
Pierrel’s regular skiing partner, Christina Lustenberg of Canada, recently mentioned on Instagram Stories that she and Pierrel were traveling to Pakistan, but she didn’t share details about the goal. It is unknown if Lustenberg was on the mountain when the accident happened. We have no confirmed information about the third member of the team.
We are currently verifying details because some information is contradictory. The expedition had a climbing permit for K6, but some Pakistan-based outfitters said it is unclear whether the accident occurred on K6 or on Kapura Peak, a nearby lesser mountain.
K6 location, east of the Hushe Valley. Map by Google Earth
K6 is in a subrange in the southern Karakoram, near Masherbrum, the goal of two teams this season. One of them, a Czech team, should be on its way to Masherbrum or already in Base Camp.
Anwar Sied of Lela Peaks and Karim Hushevi of Discover Karakoram told ExplorersWeb that the mountains of northern Pakistan endured a stormy spell between May 17 and May 21, with rain or snow, depending on the altitude. Then the weather stabilized.
Elite climbers and skiers
Lustenberg and Pierrel had skied some extreme lines never done before on peaks around the world, including Mount Cook in New Zealand and Mount Robson in the Canadian Rockies. Previously, Pierrel stunned the European climbing and skiing community with some crazy descents of the North Face of the Drus and Pico Luigi Amedeo on the Mont Blanc massif.
