The forecast promises better weather, but climbers cannot afford to fully trust predictions that have failed often over the last two weeks. Despite this, climbers are cautiously ascending with summit hopes on Gasherbrum I and Broad Peak.
Fortunately, the skies have cleared enough for rescue services to airlift Waldemar Kowalewski to the hospital after a few agonizing days waiting in Base Camp with a broken leg.
Gasherbrum I
“The Gasherbrum I team climbed to Camp 2 today, planning to go further up and hoping for a summit chance,” Sakhawat Hussain of Summit Karakoram said. “The weather seems to be OK between July 19 and July 22, but conditions are proving unpredictable. We can only hope for the best.”
Gasherbrum I, also known as Hidden Peak. Photo: Sirbaz Khan
Broad Peak
On Broad Peak, everyone is still in Base Camp, but a significant number of climbers will move up tomorrow, toward Camp 2. The plan is to go to Camp 3 if the avalanche risk is acceptable, and then wait there until the weather allows a summit push. As mentioned in previous updates, there are no ropes from Camp 3, so the guides will have to fix the route as they move along the long summit ridge.
File image of French climber Nicolas Jean on the summit ridge of Broad Peak. Photo: Giuseppe Vidoni
Kowalewski Airlifted
A helicopter has finally airlifted Waldemar Kowalewski to a hospital, one week after he broke his leg in an avalanche. Bad weather kept helicopters grounded until today. Rescue services admitted Kowalewski to the Kuwait Medical Complex (KMC) in Skardu.
Waldemar Kowalewski on Ama Dablam. Photo: Waldemar Kowalekski
K2
On K2, there is no news of any progress beyond Camp 2. However, Mingma G of Imagine Nepal mentioned his team would try to open the way to Camp 3 this weekend.
Yakshin Gardan Sar
The Italian Alpine Club has published Stefano Ragazzo’s expedition report on their Facebook page, where they provide further information about Chris Wright’s accident, which put an end to the team’s expedition. According to the report, Wright had a foot injury:
During an acclimatization climb at approximately 6,100m, Wright suffered a foot injury that prevented him from continuing. His climbing partners immediately took action to rescue him, rigging approximately 500m of abseils on abalakov ropes to lower him to Camp 1 at 5,500m. There, after approximately 24 hours, a Pakistani Army helicopter was able to evacuate Wright and transport him to Skardu Hospital, where he is currently in a stable condition.
You can read the report in Italian here.
