Urubko and Cardell are safely down but did not summit Gasherbrum I.
They set off on Thursday night on a fast, alpine-style push up a new route. The pair climbed with just a handful of snacks and some fuel for melting snow but no tent or sleeping bag.
However, rapidly increasing wind forced them to stop, Cardell told Desnivel. There was also an avalanche that missed them but helped them decide to turn around.
Urubko and Cardell had to leave for Skardu today, so that attempt ends their expedition. They had already started their trek out when they met Dmitry Golovchenko and Sergey Nilov. The Russian pair will attempt a new route on the south side of the highly difficult Gasherbrum IV (7,925m).
Golovchenko and Nilov should reach Base Camp today.
