Langtang Lirung: Fingers Crossed for Summit News Tomorrow

October 28, 2024 Angela Benavides Himalaya

a climber on a vertical mixed wall, in the night. — File image of the east face of Langtang Lirung at night, shot during the attempt last year by Joshua Jarrin, Topo Mena, and Roberto Morales. Photo: R. Morales

It’s one more bivy night ahead for Marek Holecek and Ondro Huserka on Langtang Lirung. The climbers have stopped just 50 meters below the summit ridge. If all goes well, they’ll summit tomorrow.

After four days, the climbers have reached further than anyone else on the difficult east face of 7,234m Langtang Lirung. The unclimbed 2,200m wall has been a long-time dream for Holecek.

They have done the most difficult part, but not necessarily the most dangerous.

A climber looks tiny in front of the mighty East face of Langtang Lirung

The formidable east face of Langtang Lirung. Photo: Marek Holecek

“The top is not far from us,” Holecek told his home team over satellite phone today. “Tomorrow, we will run to the top and start descending. We are exhausted and still have a long way down ahead of us.”

Note: An earlier version of this story gave the name of Holecek’s partner as Ondra Mrklovsky.

Angela Benavides

Angela Benavides graduated university in journalism and specializes in high-altitude mountaineering and expedition news. She has been writing about climbing and mountaineering, adventure and outdoor sports for 20+ years.

Prior to that, Angela Benavides spent time at/worked at a number of local and international media. She is also experienced in outdoor-sport consultancy for sponsoring corporations, press manager and communication executive, and a published author.

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