Anna Tybor and Tom Lafaille are currently the only climbers on Nanga Parbat, but their solitude will not last much longer.
The Polish-French duo are progressing independently and have had a taste of the mountain.
“At the beginning of the week, we reached Camp 1, where we left depots for [future],” Tybor reported today from Base Camp. “Unfortunately, the weather is quite poor.”
Forecasts are optimistic this week, and the climbers planned to move up again yesterday. They hope to tag Camp 2 on the next phase of their acclimatization, then return to Base Camp.
“Around Wednesday-Thursday, we’ll move on to Camp 3,” Tybor told her home team.
Tybor and Lafaille climb without supplementary oxygen or sherpa support. They intend to ski down from the summit.
More climbers coming
Communication from Nanga Parbat is not easy. With no cell or wifi connection, climbers rely on satellite phones or, more often, texts sent through their InReach trackers.
Klara Kolouchova of the Czech Republic reported today from Chilas. Outfitted by Seven Summit Treks and likely with other climbers, she reached the town after a rough drive along the Karakoram Highway. Kolouchova summited Annapurna earlier this spring and is now a two-day hike away from Nanga Parbat’s Base Camp, “and milder temperatures.”
Pakistan is currently experiencing a hot spell. Luckily, the climbers were not in the country on May 28, when thermometers soared to 52ºC (126˚F) in the southern province of Sindh.
