As planned, a string of climbers has been trickling up to Nanga Parbat’s summit. Among the first to get there was Kristin Harila of Norway, with Pasdawa Sherpa, his uncle Dawa Ongchu, and Chhiring Namgyal Sherpa of 8K Expeditions. Harila, Pasdawa, and Dawa Ongchu tick off their seventh 8,000’er since April 28. They remain on track to complete all 14×8,000’ers within six months.
Much of the credit for the current summit wave should go to the Sherpa guides. The rope-fixing team had no time to prepare the route to the top, so Nepalese guides, with their clients short-roped behind, had to break trail on the upper sections.
Tseng was again climbing as the lone client with the Dolma Outdoor team, led by Nima Gyalzen Sherpa and Ningma Dorje Tamang. According to Summit Karakoram, they were the first to top out, at 10:07 am.
Left to right: Nima Gyalzen Sherpa, Grace Tseng, Summit Karakoram’s Sakhawat Hussain, and Ningma Dorje Tamang on arrival in Pakistan three weeks ago. Photo: Karakorum Summits
Pemba Sherpa, coordinating 8K Expeditions from Kathmandu, told ExplorersWeb that the 8K team summited around 10:30 am, Pakistan time. Kristin A. Bennett, also with the 8K team, remained in Base Camp.
Great weather until Monday says Vitor Baia
The summit wave has started but is not finished. Adriana Brownlee and Gelje Sherpa are expected to reach Camp 4 today and, after some rest, they will set off toward the summit tonight.
The Pioneer Adventure team led by Sanu Sherpa and featuring Naoko Watanabe of Japan and Pasang Lamu Sherpa Akita (climbing with a Pakistani HAP), has decided to postpone their summit push by 24 hours and will hopefully reach the top tomorrow.
A large group of climbers with Seven Summit Treks are also due to push for the summit soon.
Sophie Lavaud in a Camp at 5,000m on Nanga Parbat, enjoying a bluebird day. Photo: M. Confortola
The period of good weather on Nanga Parbat and the Karakoram will end on July 4, Vitor Baia told ExplorersWeb. “It’s the longest good weather period I have ever observed. In fact, the weather will not really be bad from Monday on, but not as [great as] the last two weeks which have been awesome. From July 5, there will be clouds and some wind at the summits.”
