After waiting for two days in a damp tent at the base of the east face, Marek Holecek and Ondra Mrklovsky leave for the summit of 7,234m Langtang Lirung tonight.
Langtang Lirung won the first battle against the two Czechs, attempting the first ascent of its temible east face. Last week, relentless rain triggered avalanches down the face that forced the climbers back. After resting in a lodge at Ghompa, the team returned to the hardships of the face. Or at least two of them did.
Ondrej Huserka, the youngest member of the team, dropped out of the second attempt.
Reaching the bivouac below the rocky face earlier this week, the climbers planned to leave on Wednesday night. However, another snow spell prompted them to stay patient until the skies cleared and the face lost its new layer of snow.
Ordra Mrklovsky awaits the summit push. Photo: Marek Holecek
No snow is forecast for the next few days, and the pair has just enough time for a final attempt before they have to head back to Kathmandu. They plan to begin their attempt tonight at midnight.
