Bad weather thwarted Jeff and Priti Wright’s second attempt on K7 Central (6,858m), but the Spaniards on Latok II may be luckier. A three-day weather window has begun, according to forecasts. Sergey Nivol and Dmitry Golovchenko may also use it to push their new route on Gasherbrum IV’s south face.
The Wrights — who were successful on neighboring K6 back in 2000 and retreated just 100 meters below the summit of K7 last year — returned to Skardu yesterday. They have not updated their social media since July 20, but constant bad weather and too much snow gave them no chance to complete the first ascent of K7 Central, Ali Saltoro of Alpine Adventure Guides told ExplorersWeb.
The K7 massif. Photo: Photo: Jon Griffith
Climbers on Gasherbrum IV and Latok II
Golovchenko and Nilov are in the first stages of their attempt to open a new route on Gasherbrum IV. Earlier this week, they traveled across the Gasherbrum Glacier, marking the route across the icefall. Since then, they have been acclimatizing.
They have not yet climbed high enough to scope out a possible line on the south face. Except for trekking groups and perhaps some unknown small teams, they will be soon the only climbers left in the Karakoram.
Sergey Nilov earlier this week on the Gasherbrum Glacier. Photo: Dmitry Golovchenko
Miquel Mas and Marc Subirana began their new route up Latok II yesterday. During the good weather, they will try to finish what they started last year. We will know more when they return to Base Camp in a couple of days.
File image of Mas and Subirana last year, with Latok II behind them. Photo: Mas/Pumba Productions
Kazuya Hiraide is back home in Japan and shared a photo, below, from the impressive new route that he and Kenro Nakajima opened on the north face of Tirich Mir.
One of the Japanese climbers on the north face of Tirich Mir last month. Photo: Ishii Sports
