Although the Rupal Face of 8,126m Nanga Parbat rebuffed Czech climbers Marek Holecek and Tomas Petrecek once, they seemed ready to try again by a different route, as we reported yesterday. But today, on reflection, Petrecek had had enough.
“After much thought and weighing all the pros and cons, I came to the conclusion that I will not look at the [Rupal] Face again this year,” Petrecek said. “Maybe I am too sensitive or a fool, but that is how I perceive it now. You don’t always have clear parameters to make decisions in the mountains that will ultimately tell you whether you should or shouldn’t go.”
Base Camp of the Czech expedition at the foot of Nanga Parbat. Photo: Marek Holecek
Holecek admits that Petrecek’s withdrawal felt like a bucket of ice-cold water in his face. He did his best to make his partner reconsider, but in vain.
In a long Facebook post, Holecek shared his frustration. He wrote that he even considered setting off by himself to solo the Italian route, but finally he concluded, “I don’t have the inner strength or determination to go it alone…To hell with it.”
Marek Holcecek looks far from happy after realizing the attempt to climb a new route on Nanga Parbat’s Rupal Face was over. Photo: Marek Holecek/Facebook
