Spring 2013 | Alexey Bolotov, SUMMITs on Lhotse, Shishapangma Central and May be Nuptse
Premium Russian climber Alexey Bolotov was found dead at 5600m, yesterday. Precise details about the unfortunate incident still remain vague but body of the climber has been recovered and moved to Kathmandu. Apparently the incident happened before the start of new route attempt and Denis Urubko was not with Alex. Simone Moro who flew to BC this morning to undertake the task of recovering the body from rocky ravine thinks, "Alexey perhaps had gone on that side of the glacier to take photographs."
Denis Urubko has also returned to Kathmandu. While exact details are awaited, Montagna TV reports that, “Currently, however, it’s confirmed that Bolotov was found dead by a group of Sherpas and Denis Urubko, who went out in the early hours of the morning to look for the mountaineer.”
Today, sad news arrived about death of another climber on Shishapangma, who passed away last week. On a positive note, two Russians made it to the summit of Lhotse this afternoon. While Nuptse climbers are not definite whether they summited the peak or not.
Russian Trio
Alex Borodenkov, Viktor Koval and Sergey Kondrashkin arrived at BC on 19th April and remained busy in acclimatization and setting up higher camps till 8th May. Then they went down to green-zone for some rest before summit push. The trio returned to BC on 13th May. Although weather wasn't ideal but they continued to C2 on same day.
Today, it has been reported that Viktor Koval and Sergey Kondrashkin reached the summit of Lhotse at 1300Hrs local time, while Alex Borodenkov had to turn back slightly short of the top. They are back in C4 (7800m) now. The team has been working independently on the mountain, without guides and porters. On the day of Lhotse Face brawl, they tried to go up the wall but were not allowed.
Pune Indian Team
Home team of Pune Everest/Lhotse climbers reports that one of their members Ashish Mane (22) reached Lhotse summit today morning at around 0725hrs local time. He faced strong winds during final climb but still managed to reach the top.
Summits on 16th May 2013 (reported so far):
1) Viktor Koval (Russia)
2) Sergey Kondrashkin (Russia)
3) Ashish Mane (India)
4) Lakpa Dorji (Nepal)
5) Pasang Sherpa (Nepal)
Second summit push on Shishapangma occurred last week, when many climbers tried to reach the summit on 9th & 10th May. In previous update, it was reported that majority of climbers turned back from Shishapangma Central, while details were awaited about some climbers. One of the teams (AMICAL alpin) shared a brief update about their climb. None of the climbers made it to True Summit (although they reached Shishpangma Central at around 3PM). But the situation turned worse, when one German member of the group showed the signs of HAPE. Emergency medication proved to be of little help. Expedition leader, Thomas Laemmle, decided to stay with sick climber and tried to bring him down slowly, while rest of the group descended to lower camp.
By the morning, they were at 7500m. Having already spent several days at altitude, Thomas too developed signs of pulmonary edema and his toes were frostbitten. His condition stabilized after medication but unfortunately the sick climber died at around 1130AM, when a rescue team was still on its way up. Thomas is currently hospitalized in Kathmandu, but he says that the injuries are not too bad. He feels positive about recovery before Gasherbrums expedition starting in June.
Thomas already summited the Shishapangma on 30th April.
Shishapangma Central Summits on 10th May 2013 (reported so far):
1) Sandra Frank (D)
2) Brunhilde Kahn (A)
3) Christoph Pies (D)
4) Ludwig Haslbeck (D)
5) Andreas Egger (A)
6) Martin Bruders (D)
7) Sherpa Pasang (NP)
8) Thomas Laemmle (D)
Currently no news is available about American climber Cleo Weidlich, she was also attempting Shishapangma.
Spanish climber Alex Txikon’s plans for the season included Nuptse and Lhotse. He is currently back in C3 (Nuptse) after a very interesting climb.
Alex says [Google Translated], “I have come to where humanly possible, up to 30 meters away from the main summit (Nuptse), even 10 feet below the summit ridge but safe landing was a vacuum: it was hollow inside. Moving there was condemned to a tragic end, and many tragedies we have had this week. I have that feeling of summit, but it is Mrs. Hawley's decision.”
Apparently Billi Bierling, Mrs Hawley’s assistant, was also up there today. Alex says Billi has taken photos and recorded a video. Hence it should be easier for Mrs Hawley to evaluate the summit-claim. Alex would descend to C2 tomorrow and then attempt Lhotse with Juanra Madariaga and Mexican Jorge Salazar.
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This article is also published at Explorersweb.
Denis Urubko has also returned to Kathmandu. While exact details are awaited, Montagna TV reports that, “Currently, however, it’s confirmed that Bolotov was found dead by a group of Sherpas and Denis Urubko, who went out in the early hours of the morning to look for the mountaineer.”
Today, sad news arrived about death of another climber on Shishapangma, who passed away last week. On a positive note, two Russians made it to the summit of Lhotse this afternoon. While Nuptse climbers are not definite whether they summited the peak or not.
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| Source |
Lhotse
Russian Trio
Alex Borodenkov, Viktor Koval and Sergey Kondrashkin arrived at BC on 19th April and remained busy in acclimatization and setting up higher camps till 8th May. Then they went down to green-zone for some rest before summit push. The trio returned to BC on 13th May. Although weather wasn't ideal but they continued to C2 on same day.
Today, it has been reported that Viktor Koval and Sergey Kondrashkin reached the summit of Lhotse at 1300Hrs local time, while Alex Borodenkov had to turn back slightly short of the top. They are back in C4 (7800m) now. The team has been working independently on the mountain, without guides and porters. On the day of Lhotse Face brawl, they tried to go up the wall but were not allowed.
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| Victor Koval; Source |
Pune Indian Team
Home team of Pune Everest/Lhotse climbers reports that one of their members Ashish Mane (22) reached Lhotse summit today morning at around 0725hrs local time. He faced strong winds during final climb but still managed to reach the top.
Summits on 16th May 2013 (reported so far):
1) Viktor Koval (Russia)
2) Sergey Kondrashkin (Russia)
3) Ashish Mane (India)
4) Lakpa Dorji (Nepal)
5) Pasang Sherpa (Nepal)
Shishapangma
Second summit push on Shishapangma occurred last week, when many climbers tried to reach the summit on 9th & 10th May. In previous update, it was reported that majority of climbers turned back from Shishapangma Central, while details were awaited about some climbers. One of the teams (AMICAL alpin) shared a brief update about their climb. None of the climbers made it to True Summit (although they reached Shishpangma Central at around 3PM). But the situation turned worse, when one German member of the group showed the signs of HAPE. Emergency medication proved to be of little help. Expedition leader, Thomas Laemmle, decided to stay with sick climber and tried to bring him down slowly, while rest of the group descended to lower camp.
By the morning, they were at 7500m. Having already spent several days at altitude, Thomas too developed signs of pulmonary edema and his toes were frostbitten. His condition stabilized after medication but unfortunately the sick climber died at around 1130AM, when a rescue team was still on its way up. Thomas is currently hospitalized in Kathmandu, but he says that the injuries are not too bad. He feels positive about recovery before Gasherbrums expedition starting in June.
Thomas already summited the Shishapangma on 30th April.
 |
| Thomas Laemmle |
Shishapangma Central Summits on 10th May 2013 (reported so far):
1) Sandra Frank (D)
2) Brunhilde Kahn (A)
3) Christoph Pies (D)
4) Ludwig Haslbeck (D)
5) Andreas Egger (A)
6) Martin Bruders (D)
7) Sherpa Pasang (NP)
8) Thomas Laemmle (D)
Currently no news is available about American climber Cleo Weidlich, she was also attempting Shishapangma.
Nuptse
Spanish climber Alex Txikon’s plans for the season included Nuptse and Lhotse. He is currently back in C3 (Nuptse) after a very interesting climb.
Alex says [Google Translated], “I have come to where humanly possible, up to 30 meters away from the main summit (Nuptse), even 10 feet below the summit ridge but safe landing was a vacuum: it was hollow inside. Moving there was condemned to a tragic end, and many tragedies we have had this week. I have that feeling of summit, but it is Mrs. Hawley's decision.”
Apparently Billi Bierling, Mrs Hawley’s assistant, was also up there today. Alex says Billi has taken photos and recorded a video. Hence it should be easier for Mrs Hawley to evaluate the summit-claim. Alex would descend to C2 tomorrow and then attempt Lhotse with Juanra Madariaga and Mexican Jorge Salazar.
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| Image Source |
Follow on Twitter and TweetBox on right side of this blog for regular news, updates and reports.
This article is also published at Explorersweb.
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