Annapurna Second Summit Push: Climbers on the Move
A group of around 30 climbers have launched summit attempt on Annapurna. Leaving Base Camp earlier today, they intend to reach the top by May 1st. It’s the second summit-bid. The first attempt was thwarted by strong wind, couple of weeks ago. Only four climbers managed to reach 7800m. Nonetheless, with route fixed till a few hundred meters below summit, the mountaineers are confident about a better outcome this time. Unlike ambiguous weather reports during previous summit push, forecasts are pretty refined and encouraging this time.
This may well be the last chance to reach the top, before heavy snow thwarts the climbing season on Annapurna. For now, “the weather is good, almost no wind,” as Atanas Skatov wrote before leaving BC.
Climbers
Few climbers wrapped up their expeditions after previous summit attempt. However, majority of the teams decided to wait.
The summit-push party consists of around ten Sherpa/guides from Nepal, Chinese lady climber Luo Jing, Australian/Kiwi Chris Burke, Bulgarians Boyan Petrov and Atanas Skatov, Hungarian David Klein, Russians Dmitry Sinev and Alexander Lutohin, German Jost Kobusch, Swiss Guntis Ivars Miko Brands, Israeli Nadav Ben Yehuda, American Matt Du Puy, a climber each from Korea and Italy, and the Spanish team of Carlos Soria. All in all, there will be around 30 climbers on the mountain.
The Plan
The summit push plan is similar to the first attempt. Boyan Petrov (and a few other climbers, may be) want to summit a day ahead of main party. He climbed directly to C2 today and is planning to reach C4 by 29th. If weather allowed, he will go for summit on 30th.
Majority of other climbers are currently in C1. Spanish team will be leaving for C2 from BC, tomorrow. Both these groups will reach C4 by April 30th afternoon and launch summit push that night. Weather is predicted to remain favorable from Saturday to Monday. “In any case, Carlos Soria will be confirming plans as weather forecasts are updated,” wrote the Spanish team.
This may well be the last chance to reach the top, before heavy snow thwarts the climbing season on Annapurna. For now, “the weather is good, almost no wind,” as Atanas Skatov wrote before leaving BC.
Climbers
Few climbers wrapped up their expeditions after previous summit attempt. However, majority of the teams decided to wait.
The summit-push party consists of around ten Sherpa/guides from Nepal, Chinese lady climber Luo Jing, Australian/Kiwi Chris Burke, Bulgarians Boyan Petrov and Atanas Skatov, Hungarian David Klein, Russians Dmitry Sinev and Alexander Lutohin, German Jost Kobusch, Swiss Guntis Ivars Miko Brands, Israeli Nadav Ben Yehuda, American Matt Du Puy, a climber each from Korea and Italy, and the Spanish team of Carlos Soria. All in all, there will be around 30 climbers on the mountain.
The Plan
The summit push plan is similar to the first attempt. Boyan Petrov (and a few other climbers, may be) want to summit a day ahead of main party. He climbed directly to C2 today and is planning to reach C4 by 29th. If weather allowed, he will go for summit on 30th.
Majority of other climbers are currently in C1. Spanish team will be leaving for C2 from BC, tomorrow. Both these groups will reach C4 by April 30th afternoon and launch summit push that night. Weather is predicted to remain favorable from Saturday to Monday. “In any case, Carlos Soria will be confirming plans as weather forecasts are updated,” wrote the Spanish team.
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