News from K2 and Trango

Jean-Christophe Lafaille, Hans Kammerlander , Peter Guggemos and Pepe Garces are currently attemting K2., while the South American team led by Waldemar Niclevicz is attemting Trango's Nameless Tower. The weather has improved and the next few days should prove decisive

Manuel Lugli

July 2001

Traduci in

K2 (8611m)

After his failed attempt on the Ogre, Hans Kammerlander has now travelled to K2, to join up with a Focus expedition which includes, amongst others, the German Peter Guggemos, the Frenchman Jean-Christophe Lafaille and the Spaniard Pepe Garces. Kammerlander will try to settle the score with this mountain which, on two occasions, has seen him turn back just a few hundred meters beneath the summit.

Jean-Christophe Lafaille reached Base Camp (5100m) on 19 June and, despite almost constant bad weather, has already begun to acclimatise. On 21/06 he climbed along the Cesen route to 5950/6000m, where he spent the night at Camp 1. Perched like an the eagles nest high on a rocky spur, this camp dominates the glacier 900m below.

On 26/06 he departed once more from Base Camp to spend four nights at altitude: two nights were spent at 6000m and two at 6800m. On 30/06 he then ascended to 7200m along the "exceptionally beautiful" Cesen route , before returning to Base Camp

The moral is high and the weather, which up to last week had been bad, seems to have improved, signalling the start for all expeditions.

Trango

The expedition led by the Brasilian Waldemar Niclevicz (Focus Expedition) is currently attempting the upper section of Trango's Nameless Tower, 6251m. They are fixing the final ropes prior to their summit bid.

The bad weather has affected the South Americans, too. Pinned down for several days, the worst now seems to be over though and they are currently establishing their final Camp at 5900m.

by Manuel Lugli

Information: Manuel Lugli