June 21, 2003	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 20,1424

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ISLAMABAD, June 20: Tomaz Humar, the top Slovenian mountaineer, whose doctors had said that he would never walk again after injuring both legs in an accident at home, is determined to scale the Rupal face of Nanga Parbat solo next month.

Forget climbing, the doctors told him as he underwent a series of major operations. But Mr Humar, 33, had other ideas. His determination to recover meant that it was only a matter of time before he was back on his feet.

In August, 2002, he stood at the foot of the majestic Nanga Parbat doing the initial homework for scaling the peak from its most difficult side which is 4780m high.

Mr Humar was speaking to mediapersons at a local hotel on Friday about his plans of attempting the “killer mountain’s” Rupal face in Diamer District of Northern Areas, which is the tallest precipice in the world.

Mr Humar heads a 10-member expedition which includes doctors, photographers and mountaineers. The party will be supporting him in his attempt and they all will head up North on July 7 and start their ascent from July 13.

But Nanga Parbat will not be the first peak that Mr Humar will attempt after recovering from the accident. He gave himself a test run in the fall of 2002 by conquering the 8027m Tibetan mountain Shisha Pangma in the Himalayas.

During that trip, he was not only able to test his legs and lungs, he also had the opportunity to use the new equipment manufactured by NASA which he also intends to use on Nanga Parbat.

“It is a fascinating peak,” Mr Humar said of Nanga Parbat. “I was impressed when I first saw it and am confident that I will be successful in scaling it.”

Nazir Sabir, Pakistan’s renowned mountaineer and the conqueror of Everest, said that Mr Humar was a good friend of his and that he had high regard for the Slovenian. “I wish him the best of luck.”