2 Nepalese climbers scale Nanga Parbat

Published July 3, 2022
FRENCH skier and climber Mathieu Maynadier and Leo Slemett at the Diran Peak base camp.—Courtesy Mathieu Maynadier
FRENCH skier and climber Mathieu Maynadier and Leo Slemett at the Diran Peak base camp.—Courtesy Mathieu Maynadier

GILGIT: Two climbers from Nepal scaled Nanga Parbat, and two French mountaineers summited Diran peak on Saturday.

Sakhawat Hussain, the managing director of Summit Karakoram, told Dawn that Naoko Watanabe from Japan and Sanu Sherpa from Nepal scaled Nanga Parbat, the world’s ninth-highest mountain at 8,126 metres, on Saturday at 5:14am.

Nanga Parbat is often considered one of the most difficult of the 14 eight-thousanders — a peak towering above 8,000 metres — with steep rock faces and the risk of avalanches and rockfalls. No wonder only 29 summits have been made at this mountain in the last 10 years.

However, this year round 100 international climbers will attempt to scale the peak.

Nine climbers successfully topped the peak in last two days on Friday and Saturday. More expedition team members are on the way to summit as weather condition at mountain said to clear till May 6.

Before closing of the weather window, many climbers will attempt to reach the summit.

Pakistani mountaineer Sheroze Kashif from Lahore has also started his journey to attempt to scale Nanga Parbat from base camp.

According to his official Facebook page Shehroze has completed first rotation to Camp 1 of Nanga Parbat and is safely back at basecamp.

Meanwhile, two French skiers and climbers Mathieu Maynadier and Leo Slemett summited Diran peak (7,266-metre) situated in Nagar and returned to base camp.

They confirmed they had safely returned to Base Camp but have kept quiet about the most interesting detail: did they achieve the first ski descent of the mountain, as they had planned.

In a page on Facebook Leo Slemett said, “First time I saw Diran peak four years ago. After the expedition I knew that there were as many reasons to come back as mountains to ski in Pakistan.”

Mathieu Maynadier said “We arrived yesterday at 6pm at the summit! We’re super happy with @leoslemett and we’re back at base camp!”

He said more news in the next few days.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.