An avalanche that swept K2’s summit slope around midday Sunday allegedly claimed the lives of four Russian climbers. According to the latest reports from Irish Banjo Bannon’s home crew, confirmation of the deaths came from the Russians’ team leader and Liaison Officer earlier today; however, recent reports from Russian Novosti news source say that a rescue is ongoing and the climbers could still be found alive. Image of K2's C2 sent live over Contact 3.0 a few weeks ago, courtesy of Wilco van Rooijen's homesite (click to enlarge).
The Austrian GII Golden Jubilee Expedition consisting of 19 members have summited GII. Image courtesy of Karrar Haidri / ExplorersWeb Pakistan (click to enlarge).
The Spanish GII expedition, led by Francisco Briongos, has summited said peak. There were six members, including one female climber, who topped out between July 22 and July 24. Image courtesy of Karrar Haidri / ExplorersWeb Pakistan (click to enlarge).
The Romanian Alpine Club Nanga Parbat Expedition 2006 was briefed on August 12 at the Alpine Club of Pakistan HQ. The team consists of 6 members who plan to climb NP via the difficult Rupal Face. Image courtesy of Karrar Haidri / ExplorersWeb Pakistan (click to enlarge).
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Pakistan daily wrap-up: K2 avalanche update and Karakorum 2006 summits' stats wrap-up
Posted: Aug 15, 2006 10:35 am EDT
(K2Climb.net) An avalanche that swept K2’s summit slope around midday Sunday allegedly claimed the lives of four Russian climbers. According to the latest reports from Irish Banjo Bannon’s home crew, confirmation of the deaths came from the Russians’ team leader and Liaison Officer earlier today when an exhausted Banjo, Jacek and three remaining Russians arrived in BC. Recent reports from Russian Novosti news source however say that a rescue is ongoing and the climbers could still be found alive. Check also previous story published this morning.
On Latok 1, the Benegas brothers continue their alpine style push for the summit, updating live from 18,000 feet.
In other news, ExWeb has confirmed from Islamabad that so far over 130 climbers from different countries have topped out on Pakistan’s peaks. Compare these numbers to Everest summiteers in later years which can reach 100 in just one day.
Here’s a quick run down of this season’s Pakistan summits: 78 climbers have summited G II; 4 have summited K2; 2 have summited GI; 21 have summited Broad Peak; 4 have summited Nanga Parbat; and 23 climbers have summited Spantik.
K2
Avalanche confirmed - details vary
Early this morning, Banjo’s home crew reported that four climbers were confirmed dead as a result of Sunday's avalanche on K2. The Irishman, together with Polish Jacek and seven Russians were on their summit attempt when the avalanche struck.
“Banjo, Jacek and the remaining three Russian climbers have arrived in Base Camp after an emotional and exhausting descent from Camp 3,” said Banjo’s home team. “Sadly it has been confirmed by the leader of the Russian team and their Liaison Officer that the missing 4 Russian climbers died as a result of the avalanche on Sunday.”
“Further information from Banjo is that at least one of the climbers was on the summit which was about 50 feet away from him when the avalanche struck.”
Russian news source RIA Novosti however just reported that Pakistan's rescue teams are searching for the four Russian mountaineers. Naiknam Karim, a spokesman for Adventure Tours Pakistan, told the news source that a mountain guide reported the Russian climbers missing two days ago, and asked for a rescue helicopter to be sent as soon as possible. However, helicopters were grounded at the time due to bad weather conditions. The spokesman said the Russian climbers were well-prepared, and could still be found alive.
The avalanche hit K2's upper slope on Sunday, August 13. If the climbers are not found, this would be the second largest single-day tragedy on K2.
On Agust 13, 1995, six climbers; New Zealander Bruce Grant, British Alison Hargreaves (f), American Rob Slater, and Spanish Javier Escartín; Javier Olivar; Lorenzo Ortiz disappeared during storm.
In 1986, on August 10, four climbers died on K2 in the same day. British Alan Rouse, Polish Dobroslawa Miodowicz-Wolf (f), and Austrian Alfred Imitzer and Hannes Wieser all died of altitude-sickness/exhaustion. 1986 turned out the worst overall season on K2 after 13 climbers lost their lives on the Mountaineer's mountain.
Latok 1
Benegas brothers: A foot of snow
“We are still at 18,000 feet and have another 1300-1500 meters of climbing to the summit,” Damian Benegas told ExWeb via sat phone this morning.
The brothers, who are dispatching live images, video and voice reports, are now approaching a very difficult traverse and need good weather, but presently have about a foot of snow on the ground. According to Damian, the weather has been strange, “off and on all the time”.
With 10 days of food left, the twins still have enough time but need to be back in BC by the 25th.
Nanga Parbat
Romanian Alpine Club Nanga Parbat Expedition 2006: Rupal Face
The Romanian Alpine Club Nanga Parbat Expedition 2006 was debriefed on August 12 at the Alpine Club of Pakistan HQ. The team consists of 6 members for NP via the difficult Rupal Face.
GI/GII
Spanish GB II Expedition debrief
The Spanish GII expedition, led by Francisco Briongos, has summited the peak. The names of the summiteers are: Pablo Luque (July 22); Francisco Briongos Leader (July 23); Santiago Martin (July 24); Alfredo Garcia (July 24); Mario Merelli (July 24); and Catalena Quesada (Female, July 24).
Austrian GII Golden Jubilee Expedition debrief
The Austrian GII Golden Jubilee Expedition consisting of 19 members have summited GII. The summiteers are: Mr. Josef Hinding (Leader), Hauer Ewald, Doppler Josef, Dorfiner Eduard, Gebhart Johann, Joachim Moritz, Helmut Seidi, Jobler Rudolf, Jobler Rudolf, Plank Peter, Arnold Walter, Ebner Hannelore, Gruber Ignaz, Dr.Kristingus Eolfgang, Kalteis Peter, Rosenits Gerhard, Jahan Baig (Pakistan), Ali Muhammad Jang Ju Pa ( Pakistan).
Karakorum teams' homesites:
K2:
Russian Climb | Nives Meroi (Italian) | Wilco van Rooijen (Dutch/English) | Irish Banjo Bannon's website | FTA's team dispatches on Anan Arnette's website | Tokai University K2 expedition (Japanese)
Broad Peak:
Field Touring Alpine's dispatches | HiMountain.pl (Polish)
Gasherbrums:
Mexicans Badia and Mauricio(Spanish) | News on Bulgarians for Nanga+ GI (Bulgarian)
Other Pakistan peaks:
Benegas brothers live dispatches| Swiss Trango expedition| Mountain.ru
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