Posted: Jun 08, 2009 10:08 am EDT
(K2Climb.net) After weathering a snow storm in BC through the weekend Eli Revol, Antoine Girard and Ludo Giambasi might set off on another Broad Peak summit push today.

Turbulent politics promise an adventurous climbing season in Pakistan this year. Teams are arriving in Islamabad in much smaller numbers than last year while those who want to bypass the KKH roadtrip to Skardu could find it difficult to get air tickets.

Broad Peak: leaving BC again today?

“Ludo, Zab (Elisabeth Revol) and Antoine had some snow fall in BC today,” Giambasi’s home team reported yesterday. “They may try to set off from BC on Monday though, conditions permitting.”

The team hoped to launch a second summit push on Broad Peak as soon as weather settled.

Crampton on not-so-crowded Gasherbrums

"We have been informed from the Alpine Club of Pakistan that the number of expeditions visiting Pakistan this summer has dropped considerably from last year and the 2008 numbers of climbers were down from the previous year," Phil Crampton reported.

"The 2007 season saw many teams on both Gasherbrum I and II but we are expecting a much smaller number of climbers this season. We are hoping that all the teams in attendance will work together in establishing the route, and hopefully the weather cooperates for every teams success."

Philippe Gatta - Altitude Junkies: Skardu flights full

French Philippe Gatta, aiming for GI, GII and Broad Peak is also in Islamabad. “The only daily flight to Skardu was full today – hopefully we’ll be luckier tomorrow,” he reported. “At least food here is great, so we will try to gain some weight before the climb kicks off.” Philippe is climbing with Serap Jangbu Sherpa.

"We didn’t make the Skardu flight roster today," Altitude Junkies' leader Phil Crampton chimed in. "We are hoping that the rescheduled afternoon flight makes it and we can get out tomorrow morning. We have decided to fly both ways from Islamabad to Skardu rater than driving up the Karakorum Highway due to the present political situation in Pakistan."

Eelco Jansen: Islamabad-ho!

Swiss Eelco Jansen and team were greeted by Saltoro Summits at Benazir Bhutto’s International Airport yesterday. The Swiss climbers went through paperwork at PAC’s HQ, enjoyed local food and sightseeing before leaving towards Skardu and Broad Peak’s BC this week.

Links to climbing teams in Pakistan 2009

Broad Peak:

Elisabeth Revol
Antoine Girard
Ludovic Giambasi
Eelco Jansen's blog
Field Touring Alpine
Karrar Haidri's Saltoro Summits

K2

Fredrik Ericsson
Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner
Maxut Zhumayev
Fabrizio Zangrilli's guiding blog
Nick Rice

Nanga Parbat

Gerfried Göschl's blog
Louis Rousseau

Gasherbrums

Daniela Teixeira & Paulo Roxo
Philippe Gatta
Altitude Junkies' dispatches
Valery Babanov
Kinga Baranowska
Colombian Camilo & Anna

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