Jost Kobusch on Mount Everest at around 7,500 meters

If his GPS tracker sends correct information, Jost Kobusch has almost reached the goal of his winter expedition to Mount Everest this year. According to the data sent by the GPS tracker, the 32-year-old German mountaineer climbed over the West Shoulder onto Everest’s West Ridge today and reached an altitude of 7,488 meters. Jost, who is climbing solo and without bottled oxygen, then set off on his descent again. His last signal today, Friday, was sent from an altitude of just below 7,000 meters.

Kobusch’s third attempt

Kobusch had set himself the goal for this winter of reaching higher on his planned route – via the Lho La, the West Shoulder, the West Ridge and the Hornbein Couloir in the North Face to the summit – than anyone has ever done before on this route in winter. The furthest a French expedition led by Eric Dossin had ever climbed on the West Ridge in the cold season was in January 1985: up to 7,500 meters – in contrast to Jost with bottled oxygen and a larger team.

This is the third time Jost has attempted the route alone. In his first attempt in winter 2019/2020, he reached the West Shoulder at just above 7,300 meters. In winter 2021/2022, strong winds meant the end of the line at just below 6,500 meters. So he has never been as high on Everest as he was today.