What is still possible this winter for climbers on the eight-thousanders? After the expeditions on Nanga Parbat in Pakistan and on Manaslu ended unsuccessfully, only the attempts on K2 in the Karakoram in Pakistan and on the Himalayan giants Cho Oyu and Mount Everest in Nepal are still running.
Jost Kobusch currently has plenty of time to read during his solo attempt on Everest. “My favourite book at the moment: Positive Psychology for Dummies,” writes the 29-year-old German climber from Lobuche in the Everest Valley. “With the current conditions here, I really need this book!” In it, two English psychologists give tips on how to deal with difficult feelings and make your life happier and healthier.
In his solo attempt on the highest mountain on earth, Kobusch has so far not gone beyond an altitude of around 6,450 meters. Several times he already climbed up to Lho La, a 6000-meter- high pass between Nepal and Tibet, but except once the storm forced him back down into the valley. Also for the weekend and the coming week it does not look as if the strong wind will subside.
Cho Oyu: Gelje’s team reaches camp 1
On Cho Oyu, which is only about 28 kilometers away from Everest as the crow flies. the two Nepalese expeditions have similar conditions. The teams led by Gelje Sherpa and by Mingma Dorchi Sherpa have independently set out to open up a new route on the Nepalese side of Cho Oyu that is also suitable for commercial expeditions. Gelje’s team has fixed ropes up to their Camp 1, according to the expedition leader. He did not disclose how high it is. Little has been heard from Mingma Dorchi’s team either. Four days ago, the expedition transmitted pictures of their arrival at base camp.
Snowfall on K2 from Sunday
On K2 today, the Nepalese-Pakistani team led by Nima Gyalzen Sherpa reportedly wanted to fix ropes up to Camp 3 at 7,200 meters. This was announced by the Pakistani partner agency Summit Karakoram. The goal of the commercial team is to bring 29-year-old Taiwanese client Grace Tseng to the summit at 8,611 meters. According to the weather forecast for the second highest mountain on earth, snowfall is expected to begin on Sunday and continue throughout the coming week. By the way, the teams on K2 and Cho Oyu use bottled oxygen; Kobusch does not use it on Everest.
