ISLAMABAD: Just when Bulgarian mountaineer Boyan Petrov could see the summit, his attempt to reach the top of the Broad Peak was disrupted on Tuesday because of the bad weather.
HunzaNews, July 16th, 2014
Others were also forced to abandon their quest to conquer the 12th highest mountain in the world.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) said the Bulgarian was the only mountaineer to reach the highest 7,700 metres after seven hours of climbing in the fresh snow.
“Boyan Petrov was the first and only climber to go above Camp III after fresh snowfall,” said ACP member executive council Karrar Haidri, elaborating how the Bulgarian climber and zoologist had retreated to the base camp to rest before he could make another push for the summit with his team members Mladen Dankov and Ivan Tomov. Boyan Petrov and Mladen Dankov will also be attempting to climb the K2 later.
However, bad news came from Chritine Jensen Burke, who has abandoned her summit attempt on the 8,051-metre-high Broad Peak. On July 14, Burke and her four-member team retreated from Camp III installed at 7,400 metres because of the excessive snow.
Bulgarian national only mountaineer to cross camp III
“Our team aborted the summit push after encountering waist-deep snow at about 7,400 metres. With no fixed ropes and having to break trail in such a snow, it was a clear no-go decision. So still no summits this season but perhaps soon with more people.
“Now our plan is to move to K2 base camp which is approximately one hour from Broad Peak base camp to join our team there and see how things go,” said Burke on her website, describing her decision as a ‘tough’ call.
Australian aborts Broad Peak ascent after fall
Mr Karrar Haidri confirmed that the forecast suggested deterioration in the weather from July 16 and Burke and her team could not wait for another summit window.
“This will be our only chance for Broad Peak as a weather window for K2 may be coming soon,” said Burke on her website, the only dual Australian and New Zeeland national to have climbed all the seven highest peaks on the seven continents.
On K2, multiple climbers, including Adrian Hayes team, Czech expedition and Samuli Mansikka, were pushing to camp 3. Finnish Samuli Mansikka successfully made it to the camp.
He tweeted: “Now at Camp 3 on Abruzzi at 7450m to spend a night. Very windy and cold getting here but quite nice now!”
Published in Dawn
