Dear friends,
How hard this mountain is! Damn Kinshofer!
Our acclimation is over. After the big snowfall that nailed us to the base camp, we were able to do a first rotation and sleep at Camp 1.
Unfortunately, this altitude camp is only at 4900 m, so not very effective to acclimatize. But this rotation allowed us a first break and a deposit of material.
Our small troop, François, Ulysse, Sangay, Imtyas, and Mingma were able to make a 2nd rotation and climb to camp 2 at 6100m.
I had a bad memory of last year which was confirmed this year. The corridor is appallingly long, with 1000 m of unending altitude leading to the foot of the Kinshofer wall. You still have to climb 150 m in rock with a dihedron, a section in an overhang, and exit on the ridge.
The tapered edge where only a few tents can hold… Slight consolation but not the least, the snow conditions are much better and therefore the face is less dangerous.
I love the words of Ulysses when he returned to base camp: “A fixed rope is not an elevator!”
We are ready to try the summit, inchallah…
Sophie
Nanga Parbat base camp
18 June 2023
