ISLAMABAD: Slovenian climbers Ales Cesen and Luka Lindic summited the Gasherbrum IV, which is the 17th highest mountain in the world and the 6th highest in Pakistan. The duo had begun the climb on July 26.

Confirming the summit, the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) said Cesen and Lindic had already climbed Broad Peak on July 12, becoming the first to reach the top of the 12th highest peak in the world, which towers over 8,000 metres, this summer.

Gasherbrum measures 7,925 metres and is called the ‘shining wall’ because it can be seen from afar. The two-man team had started off to summit the west face of the main summit of the peak but bad weather had made them try a different, safer route to the top of the north summit.

Cesen and Lindic are one of the finest technical climbers and are winners of Piolets d’Or 2015, an event which celebrates the greatest ascents across the world.

According to ACP, the north face of the Gasherbrum IV was first summited in 1958 and then in 1986 and 1999.

Meanwhile, French extreme sportsman Antoine Girard on July 23 broke the 8,000 metre mark in high altitude cross country paragliding, flying to the top of Broad Peak during a seven-hour flight.

The Alpine Club said that Girard was the first to paraglide to such a height and that too without oxygen.

Another successful summit was also made on the Nanga Parbat, ACP said. Ferran Latorre climbed the 9th highest peak in the world with two other climbers on July 27. Nanga Parbat was the 13th peak that the Spanish mountaineer climbed of the 14 highest peaks in the world.

All other teams have given up on their attempts due to risky conditions on the mountain.

According to ACP, a Chinese mountaineer hurt her arm when she was hit by a falling rock.

The same situation was witnessed on the Gasherbrum I and II, where some expeditions left the climb to another day and others continued with their attempts, waiting for a clear weather window.

While bad weather has made the ascent to Broad Peak difficult, Oscar Cadiach is still waiting for the weather to clear in order to make an attempt. Cadiach is leading an expedition on Broad Peak. He has already climbed 13 of the 14 highest mountains and that too without oxygen. The veteran climber intends to complete all 14 on this expedition.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2016