Jean-Christophe Lafaille 2003: Nanga Parbat and Broad Peak
 

 Current Pakistan Time

Jean-Christophe Lafaille, summited Dhaulagiri and is now attempting to climb Nanga Parbat and Broad Peak both via new routes! Follow us as we try to keep up with Jean-Christophe, who is clearly one of the elite mountaineers in the world today.

Dispatch One: Translation by Adrian Sutton for EverestNews.com

Dispatch 6th June. Hello, Here I am again in France. I have set up my office and telephone lines again, and the following should be easier to send than it was in Nepal, where I didn’t have a phone!

On the 30th May, Jean-Christophe set off for Islamabad and I for France. After a slightly long and uncomfortable journey, he arrived in Pakistan on the morning of the 1st June.

The first ascent of Nanga Parbat was a solo ascent by the Austrian Hermann Buhl, on the 3rd July 1953. Unfortunately, 2003 marks the 50th anniversary of the 1st ascent of Everest, but we should not forget that it also marks the 50th anniversary of the 1st ascent of Nanga Parbat!

He had time to fetch his luggage, pack his bags and set off for Nanga Parbat Base Camp.

On the 2nd June, he left Islamabad and arrived on the 5th at Base Camp, situated at about 4,100 metres. The mountain seems to be in pretty good condition according to Jean-Christophe.

A strong Kazakh team is also on the mountain. There is also an Italian team and his friend the American Ed Viesturs, with whom he shared a permit on Annapurna last year. He is a nice man: discreet, interesting and humane. It is rare to find people who display all these qualities in this business. This Friday the 6th June, he expects to climb to Camp 1 at 5,000 metres and sleep there. On the 7th, he will go to Camp 2 at 6,100 metres, then return to base in the evening. The weather is fine, but it is still windy.

Best Regards, Katia Lafaille.

Translation by Adrian Sutton for EverestNews.com

Dispatches

Photos Jean-Christophe