|
Gasherbrum
II:
Some background and History
|
 |
Gasherbrum
in local language means "Shining
Wall". There are six Gasherbrum Peaks.
Gasherbrum II, (8035 meters/26,361ft), the
shining mountain on the Karakoram range is the second highest peak among the Gasherbrum Peaks.
The first ascent was made the an Austrian team led by Fritz
Moravec along with Josef Larch and Hans
Willenpart on July 8th, 1956. They set up a base
camp on the south Gasherbrum glacier. Camp I was
set up at 6005 meters. It was here that the
party was forced to stay for ten days because of
a severe storm. Consequently, they lost a large
supply store in an avalanche. |
|
Gasherbrum II
|
 |
Gasherbrum
II (8035 meters)
Its 2000 meters high Southwest flank. In the
center the remains of a huge avalanche. (full
image: 60 K) |
History
of the Gasherbrum II
1889-1929 The international expedition headed by the
Swiss G.O. Dyhrenfurth studies possible
ways to the top of the Gasherbrum II and
gets to 6250 meters on the south flank.
1956:
First ascent via the southwest spur by an
Austrian expedition headed by F. Moravec.
Fritz Moravec along with Josef Larch and Hans
Willenpart starts from a
bivouac at 7700 meters via the east spur to the
summit on 7th.
July
1975:
Second ascent by a French group, 19 years after the first ascent. During
this expedition, the first victim at the
Gasherbrum has to be lamented. In this
year, three expeditions get to the
summit, among others a Polish women team
headed by W. Rutkiewicz.
1979:
A Chilean and a German expedition
succeeded in the 6th and 7th ascent.
1982: R. Messner Summits with two Pakistanis.
1984:
During the legendary double ascent of two
8000 peaks, Messner and H. Kammerlander
get to the summit of Gasherbrum II and
afterwards Hidden Peak. Counting
and registration is more complicated
during the following years because some
illegal teams got to the summit. Both
peaks belong to the less frequently
climbed 8000 peaks. Per year, only 2 to 3
permits are given.
For
2001 Gasherbrum II
Expeditions and News see here.
|
