Nov 5, 2013

South Face of Annapurna 2013


Maybe you think you are doing great things in the mountains ..... and you might think you're pretty good at it ... think Again.

Big news from Annapurna. The South Face is yet climb by two  French alpinists, Yannick Graziani and Stephane Benoist. The French climb took place in almost one week. Having left the ABC on 17th, the climbers reached the summit on October 24th. Surviving such an extended period of time on one of the most perilous walls in the world is a big feat in itself.

 "The pair came down the south face. Stephane suffered frostbite and  the two climbers were evacuated from the moraine to the hospital in Kathmandu" Source Exsplorers web. Amazing achievement!!

Ueli Solo Annapurna
After commercial staff ganged up on him on Everest; speed climber Ueli Steck turned to a mountain void of mountain guides and really, most everyone else.

 
Notorious for its many deaths, avalanche prone slopes and sky-cutting ridge; the peak frequently merely sees the world's top high altitude mountaineers. And on their 14x8000ers bucket list, they usually leave Annapurna for last.


 The Swiss climber solo climbed a new route in alpine style, in round trip time of 28 hours from Advanced BC. He has reportedly completed the challenging Lafaille route, which was attempted by Jean-Christophe Lafaille and Pierre Beghin in the autumn of 1992.

The Swiss mountaineer took on the killer mountain alone and without fanfare, in a beautiful mix of courage and grace. Only a handful of mountaineers have soloed an 8000 meter peak. Only Ueli has done it twice.
 

 
 23 people have summited Annapurna south on new routes. More than 50% of these climbers have died on Annapurna or other mountains later on.!!!!!