{"id":59605,"date":"2018-02-26T05:18:36","date_gmt":"2018-02-26T05:18:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=59605"},"modified":"2018-02-26T05:18:36","modified_gmt":"2018-02-26T05:18:36","slug":"k2-fears-climber-denis-urubko-expedition-row","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/world-news\/k2-fears-climber-denis-urubko-expedition-row.html","title":{"rendered":"K2: Fears for climber Denis Urubko after expedition row"},"content":{"rendered":"

K2: Fears for climber Denis Urubko after expedition row<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

A Polish expedition hoping to complete the first winter ascent of the world’s second-highest mountain, K2, says one of its climbers appears to have launched an unauthorised solo attempt.<\/span><\/p>\n

Russo-Polish mountaineer Denis Urubko left teammates on Saturday at the base camp on the border between Pakistan and China, a spokesman told the BBC.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 44-year-old split off from the group after a series of arguments.<\/span><\/p>\n

One climber described a solo attempt in winter as “completely suicidal”.<\/span><\/p>\n

Expedition spokesman Michal Leksinski said he thought Urubko wanted to reach the top this month so his effort would definitely count as a winter climb.<\/span><\/p>\n

Leksinski said he trusted his colleague to turn back if he had to, rather than endanger himself or the team. He believes the next 48 hours are critical.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why did they fall out?<\/span><\/p>\n

Urubko reportedly left without a radio, after refusing to discuss his plans.<\/span><\/p>\n

“He was trying to persuade the team to push for the summit in February,” a porter with the group told AFP news agency.<\/span><\/p>\n

“He has had a heated debate with the team leader and left for the summit without saying a word.”<\/span><\/p>\n

How dangerous would a solo bid be?<\/span><\/p>\n

Professional mountaineers have expressed dismay at the climber’s decision.<\/span><\/p>\n

“A solo attempt of K2 in winter is completely suicidal,” said Pakistani climber Mirza Ali Baig.<\/span><\/p>\n

Karim Shah, a mountaineering friend of Urubko, agreed the move was “very risky”.<\/span><\/p>\n

“He is known as the ‘Himalayan expert’ among the mountaineering community… but his decision is not correct and does not suit someone of his stature,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

How good is Urubko?<\/span><\/p>\n

He is said to be a highly capable mountaineer who has conquered all of the world’s 14 peaks over 8,000m. The expedition members believe he has probably reached an existing K2 camp located at 7,200m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Urubko made headlines just last month by saving a stricken French climber, Elisabeth Revol.<\/span><\/p>\n

He and three other team members were flown by helicopter from K2 to the 8,126m Nanga Parbat in Pakistan – nicknamed Killer Mountain – where they performed an audacious night-time rescue.<\/span><\/p>\n

K2, the pinnacle of the Karakoram range, stands at a majestic 8,611m (28,251ft). It is the only peak above 8,000m never climbed in winter.<\/span><\/p>\n

It has a higher fatality-to-summit rate than Everest, and is known as the Savage Mountain due to its fiendish conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

K2’s steepness challenges even the world’s most accomplished climbers. Avalanches are an ever-present risk, and in winter temperatures can fall to -50C, accompanied by winds of up to 200km\/hr (124mph).<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-43190387<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t <\/div><\/div>\n\t\t