FRENCH GOLDEN PEAK EXPEDITION LEADER EMMANUEL PELLISSIER
Multinational team to attempt Golden Peak in Alpine Style
MAY15-2000
By
Asem Mustafa Awan
ISLAMABAD
— Seven member multinational team will vie for the second ascent of the
Golden Peak also called Spantik from the North.
Twenty
five year old Frenchman Emmanuel Pellissier leads the seven member team
having members representing Slovenia, Italy, Hungary and Russia.
The
team will attempt the Spantik from the Pillar in Alpine Style.
Spantik
7026 metres is one of the easiest 7000ers in Pakistan when it is attempted
from the Normal route, approaching via Skardu Valley followed by Arandu.
The
other side (North) is via Nagar
Valley and Barfo Glacier. The
Barfo Glacier leads to the Base Camp at 4500 metres.
The
route taken by the expedition offers a vertical climb of over 1000 metres
with mixed terrain of both rock and ice.
Frenchman
Emmanuel Pellissier said," Only two Englishmen Victor Saunders and
Mick Fowler reached the summit following the pillar with a variation to
the right in the last portion in 1987."
"We
will try to follow the Golden Pillar to the end and we will make the
ascent and descent very fast," said the Frenchman who has climbed in
India, South America and Nepal besides visiting Pakistan the second time.
"The
route is safe and first portion from 5000 metres to 6000 metres is of snow
followed by mixed terrain of near vertical climb to the top," said
Emmanuel.
"The
team is quite experienced and climbers have been to all parts of the
world. Hungarian climber Ozvrath Attila (44) is most seasoned campaigner
in the lot and has been climbing in Pakistan before."
The
second Frenchman accompanying Emmanuel Pellissier is Emmanuel Guy (28).
Manu Guy has climbed in Alaska, Ecuador, Pamir Alai and Nepal.
Other
climbers are: Marko Prezelj (Slovenia 34), Erik Svab (Italy 30), Klenov
Alexandar (Russia 38) and Devi Mikhail (Russia 34).
CAPTION
1: Manu Pellissier (leader)
CAPTION
2: Manu Guy