ITALIAN K-2 EXEDITION LEADER HANS KAMMERLANDER (2)
Italian
Climber to ski down for K-2
MAY29-2000
By
Asem Mustafa Awan
ISLAMABAD
— Italian climber Hans Kammerlander is man who has set his sights on
skiing down from the K-2 summit 8,611 metres.
He
has scaled 12 of the world 14 8000ers. The remaining two are K-2 in
Karakorum, Pakistan and Manaslu in Nepal.
Leading
a strong five-member Italian expedition Hans is very positive to meet the
challenge this year.
"I
am mentally very prepared for the challenge and this year there are
reports that it hasn't been much snow which is good for climbers but for
skiing we will see the conditions if it is ice it wouldn't be possible but
we will see first."
The
five-member Italian team is attempting K-2 from the Chilean Route.
"Our
plan is the same and same is the team," said 43-year-old Italian who
came from Tirol a small town in Italy near Austrian border.
Hans
came to Pakistan in 1999 for the same purpose for K-2. He along with
Konrad Auer were the only two mountaineers who reached 8,450 metres before
bad weather forced them to come down. Hans, however, did ski down from K-2
and that was from 6,500 metres.
"It
was just not possible then," said Hans adding," It is my dream
to ski down from K-2 and above all I like skiing.
"Karakorum
is like a paradise and mornings and evenings turn the mountains to glow
which is altogether a unique experience and I like it here."
"It
is very hot here in Pakistan. I was skiing in my home town Tirol preparing
for K-2 just a few days ago," he said.
Hans
and his team mate Konrad Auer (37) are attempting the peak in Alpine
Style.
"We
will train at a low altitude around 4,600 meters," said Hans
adding," We will push from that point to 7,000 metres which will be
our Camp 1, stay there for some time and come back to Base Camp.
"The
second push would be from that point to the summit with weather and snow
condition permitting a ski descent from the summit."
The
other three members are; Hartmann Seeber 34, Hans Mutschlechner 46, and
Sebastian Sigler 36 will be supporting Hans and Konrad and will climb up
to Camp 2 or may be at Camp
3.
When
asked about the team Hans said," It is a very strong team. Konrad my
friend is one of the best in the world in ice and rock climbing. Besides,
he is very fast in high altitude."
An
extreme skier Hans has made a number of extreme skiing records and the
most notable one is coming down from the summit of Everest, the highest
point on the planet earth.
That's
not all about the stature of climber that he really is — Hans has made a
ski descent from Nanga Parbat summit, skied down from 7,500 metres from
Broad Peak, 8,000 metres from Makalu, 7,800 metres from Kanchenjunga and
7,400 metres from Shishapangma.
He
made the summits of all the peaks and than wore the skies to follow his
passion.
He is
taking special pair of skies for the assignment.
With
12 8,000ers Hans has tried Manaslu earlier in 1991 but bad weather forced
him to come down from 7,800 metres. Hans lost his two close friends on the
mountain.
Hans
has a 17-member support group accompanying the expedition to K-2.
"I
will come again to Pakistan
and out of these support members I will pick up the climber for either
Gasherbrum-II, Chogolisa or Ultar II."
Hans
has planned the summit bid in the July and he intends to climb the peak
and back from July 10 to 15.
"I
am now mentally very focussed on K-2 and I know it will demand the very
best from me," said Hans.
"I
hope to finish the 14 8000ers next year."
CAPTION:
Hans Kammerlander