FRENCH NAMELESS PEAK EXPEDITION LEADER NICOLAS SIEGER
Frenchman makes Ist ascent and names peak after his town La Rochele
AUGUST29-2000
By
Asem Mustafa Awan
ISLAMABAD
— Nicolas Sieger is French and a history professor in a high school but
his passion of climbing took him to Pakistan and he made a solo ascent on
7010 meter un named peak which he named after his home town La Rochele in
France.
Leading
the four member side with three leaving the expedition early due to their
professional commitments the Frenchman hoisted his country's flag on top
of La Rochele on August 22 at 9:00 pm in bad weather conditions.
"I
survived a very close call when I fell in to a crevasse and an avalanche
passed over me and at that time I was on my way up," said Nicolas
adding," It was 2:00 pm on August 22 and I persisted with my
climbing."
It
was not an easy climb and the angle varied from
70 degrees and plus at number of places."
The
37 year old History professor in Lycee Rompsay said," Climbing a 7000
metre peak solo is like dream coming true for me and I feel great after
this."
The
Frenchman answering a query said," It had a been a very unique
experience for me I had to go on a tractor to find a suitable spot for
placing my base camp and it was fun."
The
Frenchman plans to make a slide show in France besides a movie.
"It
will help me project Pakistan in France as not many French know about the
tourist treasures of Pakistan."
"I
am very grateful to the people of Shiskat village near Gulmit who were a
big help and ofcourse I am grateful to my guide Muhammad from Huzna,
Nasirabad and cook Ali from Khaplo, Machlo."
"This
is my third to Pakistan and I
have made plans that I will be coming for the country again and that will
be in 2001 for Broad Peak and in 2002 for K-2 Insha Allah."
Nicolas
has been to Gasherbrum II in 1999 but due to frost bite he came back from
7700 metres.
Answering
a query about the climb he said," It was a difficult climb and it
required front pointing and ice axes all the way to the summit. The climb
was hard from 6000 metres onward as the angle got a little more steep from
70 degrees and it continued all the way to the summit at 7010 metres."
Nicolas
started from the Base Camp on August 21 at 7:00 am, made a bivouac at 5500
metres and then continued all the way to the top, reaching at 9:00 pm on
August 22. He came down from the summit to Base Camp at 4400 metres at the
same time 7:00 am on August 23.
The
other members of the expedition were Nathalie Duffay (34), Philippe Pivron
(35) and Marie-France Ducret (37).
The
expedition made Base Camp at 4400 metres, Camp 1 at 5100 metres, Camp 2 at
5500 metre.
CAPTION: Nicolas Sieger