GERMAN-SWISS NAMELESS TOWER EXPEDITION LEADER JEAN RICHTER
Eight climbers to make free ascent on Nameless Tower
JUNE25-2000
By
Asem Mustafa Awan
ISLAMABAD
— Eight member German/ Swiss expedition will vie for Nameless Tower free
ascent from the South West Face, Eternal Flame Route.
The
route Eternal Flame was done by Kurt Albert and Wolfgang Gullich in 1989
which was also the first ascent of the South West Face.
Thirty
one year old Jens Richter from Germany leads the alpinists which have one
Swiss climber Markus Stofer (31).
"We
are all amateur climbers and all of us are coming to Pakistan for the
first time," said Jens adding," The Nameless Tower offers 6251
metres and its a vertical wall offering 30 pitches making it around 1200
metres.
The
wall begins from 5000 metres where we will make our first high camp
followed by the second at 5500 metres.
The
base camp is at 4500 metres on Trango Glacier."
Answering
a query Jens said," Our objective is to free climb the route but we
will use ropes for safety, pulling up the gear and rappelling. We hope
that cracks have no ice in them otherwise we have very slim chances of
climbing the Nameless Tower."
"The
ice filled cracks will slow our climb and it will make the climb
technical."
"We
expect grade to be 5.12C in free climbing and with aid climbing it can be
5.12A-A1," said Jens adding," The objective hazard is the rock
falls and avalanches coming from the last 100 metres near the summit as
there is a snow field at that altitude."
Referring
to the teams experience he said," Markus from Switzerland has the
summit of an 8000er Makalu in Nepal. It took him 14 days from Base Camp to
summit of Makalu. He has also climbed Pumori in Nepal. Other climbers have
taken a number of climbs in Patagonia, South America, Yosemite, North
America and European Alps."
"We
are all low budget climbers," said Jens adding," Instead of a
team doctor we have a veterinarian as our team doctor who has been
climbing for more than a decade."
Jens
brother Michael Richter (32) is team doctor who is a veterinarian by
profession.
Other
members of the expedition are: Rainer Treppte (41), Steffen Geissler (38),
Ruediger Helling (26), Urs Stoecker (22) and Christian Baum (26).
The
expedition leaves tomorrow.
CAPTION:
Jens Richter