SWISS GASHERBRUM I & II EXPEDITION LEADER KARL KOBLER
19 climbers leave for Gasherbrum I & II
JUNE17-2000
By
Asem Mustafa Awan
ISLAMABAD
— Nineteen member Swiss Gasherbrum I and II expedition left for Skardu
on Friday evening.
Elite
Swiss Mountain Guide Karl Kobler (45) is leading the expedition.
Of
the 19 climbers, one member 41
year old Barbara Hirschbichler is from Germany. Barbara tried to be the
first German lady on the Everest summit but she managed to reach quite
high but not the summit.
The
expedition will attempt the two Gasherbrum I and II (8068 metres and 8035
metres) from Normal routes in Semi Alpine Style.
Karl
who has the climbing permit for Gasherbrum II
said," It all depends on my clients if they feel strong after
climbing Gasherbrum II we will inform our tour operator Rasheed from Hushe
Treks and Tours via Satellite phone to
deposit the fee for the Gasherbrum I permit."
Karl
has five of the 14 8000ers including Everest which he scaled a month ago
from the North.
Karl's
started climbing the 8000ers in 1990 and Dhaulagiri was the first one in
his collection followed by Manaslu in
1996, Shishapangma in 1997 and Broad Peak in 1998.
Answering
a query he denied his ambition for the Himalayan Crown he said," For
me the clients safety comes first and I on many occasion forego my summit
to see to the safety of my clients, I was strong to climb and make the
summit but I checked my ambitions with clients."
He
also gave an interesting summary of his successful expeditions over the
time in which his clients made the summits
on Broad Peak, Shishapangma and Cho Oyu.
The
climbers mostly have the experience of European Alps while few have the
summits of 8000 metre peaks in Nepal but for most of them are coming to
Pakistan for the first time.
The
expedition comprise of Helmut Kindle (42), Hansruedi Wirth (57), Walter
Traber (41), Michele Merat (35), Guido Solinger (30), Olivier Pasche (39),
Jean-Marc Wicht (38), Madeleine Pasche (40), Markus Good (29), Fabio
Aspali (51), Josef Aregger (37), Hugo Schmoekel (37), Gianni Goltz (37),
Mario Rizzi (44), Luca Ruffa (30), Marcel Kraaz (29) and Johannes Blaser
(37).
ENDS
(17JUNE1------TIF)
CAPTION:
Swiss Gasherbrum II (8035 metres) expedition, leader Karl Kobler sitting
in the middle (front row). — Photo by the writer