JAPANESE FALAK SAR EXPEDITION LEADER TORII KAZUO
Japanese scale Falak Sar
AUGUST20-2000
By
Asem Mustafa Awan
ISLAMABAD
— Three member Japanese expedition from Hosei University Tokyo left for
home on Sunday afternoon after scaling Falak Sar 5918 metres on August 13
from the North Ridge.
The
three member team, climbed the technically difficult peak which comes in
the trekking category.
"It
was very difficult and hard climbing all the way," said Kuriyagawa
Katsuyuki member of the expedition.
Torii
Kazuo (58) led the expedition and stayed at 4600 metres as a back up for
the two climbers Kuriyagawa Katsuyuki (23) and Arai Toshihiko (28) who
reached the angular peak summit on August 13 at 12:00 noon.
"The
snow was very hard and it was 60 plus angle all the way from Base Camp at
3900 metres to summit at 5918 metres," said Arai Toshihiko who also
has the summit of Makalu in Nepal and is one of the promising young
climbers at the Japanese Alpine front.
The
three visiting Pakistan second time and more gave an interesting account
of their adventures in Pakistan.
The
leader Torii Kazuo a geographer in Hosei University and president of the
University Alpine Club said," I visited Pakistan 30 years ago when I
was 28 years old and I was collecting antiques from Germany to Afghanistan
on Volks Wagon Truck."
"It
was great to be here again."
Kuriyagawa
a philosophy student at the university said," I was attempting Koz
Sar peak in Pakistan a year ago and I am very happy with Falak Sar summit
which is my second summit in Pakistan."
Arai
a former graduate of the university in English Literature said," It
was an experience the mountain was difficult and dangerous but we all are
happy that we climbed it in one piece as the last climb of the peak was
done in 1985 and the first ascent dates back to 1957 either by the Swiss
or the New Zealand climbers."
The
three are also members of Japanese Alpine Club. They appreciated their
tour operator Ishaq Ali of North Pakistan Tours in assisting the
expedition in the logistical support.
CAPTION
1:Torii Kazuo
CAPTION
2:Kuriyagawa
CAPTION
3: Arai Toshihiko