Just days after 3 Iranian climbers were given up for dead on 26,414-foot Broad Peak (Gahserbrum II), 3 Spanish climbers have been declared dead on nearby 26,509-foot Hidden Peak (Gasherbrum I). Both peaks are in Pakistan’s Karakoram Range of Pakistan.
“In a final attempt to locate our fellows alive, having no contact with them since the morning of day 22, and given the existing adverse weather during these days at altitude, we made a reconnaissance flight which confirmed our worst fears: the three above mentioned companions have died.” – Hidden Peak Spanish climbing team, July 26th, 2013
The last contact the 3 climbers had with Base Camp was on July 21st when they were near Camp 3.
The 3 missing climbers were part of a 10 member Spanish team that summited on July 20th. 4 of the team members became disoriented and were lost from the group during the descent from the summit in a snow storm. Of the 4 that were lost initially, one Spanish climber was able to find the correct route and rejoin the team.
“One of the four mountaineers who was lost managed to find the path and returned to base camp. The other three disappeared. No one knows where they are. It appears they were caught in a snow storm.” – Manzoor Hussain, President of the Pakistani Alpine Federation
This news is particularly sad considering that 3 Iranian climbers were lost on nearby 26,414-foot Broad Peak (Gasherbrum II) only days earlier.
Hidden Peak is the 11th tallest peak in the world. Pakistan is home to 5 of the world’s 14 peaks over 8,000 meters including Earth’s second highest peak, K2.
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