Winter 2020: Jost Kobusch to Push for Final Summit Bid

Dream Wanderlust | Feb 21 , 2020

With the end of Denis Urubko's Solo attempt on Broad Peak, only two expeditions are left in this Winter - coincidentally - both on Everest.

German alpinist Jost Kobusch is about to start his 17-hour-summit-push from Camp-1, his current position on the mountain. According to his plan, he aims to climb by the optional route (which he calls his Plan C) that he explored a few day ago at the West shoulder. Jost is on his Solo Everest Winter Expedition without supplemental oxygen by the West Ridge.

Also Read: Alex Txikon Announces Winter Expedition to Annapurna 2024-25

Jost Kobusch

On the other hand, Spanish Alpinist Alex Txikon, on an another expedition on Everest, returned to Base Camp from Camp-2 on 19th February, 2020 due to tough conditions. The team was at the camp from 15th February, 2020. Due to the high risk factor of constant falling of stones from the West Face of Lhotse, they were unable to reach to Camp-3. Their next plan is yet to come.

Denis Urubko's Solo summit push story

He started his climb on 16th February, 2020 at 6:30am (Pakistan Time) from Base Camp. While climbing, he was swept down about 100m by avalanche. However, he continued to climb again and reached Camp-3 (7000m) at 3:30pm. He established his camp there. On 17th February, 2020 at 3:00am, he started his final summit bid. Again while climbing, he escaped a crevasse-fall due to a broken fixed rope. "Unfortunatelly one rope refused to work correctly. I fell 15m till crevasse... Fortunately, stopped 30 mt below. Surprise! But... even it did not kill my optimism. I just chose other rope and continued up," Denis described on his Facebook Page. At about 7400m, he discovered that the expected wind infromation of 40km/h was actually in miles. On 18th February, 2020, at 10:00am he arrived at Base Camp.

Possibly, the last eight-thousander of a great alpinist has come to an end at 7400m and the first Winter ascent of Broad Peak following the Gregorian calendar (from December 1 to the end of February) remains unsuccessful till date, as he believed Winter begins according to the Gregorian calendar, but not to the astronomical calendar (from December 22 to March 22).