Keyword: karakoram

In early August, the trio established the route "Wild Soul" (7a/A2+, 600 m, 21 SL) in the Pakistani Karakorum Mountains, probably the first line on the 5.700 meter high Biacherahi Central.

On Thursday morning, an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan swept away a group of ten international climbers. As of Friday afternoon, four climbers had been recovered dead, and six others were still missing – among them the exceptional Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal "Nimsdai" Purja.

French climber and alpinist Maud Vanpoulle has achieved a rare free ascent of the route "Eternal Flame" (650m, 7c+) on Trango Tower, one of the hardest big wall routes in the world. Particularly unusual: Vanpoulle and her climbing partner traveled from France by car.

Siebe Vanhee, Sean Villanueva O'Driscoll, and Symon Welfringer have made the first ascent of the west face of Tahu Rutum, a 6.651-meter peak in the Pakistani Karakoram. Their 1500-meter route, "The Leopard of Higher Ground," connects the lower rock face to the summit via a series of steep snow traverses. They completed the route as a team free ascent, redpointing every pitch.

A historic moment for Pakistan's mountain guides. On November 29th, the Karakoram Mountain Guides Association (KMGA) was officially launched in Skardu – the first nationwide organization founded by mountaineers themselves and dedicated exclusively to their interests.

"Secrets, Shepherds, Sex and Serendipity" (M7, AI5, A2+, 3000m) is the name of the new route on the 6673m high mountain in Pakistan – a name that sticks in your mind. It was established by George Ponsonby (Ireland) and James Price (England), both members of the Young Alpinist Group from Great Britain. 

It was certainly no easy task for the international jury to select three ascents from the list of ascents in 2024 for the prizes. The winners of the three Piolets d'Or awards have now been determined.

The big-wall route Eternal Flame is one of the most difficult multi-pitch routes at high altitude. In August, a four-person team from Germany secured one of the rare free ascents of the line on Trango Tower.