Austrian-German expedition team reaches Camp 1 of Broad Peak
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—A Austrian-German expedition team has reached the base Camp 1 on its way to Broad Peak.
The Austrian-German team consists of 9 climbers including Markus Kronthaler (leader), Dieter Antoni, Sepp Bachmair, Sepp Heigenhauser, Reinhard Keck, Engelbert Obex, Peter Ressmann, Wolfgang W”rister, and Gerald Zenz. ExplorerWeb on Wednesday reported that most of the explorers in the team are experienced mountain guides and members of the Austrian Mountain Police (Alpingendarmerie).
It said, Everest researcher Jochen Hemmleb will accompany the team as a photographer and writer. On Broad Peak, the team will attempt the classic 1957 route via the West Spur. Then they will move to Chogolisa (also known as the Bride Peak) where they would attempt a ski ascent and descent, its report added.
It said, Broad Peak was first climbed on June 9, 1957, by four Austrians - Hermann Buhl, Kurt Diemberger, Fritz Wintersteller, and Marcus Schmuck andthere ascent became historic. For the first time an 8,000-meter peak was climbed without the aid of high-altitude porters.
Buhl, already a legend after his solo summit climb on Nanga Parbat in 1953, thus became the first climber to make the first ascent of two 8,000- meter peaks. Unfortunately, Buhl was killed only three weeks later when he stepped through a cornice on nearby Chogolisa (25,159 ft / 7668 m).
Located at the head of the Baltoro Glacier, Pakistan, the local name of Broad Peak is Faichan Kangri. Once named K3 by British topographers, the current official height of its main summit is 8,051meter. But according to maps from 1957, when the peak was first summited, the summit was measured as 8,047meters high.
Chogolisa (or Bride Peak) is a mountain at 35ř 07’ N 76ř 35’ E in Karakorum. Chogolisa has several peaks, the highest on the SW face (Chogolisa I) rises to 7,665 meters (25,147 ft.). While in its other report ExplorerWeb said the other large team launched by Australian outfitter Field Touring Alpine has reached BC Wednesday, and they have been reporting on several other teams heading for Concordia - the glacier-junction located one day ahead of Broad, Gasherbrums and K2’s BCs.
According to the latest reports, the teams are progressing up the Baltoro Valley in frequent rains and low temperatures.