Nanga Parbat Base Camp, -16°C, snowing
Today we went up to the Nanga Parbat wall close to Camp 1, and back. It snowed all night, and this morning it is still snowing even though just a little.
We left around 9.30 am, as soon as the clouds lifted slightly, and we made the track towards the ice and on it. During our march many avalanches came down from the Mazeno Ridge, but also from the Nanga wall and from the glacier towards the Ganalo Peak. Snow was fragile, and even under our feet small plaques of snow were detaching, apparently insignificant but a glimpse of how unstable the fresh snow is.
We proceeded to the base of the uphill that takes to Camp 1. An avalanche to our right made it clear that we were taking unnecessary risks. So we deposited all our equipment (tents, sleeping bags, camp stoves, climbing gear, food and so on) in a safe place.
We put on our snowshoes and went back to Base Camp. Between here at Base Camp (4230 mt) and the base of Nanga Parbat (4500 mt) there is double the snow, up there it has been snowing so much more. Tomek, who went down yesterday to meet his team mates, will have problems coming back up. Now the snow is quite a lot, enough to give problems especially to the porters.
Story: Simone Moro
Photography: Matteo Zanga