We've got a fresh update today, courtesy of MountEverest.net on the Makalu Winter climb. It seems that the predicted weather window is now open, and the Kazakh's are making their second summit bid, while the Italian team is in BC and waiting for their next go.
Last weekend the Kazakh team of Denis Urubko, Serguey Samoilov, Eugeny Shutov turned back due to poor conditions and illness. But the word from RussianClimb.com is that the team has reached 6700m and are currently resting, while they wait for the wind to die down before proceeding higher. In one of their dispatches Denis compares the wind to a freight training blowing by their tent every minute or so. It's strong, powerful, and noisy.
The other team on the mountain is made up of Nives Meroi, Romano Benet and Luca Vuerich. They're currently down in base camp waiting for the wind speeds to lessen, while they rest up for their own summit bid. They've also established a series of high camps, but are waiting for the right opportunity to make their attempt.
Makalu, at 27,762 feet is the fight highest mountain in the World. It is also the last of the 8000m Himalayan peaks to go unclimbed in Winter. One, or both, of these teams are hoping to change that this year.
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