ISLAMABAD – Elite Polish climbers were on Saturday ascending Pakistan’streacherous “Killer Mountain” in the dark to save a French womanmountaineer and a fellow Pole, officials said, hoping the daring effortcould see them reach the French climber on Sunday.
Military helicopters buzzing over the 8,126 meter (26,660 feet) NangaParbat mountain spotted Elisabeth Revol of France at about 6,700m markduring daylight hours, a Pakistani official said, but were unable tocommunicate with Tomasz Mackiewicz from Poland, who is believed to be in acrevasse.
After abandoning their ascent at about 7,400m on Pakistan’s second highestmountain, Revol on Friday helped Mackiewicz, who is suffering fromfrostbite and snow blindness, come down to 7,280 meters and set him up in atent to spend the night, before descending and calling for help on asatellite phone.
The race against time effort will continue into the night after Pakistan’smilitary picked up several Polish climbers attempting the first winterascent of nearby K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, and flew them toNanga Parbat on Saturday to lead the rescue.
Brig. Shahid Sardar, a representative of military-owned Askari Aviation,told Reuters that Revol was spotted near Nanga Parbat’s Base Camp 2, whilethe Polish rescue team had been dropped off at Base Camp 1. – Agencies