Veikka Gustafsson reaches summit of Broad Peak, at 8,051 metres

One more mountain required for a remarkable collection

print this

On Thursday, Finnish mountaineer Veikka Gustafsson completed his ascent of Broad Peak, the world's 12th highest mountain, in the company of two Japanese climbers, Hirotaka Takeuchi and Kazuya Hiraide.
      The expedition to the summit at 8,051 metres above sea level was blessed with good weather, and Gustafsson reported that all the peaks of the Karakorum range were visible in bright sunshine as the three men scaled the final ridge.
     
The party will return to their base camp today, after which Gustafsson will make a decision on whether to press on and try to conquer Gasherbrum I (8,080 metres) during the current climbing season.
      If the 40-year-old Finn succeeds in this endeavour he will become only the seventh individual to reach the summit of all fourteen of the world's peaks over 8,000 metres without bottled oxygen.
     
Gustafsson has climbed Everest three times, in 1993, 1997, and 2004 - in 1997 he reached the summit without bottled oxygen.
      On July 8th this year, he conquered Gasherbrum II, at 8,035 metres, as the first stage of his planned assault on the three remaining "eight thousand" mountains for his collection.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Mountain climbing: Into the death zone (17.6.2008)

Links:
  Veikka Gustafsson (Wikipedia)

Helsingin Sanomat