Big New Alpine Route on Pumori in the Himalaya

A team of Romanian alpinists have made the first ascent of a new 1,100-metre line up Pumori’s southeast face in the Himalaya.

Pumori is a 7,161-metre peak near Mount Everest that already had routes up the big southeast face, including the Scottish Route climbed in 1986 by Sandy Allan and Rick Allen.

The Romanian team was made up of Romeo Popa, Zsolt Torok and Teofil Vlad took a direct route up the face after they acclimatized on Lobuche.

They bivied five times on the face and ridge and sreached the summit during 100 km/h winds. They called the climb Les Voyages de Petit Prince AI4R.

After an attempt last year by Zsolt Torok and Vlad Capusan up the same line, they said, “Last year we managed to climb three difficult summits together in the Himalayas (Cholatse, Kyajo Ri, Peak5) but only now, after this great ordeal, we feel we are a strong team.

“We definitely gave this attempt our best shot, but the mountain rejected us this time. We will come back, though, because Pumori’s 7160 meters will not get any higher next year(s), but we will grow and return stronger, for a second chance at our dream. A heartfelt thanks to everybody who believed in us!”