Famed Alpinist Suffers Frostbite in Himalaya
Denis Urubko has survived a fall into a crevasse during a winter attempt of Gasherbrum I
According to Desnivel Revista Montaña, a climbing publication started in 1981, alpinist Denis Urubko, 50, has survived a fall into a crevasse, but has suffered extreme frostbite. Urubko’s fall happened at around 5,500 metres during a winter ascent of Gasherbrum I. After being helped out of the crevasse, he and his team spent time at a high camp before descending to base camp.
Desnivel shared a photo of Urubko’s frostbitten hand on their Instagram page, which you can scroll to below. On Jan. 22, Urubko reported that he had returned to base camp after reaching 5,400 metres. He said, “…many crevasses, lots of snow, fixed ropes.” Urubko is now making a multi-day trek back to Skardu to seek medical attention.
Urubko is a Russian-Polish climber who became the 15th person to climb all 14 eight-thousand-metre peaks in 2009, and he was the eighth climber to do so without supplemental oxygen. He’s climbed two 8,000-metre peaks in winter: Makalu in 2009 with Simone Moro; and Gasherbrum II in 2011 together with Cory Richards and Moro. He has 25 ascents of 8,000-metre peaks without supplemental oxygen.
Profile of Urubko
Check out the latest buyer's guide:
