Climber completes Manaslu feat despite tragedy
19/10/2012
Part of a team sponsored by supplier of performance-enhanced polyester fibres and filaments Advansa, Benedikt Bo¨hm travelled to the Himalayas at the end of August with the aim of breaking the record for a quick ascent and descent of a different mountain, Cho Oyu. However, like many climbers this autumn, the team was unable to secure the necessary permits from the authorities in China to continue into Tibet to tackle the mountain and turned its attention to Manaslu instead.
With team-mate and fellow German climber Sebastian Haag, Benedikt Bo¨hm felt he had unfinished business with Manaslu because dangerous weather conditions prevented them from completing an attempt to climb it in 2007.
While they were preparing for their speed-climb this time, an avalanche hit the mountain resulting in the deaths of at least 15 climbers.
A week after the tragedy, the two German climbers set out for the summit without the aid of oxygen. Again, because of weather conditions, notably the high wind-speeds, Sebastian Haag decided not to continue to the top and Benedikt Bo¨hm went on alone, reaching the summit of 8,163 metres after 15 hours’ climbing skiing back down for a total time of 23 hours 30 minutes. The climb and descent must be completed within 24 hours to count.
Benedikt Bo¨hm said he wanted to dedicate the feat to the climbers who lost their lives in the avalanche.
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