Pakistan is heaven for foreign climbers who are eager to scale down different mountains including Nanga Parbat and K-2.
An eight-member French and Pakistan joint expedition has left for Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday to scale down Gasherbrum-II also known as K4. Gasherbrum-II is the 13th highest mountain in the world at 8,035 metres.
The team comprises of two French and six Pakistani climbers who have vast climbing experience, told Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) president Col (R) Manzoor, who was joined by Dr Philippe Arvis and Dr Christophe, Pakistan’s pride climber Hassan Jan at a press briefing in Islamabad.
“This is the very first expedition of summer and around 35 applications had been received so far, while we are expecting the number would raise in coming days,” Col Manzoor said. “We can’t send Pakistani expeditions alone due to tight financial restraints, as government doesn’t support us much, that’s why we had to depend on foreigners, while we accommodate maximum locals as well. The foreigners have the advantage that their fee cut downs to half, while our climbers get the much-needed exposure.”
“Pakistan is the heaven on earth as it has world’s best and outstanding mountains” remarked Dr Christophe, adding that Pakistan’s side of the mountains is in fact more majestic than Nepal’s. “No one can realise the importance of Pakistan, until and unless they come and visit this country.”
“Pakistanis are very friendly and I am very happy to come to Pakistan” said French team leader Philippe Arvis who is in Pakistan to climb down the best mountains of the world.”
The expedition is led by Dr. Philippe ARVIS Born on 15 June of 1962. He is Medicine doctor since 1995 Specialist in Emergency since 2000 Master in medicine of altitude (1993) He has Mountain expertise. Dr. Philippe have climbed Kilimandjaro (5895 m, Tanzania), Aconcagua (6962 m, Argentina), Cho Oyu (8201m, China), Shisha Pangma (8030 m, China), K II (8035 m, Pakistan), Everest summiter in 2002 (8848 m, Nepal), Nanga Parbat (8126 m, Pakistan), Pic Lenine (7130 m).
Dr. Christophe FAISY, born on 25 February 1966 is another French member. He is also Medicine doctor since 1996. Specialist in pneumology and respiratory diseases since 1996. Specialist in intensive care medicine since 1997. Master in respiratory physiology (2000). PhD in sciences (respiratory pharmacology) at the Paris‐Descartes University, Paris, France (2005) Graduated in medical education (2006), Certification as a professor and supervise research (2013). Assistant‐Professor at the medical intensive care unit of the European Georges Pompidou Hospital (Paris, France) from 2005 to 2012. He has on his credit 64 publications in English as author or investigator referenced in PubMed.gov 33 publications in French specialized books or journals 2 publications in English specialized books. Dr. Christophe have climbed Kilimandjaro (5895 m, Tanzania), Aconcagua (6962 m, Argentina), Cho Oyu (8201 m, China), Kun (7080 m, India), Gasherbrum II (8035 m, Pakistan), Dhaulagiri (8172 m, Nepal), Noshaq (7492 m, Afghanistan), Nanga Parbat (8126 m, Pakistan)
Pakistan is heaven for foreign climbers who are eager to scale down different mountains including Nanga Parbat and K-2. Col (R) Manzoor said that “In 2007, 120 foreign teams arrived for different expeditions, but due to unfortunate incident in 2013; the situation was very bleak, which did improve last year when 35 expeditions arrived in Pakistan.”We are expecting the number would certainly rise this year.”