French Duo Takes Aim at Gasherbrum IV’s Shining Wall

French alpinists Charles Dubouloz and Symon Welfringer are preparing to tackle what many call one of the planet’s most breathtaking – and brutal – big-wall objectives: the 2,500 m Shining Wall on Gasherbrum IV’s west face in the Karakoram

Dubouloz explained their intentions:

“Our primary objective is the southwest ridge, starting by climbing the Shining Wall [the West Face] and then continuing along the ridge to the summit.”

The so‑called Shining Wall earns its name from the golden glow it casts in the dying light of day – not mere legend but a literal alpenglow spectacle on the glacier‑framed massif at Concordia . Yet that allure masks a notoriously technical face; even the legendary Polish mountaineer Voytek Kurtyka’s 1985 alpine‑style attempt didn’t reach the main summit, though it’s hailed as one of the 20th century’s greatest ascents .

Dubouloz and Welfringer are approaching this mission with experienced wariness. Informed by their flexible success last year – when illness shifted their goal from Gyachung Kang to a bold new route on Hungchi – they’re ready to pivot to alternate objectives: Gasherbrum V, a G5/G6 traverse, or smaller nearby 6,000‑metre peaks if conditions demand

Reddit’s mountaineering community is already buzzing:

“It is close to the ultimate alpine climbing objective and would take pushing it so far out there”

Gasherbrum IV towers at 7,925 m, ranking as the 17th highest mountain on Earth and famed as the loftiest independent peak under 8,000 m in Pakistan. Its West Face, the Shining Wall, has seen scant lines reach beyond the North Summit; the immensity of this face has humbled even the most seasoned climbers.

What makes this a story to follow:

• Two world‑class alpine adventurers, combining speed, skill, and experience in dramatic terrain.
  
  
• A legendary face that blends jaw‑dropping beauty with unforgiving technicality.
  
  
• A backdrop of unpredictable Karakoram weather and dynamic alpine strategy.