Summer 2025: Triumph & Tragedy in the High Mountains
A season where courage met the extremes of nature.
The Karakoram awoke in July.
Narrow weather windows, fierce storms and climbers ready to risk it all.
David Göttler on Broad Peak. Urubko & Cardell on Gasherbrum I.
But tragedy struck: Klára Kolouchová lost her life on K2.
Some reached their dreams. Others never came back.
Summits were won - but Guan Jing and Iftikhar Sadpara perished on the descent.
K2 tested everyone
Broad Peak, Gasherbrum II, Ultar Sar, Laila Peak…
A season of bold climbs and heartbreaking losses.
Other Karakoram Stories
On Pobeda, the “Mountain of Victory,” storms ruled the sky.
Rescues failed, lives were lost.
Natasha Nagovitsyna and Sergey Shekht lost their lives.
Tian Shan Storms
In Europe, the story was different.
Creativity, new routes, bold free ascents.
The Alps reminded us of beauty and innovation.
The Alps Turn the Page
From Grandes Jorasses to the Matterhorn, climbers opened elegant new lines.
A season of mastery, not survival.
Alpine Highlights
Summer 2025 gave us both triumph and tragedy.
Storms and summits. Loss and inspiration.
The mountains remain the greatest test.
Reflection
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