Spitzer Team Bags Unclimbed Peak in Nepal
Back to news |
Posted: May 3, 2009
Joe Puryear, recipient of a 2009 Spitzer Cutting-Edge Award, and partner David Gottlieb have completed the first ascent of Jobo Rinjang (6,778m) in Nepal, near Nangpa La on the border of Tibet. The two climbed a direct route up the 1,700-meter south face, reaching 6,500 meters after a marathon 21-hour day of ice climbing. They continued to the summit the next morning and then camped on top, hoping to traverse to neighboring Lunag I, possibly the highest unclimbed peak in Nepal for which permits are available.
The next day, they started across the two-kilometer, knife-edge ridge between Jobo Rinjang and the Lunag massif, but could not find a safe way across the ridge. After another night on the summit, they rappelled and downclimbed the south face to return safely to base camp.
See Climbnepal.blogspot.com for a full report, many photos, and video from the climb.
In the photo: The Lunag massif, with Jobo Rinjang in the foreground. The south face is to the left of the peak, above the Lunag Glacier. Courtesy of Joe Puryear.
Jobo Rinjang 2 from Joe Puryear on Vimeo.