Gasherbrum I Expedition

AUSTRALIAN GASHERBRUM-I EXPEDITION 2007 LED BY MR. ZAC ZAHARIAS

The team of 9 Australian climbers is one of the strongest that has tackled an 8000m peak. It includes a wealth of high altitude experience with climbers that have been on 27 8000m peak expeditions. It includes a very strong range of technical expertise and includes one female climber, Lesley Gidding.

At 8068 metres, Gasherbrum I (also known as Hidden Peak or K5) is the eleventh highest peak on Earth and is the least climbed of the five 8000 metre peaks in Pakistan.

Gasherbrum I is located in the Karakoram range on the North Eastern frontier on the Pakistani/ Chinese border. Gasherbrum in the local language means "Shining Wall".

Andrew Lock is the only Australian to have climbed Gasherbrum I.

The Team
The Australian Gasherbrum I Expedition is being led by Zac Zaharias, a veteran of 13 Himalayan expeditions including five summits over 8000 metres.

The team of 9 Australian climbers is one of the strongest to tackle an 8000 metre peak with 27 8000 metre expeditions between them and 13 summits.

Lesley Gidding is the only female climber on the team. By attempting Gasherbrum I, Lesley joins an elite group of only half a dozen Australian women who have climbed 8000 metre peaks.

The Route
The Expedition will be tackling the Japanese couloir, a steep but direct line up the north face of Gasherbrum I.

Base camp will be established at 5150 metres on the South Gasherbrum glacier, with three high camps at 6000, 6400 and 7200 metres.

The foot of the Japanese Couloir starts at Camp 2 at 6400 metres. With an average angle between 45-55 degrees, the team will fix 1000 metres of rope over the trickier sections leading up to Camp 3 before the planned summit push in mid-July.