Avalanche thwarts Aconcagua record attempt

Speed climber Karl Egloff has broken off his attempt to break the world record for ascending Aconcagua due to an avalanche blocking his planned route.

As part of his preparation for climbing the highest north American mountain, Denali in Alaska, Karl Egloff and his teammate Nicolas Miranda had planned to climb the Aconcagua (6962m), Argentina on Wednesday in record time. Climbing the highest mountain outside the Himalayas across the south face is one of the most demanding and deadly mountain routes in the world. But an avalanche on the planned route thwarted their plans. The world record attempt was then cancelled at base camp (4250m) before the start of the main ascent. Karl Egloff has held the world record of climbing Aconcagua on the normal route since 2015. The Swiss Ecuadorian has taken up the challenge to climb the highest peaks of the seven continents in world record time, with the final destination Mount Everest.

Karl Egloff in his Igloo tent at Aconcagua base camp, preparing for the speed record attempt. 16. January 2018

“We had just arrived at the base camp of the Aconcagua and already saw a big avalanche coming down on the south wall. The next morning, when we opened our tent, only then did we realize the extent of the avalanche and our luck. Because if we had been up there, we would have been completely enclosed. We put security before the world record attempt, and broke off the attempt. I will now fully get prepared for the ascent of Denali, Alaska in May 2018. ” explains Karl Egloff at his hotel in Mendoza after the arrival from the basecamp.

Karl, who climbed Mount Elbrus, Russia and the Nevado de Colima, Mexico in world record time last year, was introduced to speed climbing by Nicolas. Both got to know each other in 2009 and have successfully climbed together since 2012 when they set the world record at Cotopaxi, Ecuador. Nicolas is an internationally acclaimed mountain guide UIAGM, who also competes in ultra-marathon alongside speed climbing. Both were supported on site at the base camp by Kari Kobler of Aconcagua Vision and by Peru Expeditions.
 
In May 2018, Karl will try to climb the Denali, (6192m) USA in world record time. This is part of his project – 7 summits. More info at www.karlegloff.com

Karl Egloff and Nicolas Miranda at Aconcagua base camp, preparing for the attempt to climb the south wall in record time. 15. January 2018