Trekking On

Despite the biting cold and the crazy wind conditions, the remaining party of 9 continued their trip up the mountain. It would seem from their photos that they were a happy and merry bunch. The harsh weather couldn’t seem to dampen their spirits. But there would also be no way for them to know what events were going to happen in the next few hours.

Extreme Weather Conditions

On January 31, they were able to reach a holding area where they decided to leave food and equipment, which they would use for their trip home. After making a stop to rest, they ventured out again on February 2 for the long haul hike. It was said that they would hike through the mountain pass to be able to camp on the opposite side for the night. But that’s when the weather decided to take a turn for the worst and they were hit by major snowfall. They ended up heading West, leading them straight up to Kholat Syakhl.