The team eventually made it to camp 1 at 5555mt today and had a radio contact with Base camp to give some updates on their progress so far.
They pitched a camp at 5555mt, putting their sleeping bags out to dry. The team said ” it was really difficult to get there, but now we can see the route we intend to take”
On their way up they found some old gear which they believed could be Messner’s
The plan was to continue to go higher today but unfortunately they have just received a shocking news about Mario Merelli a great Alpinist and close friend from Italy who died this morning. The guys are devastated and will now return to Basecamp to clear their heads because right now, they are not in the right state of mind to keep moving on.
Simone said: “We were so happy to have finally found the route, with our nose stuck in the glacier, going forward sometimes with snowshoes, sometimes with crampons and then going back to snowshoes. We even received confirmation from Messner that we are in the spot where he pitched his camp in the year 2000.
but then we received this sad and shocking news from Matteo at Base camp. Mario had done so much in the mountains, even on the over-8000mt peaks, and he fell on the mountain he knew best, right above his home.”
“There are no words to explain how we feel. I knew him well, and Denis too had been in an expedition with him. Lately we would meet him often because we all lived in the same city, Bergamo.
Now our thoughts are in another place, our heads are not clear enough to continue our way up. Our original program was possibly to pass 6000mt. We’ll see in a few days. Now it’s too late to go back to Base Camp so we’ll sleep here and go back tomorrow, and we’ll stay there a couple of days.
Our thoughts are all for Mario. We feel really close to his family.”
Story: Simone Moro
Photos: Matteo Zanga
Davvero una brutta notizia ragazzi. Mi dispiace per il vostro amico…
Posted by Giovanni bianco | January 18, 2012, 7:39 pmso sorry for the tragic news Simone and Denis … give yourselves time … and listen to your hearts and your mountain. we are with you in all of the moments ….
Posted by Lizzy Hawker | January 18, 2012, 8:07 pmSo sorry to hear the tragic news of Mario, my thoughts are with you guys. It brings home the dangers and risks that you guys take, puts you on touch with the fragility of life. Take care up there and good luck, live life to the full guys.
Posted by Tony | January 19, 2012, 1:47 pmНужно идти дальше… время не ждет.
Posted by Chess | January 21, 2012, 5:20 pmt is necessary to go further… time and tide wait for no man.
Posted by Chess | January 21, 2012, 5:22 pm