Frits Vrijlandt: Hidden Peak in the background

Update 8/06/2006: “Dutch Hidden Peak Expedition: summit bid aborted.

In spite of a favourable weather forecast, Dutchmen Frits Vrijlandt and Court Haegens and Hungarian climber Maku Laszlo have aborted their summit bid on Hidden Peak from August 1^st.

Due to deteriorated local weather conditions (heavy wind, 5 in. of fresh snow, spindrift, and poor visibility) they decided that continuing to the summit was too risky, and they turned back at an altitude of 7600 metres. The Spanish and Korean climbers who were also on their way to the summit that day, decided to retreat as well.

Frits, Court and Maku have safely descended to Base Camp. They have decided to call it a day! They will start the trek to Hushe soon.

Kind regards,

Rose Janssen, Base Camp Holland”

Update 7/31/2006: “Hello everybody! After their success on Gasherbrum 2 on July 22, Dutch climbers Frits Vrijlandt and Court Haegens have now set their sights on the double-whammy. They have climbed the Japanese Couloir together with Hungarian Maku Laszlo, who is also on Frits’ permit and also summited G2 earlier. The three are currently in Camp 3 at 7300 metres on Hidden Peak’s flanks, and plan to make a summit bid on August 1^st. Their High Altitude Porters Hassan and Bashir are in Camp 1, awaiting their return.

They are in good health and the weather is still holding remarkably well. Members of a large Korean team are now on their way to the summit, tomorrow the rest of this team will have a go as well. For now, I send you happy greetings from the Flatlands!

Roze Janssen (Basecamp Holland)” 

Seems things are going well….

Hopefully I’m able to tell you more around the same time tomorrow… FINGERS CROSSED!

Earlier: “Gasherbrum 2: summits galore!

Frits Vrijlandt and Court Haegens summited G2 this morning at 12.40 local time. The fine weather is holding very well. Other summiteers include Dutchmen Reinier Zuidhoff and Folkert Bloembergen, a Basque team, a Korean team, and probably quite a few others. Frits estimates there may be over twenty succesful summits today. Only the Dutch and the Koreans launched their summit bid from Camp 4, the others are all coming from C3. Congratulations and best of luck to all the summiteers and fingers crossed for a safe descent!

Best wishes, Rose Janssen (Basecamp Holland)”

Earlier: 11.20 am G2 time (= some 30 mins ago):

“Dutchmen Frits Vrijlandt and Court Hagens are nearing the 8000-metre mark on Gasherbrum 2! Reinier and Folkert, both from another Dutch team, are climbing with them. They are expecting to summit within the hour! The weather is picture perfect: sunny and hot, no wind, and they are climbing above the clouds. A third member from the other Dutch team, Jelle, decided to turn back at around 7800 metres with eye problems. His condition has already ameliorated.”

Earlier, the guys mentioned a Korean team in C4, I assume they are also on their way.

Best, Rose Janssen (Base camp Holland)

Update 7/14/2006: Just got a call from Frits again (noon G2-time). They are on their way to BC and descending the ice fall through 2 feet of fresh snow, together with 2 Polish guys, Richard (Ryszard?) and Mark. There is no wind there, but it’s very stormy at higher altitudes.  Richard and Mark confirmed that the Serbians were in their C1 yesterday (Thursday) morning, with at least one HAP. They should be descending towards BC as well.

Update 7/12/2006: Frits Vrijlandt called again yesterday afternoon (early Tuesday morning in the US that is) to tell me that the wind was already too strong to their taste in C4 (7350 metres) and that they were NOT going to risk frostbite Or being blown away to China) by trying to summit that night (Wed 12 July). I informed them about the weather alarm that was on EverestNews and Frits confirmed that that was actually happening! So as we speak (write, which is GMT + 2 i.e. 5.40 am + 2 = 7.40 am on July 12^th) they are descending to Base Camp to wait out the storms. Roze Janssen Base Camp Holland 

Earlier: Hello EverestNews!

This is Dutch Gasherbrum I and II Base Camp Holland with an update on the expedition’s progress.

Frits and Court are currently in Camp 3 at 6900 metres, taking some rest. Their plan is to continue to Camp 4 later this morning, and have a short night there. Their summit bid on Gasherbrum II would then start at midnight local time, so on Wednesday morning July 12. The HAP that was accompanying them has fallen a bit ill, and will probably not continue to C4.

There is some wind higher up the mountain. They are aware of the bad weather coming in and maxing out on Thursday and Friday, so they are not sure it is still safe to summit. They’ll just have to stick their nose in it and find out!

Kind regards, Roze Janssen Base Camp Holland 

Dutch Gasherbrum I and II Expedition

Dutchmen Court Haegens and Everest summitteer Frits Vrijlandt are attempting to do a Karakoram double-header this summer. They intend to climb Gasherbrum 2 with the assistance of two High Altitude Porters, and, if conditions allow it, Hidden Peak in alpine style. Frits is also leader of an international group of climbers, that are all attempting one or two of the Gasherbrums this season. Their first success was accomplished earlier this week, when Argentinian team members Dario Bracali and Juan Pablo Terrado summited Gasherbrum @ on the 50th anniversary of the first ascent, on July 7th.

Updates as soon as I get them from the mountain!

Court is below