Karakoram Ski Expedition
Laila Peak 6,096 m a.s.l.
Yawash Sar II 6,178 m a.s.l.
April – May 2021
The KARAKORAM SKI EXPEDITION aimed to climb and ski from two six-thousanders – located in the Ghidims-Dur Valley, Yawash Sar II peak (6,178 m a.s.l.), and Laila Peak (6,096 m a.s.l.) situated in the Hushe Valley, with an exceptionally characteristic shape, considered to be one of the most beautiful peaks in the world. The expedition was completed with double success. Both peaks were conquered with success just ten days apart, and we managed to ski down both.
The first of them – the virgin peak of Yawash Sar II was climbed by Andrzej Bargiel on April 30th, 2021, as the first man in history. After reaching the summit, Andrzej Bargiel skied down to the base. Although the assumption of this part of the expedition was only partially realized when reaching this summit because Andrzej climbed the summit on his own. At the same time, Jędrek Baranowski waited in the middle of the mountain height due to insufficient acclimatization. Skiing down in a heavily icy summit cone was performed with the help of ropes. The summit attack took place after less than one day at the base camp and setting up of a camp at the foot of the mountain.
The second – Laila Peak, was conquered jointly by Andrzej Bargiel and Jędrek Baranowski on May 10th, 2021, as the first Poles in history. Due to snow conditions and icing in the summit cone, skiing was not possible from the very peak. Therefore, they decided to leave the skis 150 meters below the summit, and this is from where the ski descent to the base began. The summit attack came after one day at the base camp, one day of the reconnaissance, and the camp’s establishment at the foot of the mountain just before the summit attack.
Team members: Jędrek Baranowski (freerider, climber), Dariusz Załuski (alpinist, Himalayan mountaineer, cinematographer), Kuba Gzela (cinematographer, drone operator), Bartek Pawlikowski (photographer).