Gasherbrum I & Gasherbrum II
Gasherbrum I 8080 m a.s.l.
Gasherbum II 8035 m a.s.l.
June – August 2023
The GASHERBRUM SKI CHALLENGE expedition, part of the original Hic Sunt Leones project, began on June 30, 2023. Its goal was to explore the Gasherbrum region on skis and to summit and ski down two eight-thousanders – Gasherbrum I (8080 m) and Gasherbrum II (8035 m).
After acclimatization, during which Andrzej Bargiel and Janusz Gołąb summited the six-thousander Khosar Gang, and acclimatization outings up to 7200 m on Gasherbrum II, the decision was made to attempt the first summit of Gasherbrum II, followed by the second goal of the expedition – Gasherbrum I, less than a week later. Andrzej Bargiel skied down from both peaks without the use of supplemental oxygen.
On July 26, 2023, at 4:15 AM Polish time (7:15 AM local time), Andrzej Bargiel reached the summit of Gasherbrum I (8080 m) and then skied down without using supplemental oxygen. The summit was accompanied by variable weather, and unfortunately, clouds and fog at the peak limited visibility, requiring significant concentration.
The summit push began the previous day, on July 25, at 2:00 AM local time, with a direct ascent to Camp 2. After resting in Camp 2, Andrzej set off toward the summit at around 9:00 PM local time that same day. On the way to Camp 2, Andrzej was accompanied by Janusz Gołąb and Maciej Sulima, who stayed in Camp 2 during the summit attempt. Bartek Pawlikowski remained at base camp during the summit push.
A week earlier, on July 19, 2023, at 4:00 AM Polish time (7:00 AM local time), Andrzej Bargiel summited Gasherbrum II (8035 m) and also skied down without using supplemental oxygen. The conditions during this climb were simply ideal.
The ascent began on July 18 at around 4:00 AM local time. Around 11:30 AM, Andrzej Bargiel reached Camp 2, where he rested before continuing the summit push at around 10:00 PM local time that same day.
Janusz Gołąb, Bartek Pawlikowski, and Maciej Sulima reached Camp 1 during the summit push. Janusz Gołąb then set off at night to Camp 2, where he waited for Andrzej as he skied down from the summit.
Team members: Janusz Gołąb (alpinist, Himalayan mountaineer), Maciej Sulima (cinematographer, drone operator), Bartek Pawlikowski (photographer).
