MADRID, 17 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish mountaineer Alex Txikon decided to put an end to the #Manaslu2022 expedition that aimed to climb the eighth highest on the planet in the middle of winter due to the complicated weather conditions they encountered.
Thus, the incessant snowfalls and the strong wind prevented the team led by the Basque from even going above 6,500 meters of altitude and caused him to abort “with great sadness” his attempt together with Iñaki Álvarez and Iker Mediavilla.
“We’ve been saying it for the last few weeks. Manaslu hasn’t given us even half a chance. It’s been frustrating to be shoveling snow continuously for these two months and not have a reward, even if it’s having had a small ‘chance’ of gaining meters. Always I am very positive and I think that the situation can change, but this time it has not. During our stay more than 4 m of snow have fallen and this has made it impossible”, lamented Txikon in statements provided by his press department .
The climber admitted that although they go home “sad”, he knows that “the mountains will still be there” and that some other day they will be able to “have another chance again”. “I really hope so,” he said from Kathmandu.
“We have spent most of our time guarding base camp, shoveling pounds and pounds of snow from around our tents waiting for a window of good weather that has never come. We have even had to spend several weeks sheltered in Samagaun, the last
village before arriving at Base Camp. It has been one of the hardest winters I can remember. We have packed everything and we have cleaned our footprint as best we can because it is our obligation to leave the mountain as we found it, “she added.
Txikon recalled that when one prepares a winter expedition “you depend a lot on the weather”. “But I like to face great challenges and I think that the winters in the Himalayas are. It is true that it can
be frustrating, but it’s very beautiful at the same time. Now it’s time to go home and rest and later we will shape new projects that will surely come out, “he said.
“I would like to thank all the expressions of affection that I have received throughout these months. Although I have been many kilometers away, I have felt how people have supported me. Of course, I do not want to forget all the sponsors and collaborators who have done
This project may have gone ahead. And I would like to thank Iñaki Álvarez and Iker Mediavilla, who have worked like true boars throughout this time. A pity the result, but the most important thing is to come back safe and sound”, he sentenced.