This article first appeared on Explorersweb.com. The original can be read here.
Tom Ballard has begun his ascent of Nanga Parbat’s Diamir Face. The British alpinist has teamed with veteran Italian Daniele Nardi to tackle this ninth tallest mountain in the world (8,126 m). They arrived at Base Camp during the final days of December and are currently at Camp 1 at 4,700m, with the unclimbed Mummery Spur in sight. In 1895, Albert Mummery led the first expedition on the mountain but died at 6,100 meters on the spur now named after him.