How climate change is changing mountaineering – DW – 08/01/2025

Can climber Laura Dahlmier still be alive if it was not for climate change? Of course, any answer is speculative. But it cannot be denied that the rising temperature has taken its toll on the mountain in Pakistan, where the former German Bathlon star had a deadly accident. Falling rocks discovered as those who died of Dahalmier, becoming rapidly common on the mountains in the region.

Gum melts

Laila peak 6096 meters high in Karakoram is one eye catcker. Its shape is reminiscent of the teeth of a shark in the sky. The mountain is standing from all sides and is challenging from the point of view of a hill. When the author of this article passed this mountain 20 years ago, the north-west face was still covered in a thick layer of snow.

This not only attracted the climber, but also so extreme ski, which tried his hand to land this steep face. Now, however, a thin layer of snow in some places on this mountain is only one thing, while there are now bare rock.

Prior to this year’s climbing season, which began in July, normal rainfall failed physically. In addition, too much temperature accelerated the melting of snow. In a small town of Chillas, located 1265 meters above sea level on the southern edge of Karcorum, the thermometer increased to a record of 48.5 ° C (119 Fenheets) in July.

Up to an altitude of more than 5500 meters, it rained instead of snowfall, and in some places there was no night frost. The climbers reported unusually warm and dry conditions on the mountain of the country up to 8000 meters.

Snow and ice are usually a type of natural glue that ensures that the boulder stays in place. If the ice melts, the risk of rockfall and wet snow avalanche increases. Some campaigns left Karcorum ahead of time in this summer without reaching the summit. Decision: Very dangerous.

Campauses have to change their schedule

German climber David Gotler says, “I believe in future, campaigns must first go to Pakistan – due to climate change, which is very clearly noted.” “I think it’s unavoidable.”

The Göttler climbed the 8,125 meter high Naga perbut at the end of the June-in Alpine style, ie without bottled oxygen, without permanently established ropes, without certain high camps and without the support of Sherpa. Along with his two teammates from France, he rescued Previoly in a thin air in Nepal and a seven-thus.

“It’s crazy about how soon these mouttains are changing,” Göttler said. “The objectives are increasing the danger, and the rockfall is increasing.”

An example is 7: 162-meter high barrants, not away from Mount Everest.

“The huge cranes open on the peak ridge, and you have to find your way around them. It was a very challenging mountain in the past,” said Gottler. “But now, as a beginning, you have to know what you are doing with your cramps on seven-tathsanders in this way.”

To avoid the risk of rockfall in hot noon hours, climbers have started setting first and first. Especially on the weak mountains, climbers have changed to climb at night and rest during the day.

Heavy rains, the dam falls in glacial lakes

The incidence of extreme weather caused by climate change is also increasing on the highest mountains. In Karkoram, several concrete bridges on rivers were really washed away after heavy rains one and a half weeks ago. This meant that the campaigns had to take an alternative route on their arrival and departure. At least 18 people were killed.

Pakistan Chills 2025 | Landslide and flood floods at least 18 deadly demands
A broken bridge over the north of Pakistan near ChillasPicture: Hussain Ali/Zuma/Imageo

In Nepal, flood waters destroyed a bridge over a border river for Tibet in July. More than 20 people lost their lives. The flood was started with heavy monsoon rains, which increased by the flood of a glacial lake.

Due to the increasing glacial melting, large lakes are being built under natural dams. If the thesis dams are broken, the mass of water molds. According to the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Nepal, the number of so -called Glasses (Glasic Lake Outburst Flood) in the Himalayas and Karakoram is increasing rapidly.

Economic dependence on hill tourism

There are apprehensions that in the moderate period, increasing dangers – and the affiliated decreasing parts of reaching a peak – can cause a decline in interest in commercial campaigns. For areas such as Mount Everest region in Nepal or many small towns and villages in northern Pakistan, it will be for economic destruction.

Most people depend on hill tourism for their livelihood. If climbers stay away, not only the local mountain guides and porters will lose their jobs, but the owners of the lodge will not have any other guest, and they will also loose their customers.

This is an important reason that Nepal and Pakistan have repeatedly played an alarm about the dangers of global climate change – and continue to urge industrial countries.

So far, his argument has to be largely unheard of United Nations General Secretary Antonio Guterres.

“Nepal has lost one -third of its snow in only 30 years. Antarctica and Greenland are losing billions of snow mass every year,” Guterres said during a 2023 visit in the Everest region in Nepal.

“Melting glaciers means flooding of inflammation lakes and rivers, removing the entire communities.

“I am here to cry from the roof of the world, stop the madness!”

This article was adapted from German.

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