Broad Peak is the 12th highest mountain in the world. It has a height of 8,051 metres or you can also say that the mountain ‘Broad Peak’ is about 26,414 feet above sea level. The word for word translation of the name “Broad Peak” to Falchan Kangri language is not acknowledged among the people who are Balti. Though, the English name for the mountain was make known back in 1892. It was named by the British explorer Martin Conway. The name was also in reference to the mountain named Breithorn in the Alps. The mounatain holds the same name as Broad Peak.
Broad Peak is also a portion of the Gasherbrum massif in Baltistan. This massif lies on the border of Pakistan and China.It is to be found in the Karakoram mountain range and is about 8 kilometres or 5.0 mi in distance from the famous and well-known K2. The mountain has a summit over that is 1.5 kilometres or 0.93 mi long, thus it gets the name “Broad Peak”.
The renowned mountain has number summit. These summits are Broad Peak that is 8051 m in height, the next is Rocky Summit that is 8028 m in altitude, then the Broad Peak Central it is 8011 m in height, Broad Peak North is 7490 m in height, and at last Kharut Kangri that is 6942 m above sea level.
The first ascent of Broad Peak was made between June 8 and 9, 1957. This ascent was made by Fritz Wintersteller, Marcus Schmuck, Kurt Diemberger, and Hermann Buhl. These all were the part of an Austrian expedition, this expedition was managed by Marcus Schmuck. The first attempt by the team was made on May 29. In this attempt, Fritz Wintersteller and Kurt Diemberger reached the forepeak or climbed up to 8,030 metres. This was also done without the use of any supplemental oxygen, high altitude porters or even base camp support. It shows that how much talented and experienced this group of climbers was. On the same voyage, Marcus Schmuck and Fritz Wintersteller attempted a first ascent of the Skil Brum peak and climbed up to 7,360 m. This was done on June 19, 1957 and was in pure Alpine style. Not only was that but done in 53 hours.
Unfortunately, Hermann Buhl lost his life when he and Diemberger make an effort to climb nearby Chogolisa on June 27, 1957. Then later in July 2007 an Austrian mountaineering team climbed Broad Peak and recovered the corpse of Markus Kronthaler. Markus Kronthaler had died on the mountain one year before this team had attempted, he had lost his life from over 8,000 metres. Then in the winter and summer of 2009 there were no summits and no attempts were made. Though, there was one winter expedition. It was managed by a Polish-Canadian team. In the summer there was one decease, this was of Cristina Castagna. Climbing Broad peak is no easy job. It required hard work and concentration. After all, it’s the 12th highest mountain in the world.
