Image Credit: The News International
Russian mountaineer Sergei Nilov, 47, has gone missing on Mount Gasherbrum IV in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region, according to reports from the Russian Mountaineering Federation (FAR). Nilov, an accomplished climber and recipient of the prestigious Golden Ice Ax award, was part of a team of five Russian climbers on an expedition to recover the body of fellow climber Dmitry Golovchenko, who perished on the same peak in September 2023.
The incident occurred on August 17, when an icefall collapse struck the group as they ascended the treacherous mountain. Nilov, along with climbers Mikhail and Sergei Mironov, was caught in the collapse. While the Mironovs managed to descend after the collapse, contact with Nilov was lost. The Mironovs, who were stranded at a height, later found Nilov’s backpack but were themselves injured, with Sergei Mironov reportedly suffering a fractured hip and ribs.
Search efforts, initiated immediately after the collapse, were hampered by adverse weather conditions. The Pakistani army, conducting an overflight the next day, spotted Nilov, but worsening weather forced the suspension of rescue operations. The Federation noted that the climbers were equipped with food, a burner, and other essentials, which provided a temporary reprieve for the stranded mountaineers.
Nilov’s disappearance has cast a shadow over the mountaineering community, where he was celebrated for his achievements, including becoming the Russian mountaineering champion in 2021 and being a two-time nominee for the Golden Ice Ax of Russia award. As rescue teams prepare to resume their search, the mountaineering world awaits further updates, holding out hope for Nilov’s safe return.