Gripped Magazine
Elite Mountaineer Dies in Avalanche on Karakoram Peak
French mountain guide and veteran ski mountaineer Guillaume Pierrel has died after being caught in an avalanche on K6 (7,282 m) in Pakistan’s Karakoram. The accident occurred at around 5,000 metres on June 24 during an expedition in the Hushe Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Pamir Times reported: “The deceased, identified as Pierre Guillaume, was part of a three-member international climbing expedition attempting to summit the 7,282-metre peak. According to preliminary reports, the accident occurred during the ascent when a sudden avalanche of snow and rocks swept over the climber, killing him on the spot. Local authorities and rescue officials have confirmed the incident and said efforts are underway to recover and transport the body to the base camp.”
Born in France’s Vosges region, Pierrel grew up on skis and devoted his life to the mountains. A mountain guide based in Chamonix, he built a reputation for combining steep skiing and technical alpine climbing on some of the world’s biggest peaks. His expeditions took him across the Andes, Rockies, Alps and Karakoram, while he also competed in endurance events, including the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc and high-altitude skyrunning races on Lenin Peak in Tajikistan.
Among his most notable achievements was a ski descent of Gasherbrum II in 2021 with a French team, completed in alpine style. Widely respected within the international ski mountaineering community, Pierrel was also known for his technical skill on steep terrain and for pioneering descents, including first descents with Canadian Christina “Lusti” Lustenberger of Mount Robson’s south face and of Hunter’s Moon on Mount Cook in New Zealand.
Below are a selection of videos featuring some of Pierrel’s epic ski descents. Our condolences go out to Pierrel’s family and friends.
La Niche
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