CHOGOLISA - THE BRIDE'S PEAK

Director Chonosuke Ise / 1959 / Japan

The Himalayas have always attracted mountaineers of those nations interested in climbing, for the colossal peaks at the "Roof of the World", present the ultimate challenge.

In 1958, the Academic Alpine Club of Kyoto University decided to attempt the scaling of Chogolisa - the Bride's Peak, in the high Karakorums, its summit hitherto untrodden by the feet of man. Starting out from Skardu, in Northern Pakistan on June 21st and passing along the Baltoro glacier, the expedition of 13, with 9 porters and 152 coolies, arrived under the ice wall facing north of Chogolisa on July 8th. After pitching Camp 3 at an altitudeof 6,400 metres, the expedition made their first attempt on July 31st, but were defeated by bad weather. The second attempt began on August 4th. Time seemed to drag interminably to those watching below - then at 4.30pm their patience was rewarded. The summit was scaled.

Chogolisa was awarded the Silver Prize at the Inter-nation Mountaineering and Exploration Film Festival in Italy, 1959.

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