Cesen and Livingstone Reach the Summit of the Elusive Gasherbrum III
Slovenian climber Ales Cesen and British mountaineer Tom Livingstone have accomplished an unbelievable stunt by successfully summiting the transient Gasherbrum III. While the specifics of their route remain a riddle what we do know is that this climb was no easy task. Regardless of the challenges and doubts that come with such an journey Cesen confirmed to Slovenias Alpine Association that both he and Livingstone safely returned to Base Camp on Tuesday. Their achievement is a testament to their skill, perseverance and the spirit of adventure that drives them to conquer such formidable peaks.
The pair first set their peeks on the mountain in 2022 but Mother Nature had other plans forcing them to abandon their climb due to harsh weather conditions. This year, they approached the challenge with quiet determination. Cesen offered just two brief updates from the remote Karakoram range, choosing to keep a low profile, while Livingstone opted for complete radio silence on social media, letting their actions speak louder than words. Their focus was clearly on the climb, not the spotlight.
Gasherbrum III is a mountain shaded in enigma and challenge having only been summited twice. At 7952 meters it falls just 48 meters short of the craved 8000 meter status but that small difference doesn’t make the climb any less troublesome. The path to the summit is complex and demanding requiring climbers to first conquer the Southwest Ridge of Gasherbrum II before making a sharp turn toward Gasherbrum III. This isn’t just a straightforward ascent; it’s a meticulous journey where every step matters. The team planned to use the Southwest Ridge not only as part of their route but also as a critical stage for acclimatization before their final, daring push to the top.
Gasherbrum III stood untouched until 1975, when a groundbreaking Polish expedition finally reached its summit. The renowned Wanda Rutkiewicz led a remarkable team, including Alison Chadwick-Onyszkiewicz, Janusz Onyszkiewicz, and Krzysztof Zdzitowiecki, who tackled the peak via its formidable East Face. It wasn’t until 2004 that the mountain saw its second ascent, made by Basque climbers Alberto Inurrategi and Jon Beloki.
The climbers’ persistence was truly rewarded. After a grueling July marked by relentless snowfall and fierce winds, the weather eventually cleared, offering a much-deserved break. This rare window of good weather in August has allowed other tenacious climbers, such as Tracee Metcalf from the U.S., to achieve her own summit success on Broad Peak today.