Russell Brice to lead international expedition to K-2 and Broad Peak

Islamabad
The famous and renowned New Zealand mountaineer, mountain guide and tour operator Russell Brice is in Pakistan to lead a team of accomplished mountaineers to Broad Peak (8,047 m) and K-2 (8,611 m). Russell Brice, who runs his London based tour operation company, is engaged in organising expeditions primarily to Mt Everest and other Nepalese peaks. Mr. Brice, now 63-year old is visiting Pakistan after a span of 23 years for this expedition. He was at Alpine Club of Pakistan here on Friday for formal expedition briefing and met Lt Col (r) Manzoor Hussain, President Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP). Welcoming Mr Brice, President ACP, appreciated his company for organising an expedition to Pakistan after a lapse of 23 years.
Explaining about his expedition, which comprises experienced climbers of various nationalities, Mr. Brice said that he was planning this expedition for the last two years and he is happy to be in Pakistan. He observed that Pakistan has been able to overcome difficulties in security of mountaineers since 2013 and his companion mountaineers are confident of the prevalent security environments in Pakistan. During the briefing formalities were completed by ACP on behalf of the Gilgit-Baltistan Council Secretariat, the Climbing Permit issuing authority. During the briefing President ACP emphasised that the expedition should engage local high altitude porters and other expedition staff so that the local communities can be directly benefited from the mountaineers inflow. Measures adopted by ACP and international agencies for the preservation of the local ecology on Baltoro glacier also came under discussion.
The ACP president also requested Mr. Brice for strict adherence of environment preservation measures while on Baltoro glacier in accordance with the guidelines issued by ACP. He also requested for inputs from the expedition for suggesting additional measures for the disposal of expedition refuse on Baltoro glacier in the light of Mr Brice’s experience at the Everest Base Camp.
On the occasion, ACP President Lt Col (r) Manzoor Hussain expressed his condolence over the loss of staff and crew of Mr Brice’s company during the recent Earthquake in Nepal. Mr. Brice was lucky to survive the big avalanche which occurred after the earthquake killing many climbers at Everest Base Camp. On the occasion among others Mr Karrar Haidri, member ACP Executive Council and Media Secretary, and the Expedition defence liaison officer were present. This expedition’s local tour operator is Nazir Sabir Expedition.