A fundraiser has been launched to search for three mountaineers missing in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Belarusians Maksim Polianski and Mikalai Svirydau, as well as Lithuanian citizen Sergey Rubtsov, have been out of contact since Aug. 2.
Polianski, 43, and Svirydau, 60, are experienced mountaineers and “Snow Leopards.” Mikalai Svirydau is a candidate for Master of Sport in mountaineering and tourism and has led expeditions to the Pamirs. Rubtsov, 37, had previously climbed Revolution Peak with them, one of the most difficult-to-access peaks in the Pamirs.
The group was climbing Kurumdy Peak along its northern ridge.
On July 20, the mountaineers arrived in Osh, obtained border permits and reached the start of the route. Their satellite phone did not connect, so the group maintained contact through a Chinese mobile operator.
On July 27-28, the mountaineers made contact and reported that everything was going according to plan. On July 30, the group reported: “We are at an altitude of 5,660 meters. Yesterday was a difficult day. Tomorrow we plan to climb to 6,000.” At that point, they were one day behind schedule.
At 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 1, the mountaineers reached the summit of Kurumdy Peak. Aug. 2 was their last contact. The group said that after descending, they would be ready to leave on Aug. 4, but they never reached the designated location.
Two search and rescue teams were formed to search for the mountaineering group. On Aug. 8, a drone detected a tent at the base camp, but there were no people nearby. Most likely, the tent had been left as a storage site before the group set out to climb. A storm warning has been issued in Kyrgyzstan from Aug. 8 to 11, and snow is falling in the mountains.
Friends and families of the mountaineers have created the kurumdy.by website to help with the search.
“The search on foot has been halted by the weather and the altitude: it is impossible to cross the glacier under a storm warning, while slopes above 5,000 meters cannot be surveyed from the ground. A helicopter and people capable of working at such an altitude are needed for the next stage. The families are paying for this”, the website says.
Bank details for donations are published on the website.
