Mountaineer Nagovitsina perished on Victory Peak, met with a fate that didn't align with her aspirations
In sad news from the mountainous region of Kyrgyzstan, Russian alpinist Natalia Nagovitsyna has passed away while attempting to climb Victory Peak. The incident occurred on August 12, when Nagovitsyna sustained an injury on the slope of the peak.
Despite several weeks of rescue attempts, the harsh weather conditions and altitude made it impossible to evacuate Nagovitsyna. On September 2, a drone sent to her tent did not detect any signs of life, marking the official end of the rescue operation.
Legendary Soviet alpinist Vladimir Shataev has expressed his condolences and criticised the approach taken by Nagovitsyna. Shataev believes that commercial alpinism has abolished all rules, leading inexperienced people to risk their lives. He states that Nagovitsyna violated a key principle of alpinism: one can only attempt a new category of route after completing two of the previous level.
Nagovitsyna was attempting to earn the prestigious "Snow Leopard" badge, a symbol of achievement in the world of alpinism. However, Shataev claims that her ascent would not have been counted towards the award due to her skipping levels.
This is not the first time Shataev has spoken out against such practices. He believes that commercial alpinism has led to a disregard for the rules and principles of the sport, putting lives at risk.
No new information about the "Snow Leopard" badge or alpinism rules has been presented in this context.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the dangers inherent in alpinism and the importance of adhering to the established rules and principles of the sport. Our thoughts are with Nagovitsyna's family and friends during this difficult time.
