Simone Moro, Denis Urubko and Cory Richards

On 2 February 2011, Simone Moro from Italy, Denis Urubko from Kazakhstan and Cory Richards from the USA made the first winter ascent of Gasherbrum II along the normal route. This is Simone Moro’s third 8000m winter ascent (Shisha Pangma (2005), Makalu (2009), Gasherbrum II (2011)), and the seventh 8000er altogether. In 2009 Denis Urubko became the 15th person to climb the 14 eight-thousanders. Today he has 19 main 8000ers summited. In 2002/2003 Piotr Morawski and Denis Urubko set up Camp IV at 7650 metres, so far the highest point ever reached in winter on K2. On 9 February 2009, Denis Urubko and Simone Moro made the first winter ascent of Makalu along the normal route. Gasherbrum II is the second 8000er for Cory (after Lhotse last year).