'KILLER MOUNTAIN’
Brit climber, 30, missing on deadly Pakistan peak dubbed ‘killer mountain’ 24 years after mum died climbing K2
Tom Ballard's mum Alison Hargreaves was the first woman to climb Everest without oxygen but died on K2
A BRIT climber whose mother died on the infamous K2 mountain has vanished while trying to scale another Himalayan peak.
Tom Ballard and an Italian climber are reportedly trying to find a new way to the top of Nanga Parbat, dubbed the ‘Killer Mountain’ for the number of deaths that have occurred there.
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The 30-year-old Ballard is the son of who was the first woman to conquer Everest without oxygen in 1995 but died the same year while descending Pakistan’s K2, the world’s second highest mountain when her son was aged six.
She was attempting to climb the world's three highest mountain without using oxygen when she was killed.
According to th there has been no news of the Brit and his climbing partner Daniele Nardi since February 24 when the pair where at around 20,000 ft.
The website said the climbers were trying to scale the 26,600 ft mountain, which is also in Pakistan, via the Mummery Rib, described as “never ending” by the website.
The weather was reportedly poor at the time.
Pakistani climber Ali Sadpara, who completed the first winter ascent of Nanga Parbat, said he is prepared to mount a search operation, but is being delayed amid tensions with India.
But the escalating military situation with India has resulted in airspace being closed so making any making any helicopter rescue mission impossible.
Ballard, from Derbyshire, is an experienced climber and the first person to solo climb all six major north faces of the Alps in one winter,
He has been living in Italy's Dolomites mountain range with his father for the last few years.
Ballard and Nardi have been attempting to climb the mountain in winter every year since 2012 and knows the area well.
Planet Mountain’s Nicholas Hobley told the BBC Ballard was "regarded extremely highly in the climbing world".
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"He's an absolutely fantastic climber and someone you would want to have with you on an expedition,” he said.
The Italian’s team said in a statement said "situation was worrying" because bad weather is forecast for the next few days.
The Foreign Office said they were in contact with Pakistani authorities regarding Mr Ballard's disappearance.
Nanga Parbat is the ninth highest mountain in the world, and one of 14 "eight-thousanders" - so-called because their height stretches above 8,000m.
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