Climber forced to turn back just 1,000 metres from summit

1:00am Sunday 21st October 2007

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A CLIMBER was forced to admit defeat just 1,000 metres from the summit of one of the world's highest peaks.

Bad weather forced Paul Rafferty, of Thirsk, to turn back agonisingly close to the peak of Mount Shishapangma.

The peak stands at 8,212 metres in the Himalayas, on the Tibet and Nepal border, and has claimed several lives.

Climbing as part of team, Mr Rafferty, battled to 7,000 metres during his 50 day hike and ski.

But having braved heavy snow and cold he admitted defeat in scaling the dangerous peak.

The former Army physical instructor had to head back with the 17 other members of his team.

He said: "We fitted skins over the skis and used them as much as possible and that makes it easier and quicker to get up the mountain.

"But the weather conditions meant we got to 7,000metres but found it impossible to continue and had to turn back.

"The snow was really bad when we were there and I don't think anyone got to the top of the peak this year.

"Having to turn back is the nightmare of Himalayan peaks and on average one in five expeditions runs into the problems.

"There's a lot more to climbing than simply reaching the peak but I wanted to reach the top."

The 56-year-old, of Herriot Way, is no stranger to mountains and has climbed part of the way up Mount Everest.

He was picked for the Mount Shishapangma team, which is sponsored by the Army Mountaineering Association, two years ago.

The civilian mountaineering instructor at the Army's Joint Services Mountain Training Centre, in Ripon, spent time training in the Alps.

Once in Nepal the team spent several weeks acclimatising to the peak's height and the freezing temperatures.

Mr Rafferty said: "We trekked for days and got to about 7,000metres but then we had to retire as we ran out of time waiting for the conditions to get better.

"Last year I attempted to climb Mount Everest failed to get to the top of that too but next year I'm going to attempt Mount Makalu."