Amin Brakk BASE Jump–The Russians Are On The Wall: The Russkie expedition to climb–and then jump off (yes, JUMP; they’re Russians)–the Amin Brakk tower in Pakistan is finally fixing rope and working their way up the massive rock wall. And the going ain’t easy. Right now BASE jumping is the farthest thing from the climbing team’s thoughts, as they suck it up on the difficult, dangerous climb, and dodge the frequent avalanches of rock and snow that come pouring down from the heights when the sun warms the face every day. Here’s a report from the weekend:

Yesterday a small avalanche covered the working three-man team: Lastochkin, Kovalev and Dorfman. All of them are safe and sound, but it scared them stiff! Avalanches collapse from the roof. [They] seem to jump out in the air, and this wave of snow flies, actually not touching the wall, directly on you. [F]rom below it is difficult to estimate [whether] it [fall] right away on you or pass by. And it happens in this way a few times a day. We even named these small avalanches – “White dragon”.

“White Dragon,” huh? Sounds like these guys might have hit some opium dens before they cleared Islamabad…



“Oh man, this thing is so hairy. I wonder if I remembered to pack my hookah…”