The Himalayan Club deeply mourns the death of celebrated alpinists Kazuya Hiraide, 45 and Kenro Nakajima, 39. They fell from 7000 m on the West Face of K2 on 27 July 2024. A rescue helicopter had spotted their two motionless bodies in the snow but could not land. As rescue operations were dangerous and futile, with the permission of their families, the attempt was called off.
The Japanese pair had set out to do a new alpine-style line on K2’s formidable West Face. Hiraide had won three Piolets d’Or, including two with Kenro Nakajima. Hiraide had said his previous climbs have served to prepare him for the greatest challenge of his career, the West Face of K2.
We will publish an obituary for these climbers in the upcoming volume of The Himalayan Journal.