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On July 3, 2008, an Italian team comprised of Karl Unterkircher, Walter Nones and Simon Kehrer, summited Chongra Peak (22,402′), Pakistan, via a new route on the West Ridge. The team’s climb marks the second ascent of Chongra, the first of which was in alpine style. The only previous ascent was made in 1971 by a Japanese team via the mountain’s East Face. An English team, led by Thomas Middleton, made an unsuccessful attempt in 1988. The Italian team began their climb on July 1, 2008, and after two days of battling warm conditions and soft snow along the previously unclimbed West Ridge, reached the summit at 9:20 a.m. on July 3. Unterkircher’s team is still in the region, hoping to establish a new route on Nanga Parbat’s Rakhiot Face.