Nun, 1993, Mysterious Disappearance. On August 22, 1993, after establishing Camp II on Nun, we returned to Base Camp. On the way we met three Germans, who revealed that they would attempt D41 (Barmal Peak; 5813 meters, 19,039 feet). Two days later, the three Germans were joined by four others, making six men and a woman. Our liaison officer, Mohinder Pal, informed me that they were in the region without proper authority and without paying peak fees. On August 26, when we were climbing from Camp II to III, we could see that they had pitched a camp close to Camp II and were climbing D41. On September 1, our expedition put three people on the summit of Nun. Our support team was with me at Camp IV. I was surprised to discover two of the Germans there. On the 2nd, they continued their attack on Nun. We made no further attempt. While evacuating Camps IV and III, we observed the two Germans nearly at the summit of Nun. At one P.M., clouds moved in and we could not see them. It stormed for the next four days. On our return to Base Camp on September 3, our liaison officer informed us that five of the Germans had left on September 1. On the 6th, we left Base Camp to return to the roadhead at Tongol. Up to that time, the two Germans had not returned and have not been seen since.

Kondo Kazuyoshi, Japan Workers’ Alpine Federation