Attempts to recover the body of Russian climber Natalya Nagovitsyna, who died in August 2025 on Peak Pobeda in Kyrgyzstan, have once again been unsuccessful. The climbing season has ended until next year, as severe weather conditions have made the route inaccessible even for experienced teams.
Dmitry Grekov, head of the South Inylchek base camp, said that several teams tried to reach the site of the tragedy this year. The closest was a group that reached an altitude of about 6,500 meters. However, there were still about 700 meters of elevation and five kilometers of path to the tent where Nagovitsyna remained.
The weather made further ascents impossible. About half a meter of snow has already fallen at the base camp, and higher up the snow depth reaches about two meters.
"All groups that were preparing for the ascent have already flown away. That's it, Pobeda is closed," Grekov said.
Peak Pobeda, with a height of more than 7,400 meters, is considered one of the most difficult peaks of the Tien Shan. The bodies of deceased climbers lie on its slopes, and their evacuation remains an extremely difficult task due to altitude, terrain, and weather conditions. Descending people from the most inaccessible parts of this mountain has rarely been carried out before — experts note the high risk of such operations.
The tragedy has also prompted a review of the rules for climbing Peak Pobeda. A special permit is now required to go on the route, and access to the summit is planned to be granted only to climbers with the necessary experience.
In the future, Kyrgyzstan intends to introduce additional requirements for climbing seven-thousanders. These include confirmation of experience, a route application, and insurance covering the costs of helicopter rescue operations. The new system is first planned to be tested on Peak Pobeda and then extended to Lenin Peak and Khan Tengri.
Recall that Natalya Nagovitsyna suffered a severe leg injury on August 12, 2025, while descending from the peak. She was left in a tent at an altitude of about 7,200 meters with food supplies and warm clothing, awaiting help. Several rescue teams tried to reach her, but extreme weather prevented it. During one of the attempts, Italian climber Luca Sinigaglia died.
Helicopter evacuation also proved impossible. In early September 2025, rescue operations were stopped, and Nagovitsyna was officially declared missing. Later, reports emerged of a possible suicide note she may have left in the tent.
Source: podrobno.uz