The first ascent of the west face of the Baruntse by the Czechs Marek Holeček and Radoslav Groh is a dramatic battle for every metre’s progress. Only just in time, they make it to Lukla before the lockdown is announced. Taking advantage of a narrow window of benign weather, they finally begin their ascent. But the real trial still lies ahead of them. As they fight their way up to the summit, traversing steel-hard ice and rocky obstacles, the weather suddenly turns. Imprisoned in their bivouac, the two Czechs wait for five days before the storm subsides and the mountain finally releases them.