Deaths on Denali

While the Everest season was remarkably safe one overall, the climbing continues over in the Karakoram, and in other places and in other conditions. Very sad to report the death of two American climbers on the 13th on Denali. The two climbers were both doctors, Dr. John Mislow from Massachusetts and Dr. Andrew Swanson of Minneapolis. Both were experienced climbers, and the accident occurred in the Messner Couloir. Thoughts and prayers go out to their family and friends. The National Park Service reports as of 12 June there are 1,196 registered climbers on Denali this season, with 339 currently on the mountain. Summit success rate is reported at 50%. Safe climbing and good luck to all.

Nefertiti busted

The saga over possession of the famed Nefertiti bust from Amarna continues. The latest round was made by Zahi Hawass, Director of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, who again is demanding the return of the bust to Egypt. The story reported by AFP yesterday (Sunday 14 June) states that Egypt will soon provide evidence that the bust was illegally removed from Egyptian soil:

“We are still gathering information, but I expect we will shortly have enough to place a formal request to the Berlin Museum for the return of the bust,” Hawass told the Tagesspiegel in an interview.

Nothing in this latest development about the opinion that the bust is a modern fake. I suppose we will here much about this as we build up to the opening of the Neues Musem in Berlin set for October this year.