 In 1986 fellow Australian Greg Child was organising an international team to attempt Gasherbrum IV (7980m).The mountain’s first and only ascent had been in 1957 by an elite team of Italian alpinists, as its sheer faces and rocky ridges had since thwarted many attempts.The climb up the previously-unclimbed north west ridge proved difficult; it was one "that challenged even Macartney-Snape’s legendary strength and endurance at high altitude."