{"id":29048,"date":"2018-02-18T14:24:34","date_gmt":"2018-02-18T21:24:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/?p=29048"},"modified":"2018-02-18T14:24:34","modified_gmt":"2018-02-18T21:24:34","slug":"progress-on-k2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/18\/progress-on-k2\/","title":{"rendered":"Progress on K2"},"content":{"rendered":"

With good weather, the Polish K2 team established their highest point yet this season while the Everest team is forced to sit at base camp waiting for lower winds.<\/p>\n

See this post<\/a> for full background on the K2 and Everest expeditions and the history of winter attempts on the highest two mountains on Earth. Both expeditions need to summit no later than the spring equinox on March 20, 2018, at 0:15 PKT for K2 and 18:00 NPT for Everest to meet a winter summit definition.<\/p>\n

Winter K2 – Pushing Hard<\/h3>\n

The Polish team<\/a>\u00a0are enjoying low winds for a change but expect high winds to return on 25 February according to this interview with expedition leader\u00a0Krzysztof Wielicki. He noted that the temperatures are higher, approx. -13 \u00b0 C in the shade, before it was below -20 \u00b0 C. They must be feeling great with all the team climbing, the route getting set, camps established. Their patience is paying off.<\/p>\n

Today, Sunday 18 February 2018,\u00a0Adam Bielecki and Denis Urubko\u00a0were\u00a0reported to have\u00a0climbed House’s Chimney to Camp 2 near\u00a022,110’\/6700m.\u00a0They used the ropes that were placed last summer. They will spend the night just below the Chimney as it is at the base of a large wall (hence the Chimney) and blocks the strong winds that usually shatter Camp 2 (see image at top of post from 2014). Tomorrow, they will climb the Black Pyramid in hopes of establishing \u00a0Camp 3 at 23,760’\/7200m on this rotation. The\u00a0other\u00a0climbers,\u00a0Marek Chmielarski, and Janusz Golab are either at\u00a0Camp\u00a01 or 2 with the\u00a0intention of\u00a0climbing higher and Artur Malek\u00a0and Maciej Bedrejczuk returning to base camp.<\/p>\n

\"K2<\/a>
K2 Routes: Abruzzi and \u010cesen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Meanwhile in an excellent demonstration of respecting the mountain, Wielicki sent the Pakistani High Altitude Porters back up the \u010cesen ridge to remove ropes and tents. Well done!<\/p>\n

You can follow them directly on their website<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, and SPOT<\/a> tracker<\/p>\n

Winter Everest – Waiting<\/h3>\n

Alex Txikon<\/a> and team remain at base camp and got a little spray from an avalanche off the Lho La Pass. This is extremely normal and happens often but I’m sure was “entertaining” for them!<\/p>\n