As had been predicted, high winds are hitting K2 Base Camp and everyone is holding tight for the storm to pass. The high winds will persist through Friday so look for a quiet week and then a lot of climbing starting on the weekend with perhaps a summit push late next week.<\/p>\n
While these climbers are waiting out weather and trying to keep camps stocked, some big names are weighing in that they “have no chance.”<\/p>\n
Denis Urubko<\/strong> opined on K2, “they have no chance to get there this year”: (source<\/a>)<\/p>\n It is impossible to go to K2 without significant acclimatization, without a well-prepared road. March 1 is the end of winter and they do not have time. They have no chance of winning the K2 this year. But there will be other expeditions, mountain waiting.\u00a0I’m tired of these expeditions; but I still have plans for the next 3 years! A new route on Gasherbrum II in summer, in winter Broadpeak and finally K2 in winter. I think to finish my career by K2 winter.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n And\u00a0Reinhold Messner’s<\/strong> conclusion is that it will be the weather conditions that will decide: (source<\/a>)<\/p>\n Messner explains that ” the Russian-Kazakh-Kyrgyz expedition has reached 7,000 meters while the one led by the Basque Alex Txikon, formed by five Sherpas and another Spanish mountaineer [Felix Criado] has reached field 2 ” .Messner notes that there is no collaboration between the two groups because, in his opinion, the two methods to face the mountain are radically different: “While the first expedition advances with a typically Soviet method, based on many days of sacrifice and work constant, even in adverse conditions, the second moves less and only then can be fast. Txikon tries to reserve as much as possible the energies, physical and mental . “<\/p><\/blockquote>\n And finally,\u00a0Krzysztof Wielicki: “I wish good luck to the two teams that are trying to top the winter K2”. He went to add: (source<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n I believe that the attempt of truth will begin on the 7,600. When they reach the 7,800 meters and arrive under the Bottle Neck is when the real competition will begin, and I think the referee will be the time.<\/p>\n