{"id":34620,"date":"2019-06-24T16:58:48","date_gmt":"2019-06-24T22:58:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/?p=34620"},"modified":"2019-06-24T17:34:02","modified_gmt":"2019-06-24T23:34:02","slug":"k2-2019-summer-season-coverage-snow-stalling-k2-progress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/24\/k2-2019-summer-season-coverage-snow-stalling-k2-progress\/","title":{"rendered":"K2 2019 Summer Season Coverage – Snow Stalling K2 Progress"},"content":{"rendered":"

Only a few teams have arrived at K2 Base Camp thus far while many others are making their way closer by trekking on the Baltoro Glacier. Activity is also picking up on the other 8000ers in Pakistan. Finally, more deaths are being reported on the mountains this summer.<\/p>\n

Snow at K2 BC<\/h2>\n

Swiss climber, Mike Horn<\/a>, is doing a nice job of keeping everyone updated on his teams progress through his expensive social media. He arrived at BC last week and wanted to get to Camp 2 but snow conditions have delayed their efforts:<\/p>\n

New week, new goals! Weather not at its best today, we\u2019ll have to wait for it to clear before we make our way to camp 2 (6500m) – acclimatization going well so far, @fredroux72 and I feeling in top shape!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I don’t have a lot of details but there are reports of a Japanese climber who arrived earlier on K2 and had all of his great lost to an avalanche. He had to abandon his climb and has left the mountain. My source passed on a quote from a Gilgit-Baltistan area local that he has not seen this much snow in 29 years.<\/p>\n

Madison Mountaineering<\/a> reports in half way to K2 BC with better weather but a bit of rain.<\/p>\n

It’s still very early in the climbing cycle. We can anticipate K2 summits in late July, over a month to go. That said, with over 160 people on K2 alone, there will need to be effective communication and coordination amongst the teams on where to pitch tents, especially at C1, C2 and C3. With this many people, there is a chance that someone might unwittingly position a tent in an avalanche prone area.<\/p>\n

In 2013 an avalanche swept a tent off the mountain at Camp 3. Killed were\u00a0highly experienced guide Marty Schmidt, 53, and his son, Denali, 25. \u00a0Heavy snow hit K2 that season and all other teams had retreated to base camp to let the snow settle.<\/p>\n

\"Approaching
Approaching Camp 3 on K2 in 2014 by Alan Arnette<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other 8000ers<\/h2>\n

Broad Peak<\/h3>\n

Kari Kobler<\/a> is leading a team to BP including Lynda Bradey and Billi Bierling. Also Furtenbach Adventures<\/a>is on BP.<\/p>\n

Nanga Parbat<\/h3>\n

Mountain Planet<\/a> is reporting that Russian alpinists Vitaly Lazo<\/a> and Anton Pugovkin announce the start of \u201cDeath Zone Freeride\u201d project. The goal is: to ascent 5 highest mountains of the world with no supplement oxygen, and to descent skiing. They are Manaslu, Annapurna, Nanga Parbat, Everest, K2. They got Manaslu in 2017 and Annapurna last year. You can follow on their site<\/a>. They have already established C1 and 2\u00a0on the Kinshoffer Wall. This is their video from Manaslu.<\/p>\n

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