{"id":38070,"date":"2021-01-20T08:33:33","date_gmt":"2021-01-20T15:33:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/?p=38070"},"modified":"2021-01-20T08:33:33","modified_gmt":"2021-01-20T15:33:33","slug":"winter-k2-update-calm-at-base-camp-for-a-day-then","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/20\/winter-k2-update-calm-at-base-camp-for-a-day-then\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter K2 Update: Calm at Base Camp for a Day, Then …."},"content":{"rendered":"

Winds over 100 mph are expected at K2 Base Camp on Friday night. Time to batten down the hatches! Another climber leaves the expedition<\/p>\n

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Big Picture<\/h3>\n

With a huge wind event in the forecast, the 40 some-odd climbers and support are at Base Camp double checking tent guy lines and making sure everything is tied down. I’ve been in \u00a0a tent with winds like this and it’s not fun. You put your hands and feet against the tent walls to keep it from imploding, perhaps for hours. In this case, the temps are low creating windchills nearing -60F. A few inches of snow is expected on Friday.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile it appears that most of the K2 summits team took a helicopter back to civilization and will hold a massive press conference in Islamabad where, supposedly, they will detail their experience. Pakistani government officials, including the military, are jumping in front of this parade to share the spotlight. Again, I’m very happy for this team and they deserve all the attention they get. Reports have eight of the ten have some form of frostbite. Not surprising in the least.<\/p>\n

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Snorri – Tagged C3, Back at BC<\/h3>\n

John Snorri Sigurjonsson<\/a> with Muhammad Ali Sadpara<\/a> and his son Sajid Ali have signaled they will stay as long as it takes. \u00a0He told an Icelandic newspaper<\/a>:<\/p>\n

As long as I have the support of my family, I will continue. <\/span>I trust myself to be in the mountains and I trust myself to take care of myself. I am now so that when I am in the mountain I feel like I am part of the mountain. I do not feel bad and I do not feel in great danger, even though conditions are very demanding, <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Seven Summits Treks – Members Waiting on Weather, Gavin Leaves<\/h3>\n

Seven Summits Trek’s<\/a> has their team at base camp. By my count there are 18 members and about 20 Sherpas still left.<\/p>\n

Alex Gavin<\/a> has decided to leave the expedition. The 38-year-old Romanian was one of the most experienced members with eight summits of 8000ers. He posted:<\/p>\n

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Humbly listening to the signs and getting the message when it is all around written with capital letters has always kept me safe and on the right path in this life. Therefore, for the moment, my time here is up. I cherished and I am grateful for every second while on the steep slopes of the mighty K2 in winter. Returning now with priceless gifts as personal insights and lessons from Above. What a blessing and a privilege indeed. Heartbroken for Sergi’s passing away. Did everything within our powers and beyond. Happy for the all Nepali team to have reached the summit. Historically and morally they were entitled to it. Beyond any controversy.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Tamara<\/a>
Tamara Lunger descending from 6700m on January 16th after two acclimatization nights we spent in Camp 2.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Manaslu – Bad Weather at Base Camp<\/h2>\n

Simone Moro<\/a>, Alex Txikon<\/a>, and I\u00f1aki Alvarez are back to Manaslu Base Camp after making a carry to Camp 1.\u00a0Tenji Sherpa<\/a> and Vinayak Jaya Malla<\/a>, both Nepali internationally certified mountain guides (IFMGA) are at Manaslu Base Camp ready to move higher.<\/p>\n

Alex Txikon posted:<\/p>\n

Terrible weather. Today was one of those days meant to stay in your sleeping bag and don’t go out. I’ve been in the kitchen since I got up at 8, with my feet getting colder … We can’t stop thinking about Sergi and about the sorrow his family will feel. Be strong. While on the other hand we found out today that Nirmal Purja summited K2 without supplemental oxygen, congratulations!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And Tenji noted the high winds coming:<\/p>\n

High winds are in the forecast for the days\u2019 ahead so, with motivation still high, we will rest and wait patiently for a safe weather window.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Climb On!
\nAlan
\nMemories are Everything<\/p>\n

Resources:<\/h2>\n