K2 2015 Coverage: Summit Dreams
The teams that are already at K2, s Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums are making excellent progress on their acclimatization programs. Some have already slept a night at Camp 1, drugstore which is normally around 19,500 feet or about 6,000 meters. The next step is to retrace those steps and continue to Camp 2 around […]
K2 2015 Coverage: Avalanches and Progress
The earthquake, 100 miles northeast of K2 apparently had no impact on the climbers throughout the Karakorum. I’m sure those who were on Everest this past spring had a bit of a flashback if they felt the ground moving. David Tait provided some impressions of the avalanche off K2 as he was in his tent […]
K2 2015 Coverage: Earthquake Near K2 but no Damage Reported
The earth continues to shake around the Himalaya with a magnitude 6.5 earthquake in China’s far western region of Xinjiang. The epicenter was in a largely remote and sparsely populated area and about 100 miles northeast of K2. No damage was reported in China. Billi Bierling, look climbing Broad Peak, which is a few miles […]
K2 2015 Coverage: Climbing Begins
The Karakorum climbing season is settling down to actual climbing with a few climbers already at Camp 1 on K2 and others preparing to begin on Broad Peak. Still others are now starting their trek to the base camps. Thus the area is filled with activity as the weather made a sudden switch from snow […]
K2 2015 Coverage: When Airplanes Don’t Fly
If one word can sum up high altitude mountaineering, it might be “flexibility”. The remaining teams trying to reach K2, Broad Peak and other Karakorum base camps were hoping to fly from Islamabad to Skardu but the weather Gods, or more specifically the airlines had other ideas. Most teams try to fly directly to Skardu […]
K2 2015 Coverage: Teams arrive at K2 Base Camp
After their long trek up the Baltoro Glacier, many teams arrived at the Broad Peak and K2 Base Camps this weekend. Using terms like arduous difficult and long – all appropriate descriptions for the trek in and an understatement for the trek out – the climbers telegraphed relief this section is over. Relief and Apprehension at […]
K2 2015 Coverage: Large Teams Snowed in on the Trek
With the heat wave in Pakistan now responsible for over 1, 000 deaths, it may be surprising that heavy snow has stalled progress in the Northern Territories. Himex is reporting that they have stopped their trek towards K2 Base Camp due to slippery conditions on the Baltoro Glacier. There is no “path” per se, but […]
K2 2015 Coverage: Trekking the Baltoro
Teams continue to make steady progress toward their respective base camps. They report conditions as hot which is no surprise as Pakistan is experiencing an extreme heat wave. But Mike Horn who is already at K2 Base Camp reports: Arrived at K2 base camp at 5000 meters. It is snowing and cold but everyone is […]
K2 2015 Coverage
After my successful summit of K2 in 2014, I will be covering the 2015 K2 climbing season from my home in Colorado this year for the first time. I’ll try to do it the same style as my annual Everest coverage but information is much more difficult to obtain from Northern Pakistan than Nepal. I’ll […]