K2: K2 says NO!
K2 says NO! Conditions are extremely dangerous & weather is unfavorable the next 10 days. There will be no K2 Summits in 2015.
-
Vinson Massif (16,050 ft / 4,892m) – Antarctica
Summited on January 18, 2013
Mount Vinson is the highest mountain in Antarctica, the highest, driest, windiest and coldest continent on earth.
-
Aconcagua (22,841 ft / 6,962 m) – South America
Summited on December 12, 2012
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas and the highest peak in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. It is located in the Andes mountain range, in the province of Mendoza, Argentina and near the international border with Chile.
-
Mount Kosciuszko (7,310 ft / 2,228 m) – Australia
Summited on October 31, 2012
Mount Kosciuszko is a mountain located in the Snowy Mountains in Kosciuszko National Park. With a height of 2,228 metres above sea level, it is the highest mountain in Australia.
-
Carstensz Pyramid (16,024 ft / 4,884 m) – Oceania
Summited on October 23, 2012
Carstensz Pyramid, also known as Puncak Jaya, is the highest mountain in the Australasian continent and the lowest of the Seven Summits, but it is also the most technical and difficult to get to.
-
Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft / 5,895 m) – Africa
Summited on July 31, 2012
Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcanic mountain in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 metres or 19,341 feet above sea level.
-
Elbrus (18,510 ft / 5,642 m) – Europe
Summited on July 17, 2012
Mount Elbrus is a dormant volcano located in the western Caucasus mountain range in Russia and the highest mountain in Europe. While there are differing authorities on how the Caucasus are distributed between Europe and Asia, many sources agree that Elbrus is also the highest mountain in all of Europe.
K2: Escaping from Skardu
As local contact Mirza Ali is unable to fly me out of Skardu to Islamabad, I decided to buy a used motorcycle for couple $$$ and solo ride it out on the Karakorum Highway 18 hours to Islamabad. I do have a decent map on my t-shirt; what could go wrong?
K2: Breaking down Base Camp and trekking out
Breaking down K2 Base Camp & trekking out on the Baltoro Glacier to Skardu.. #K22015 & Broad Peak Expeditions officially over. No summits by anyone!
K2: Conditions are getting worse!
It’s been 8 days since we’ve been back from our last rotation to K2 Camp 2+ and have been patiently waiting at Base Camp for our Summit window. The forecast doesn’t look good and climbing conditions on the mountain are worse. Earlier today, the super strong Swiss Team led by Mike Horn abandoned their Summit […]
K2: Grounded at Base Camp – Sad news
Woke up to a snow blanketed Base Camp and sad news today at both K2 and Broad Peak Base Camps: 1 fatality and 2 injuries including a serious one. An avalanche on Broad Peak crushed a high altitude guide/porter accompanying a Chinese and Japanese climbers. The porter perished under the avalanche and the other two […]
K2: Acclimatization Rotation Recap
Rotation Day 1: Saturday July 11, 2015 We moved up from Base Camp (BC) to Advanced Base Camp in a swift two hours and 30 minutes. The climb wasn’t easy due to soft and deep snow conditions while carrying over 55 lbs (25 Kg) packs climbing from 5000 to 5300 meters. There were many time where […]
K2: Back from 7 days rotation
Today we made the gruesome descent from Camp 2 on K2 all the way to Base Camp. It was long and arduous due to bad and sketchy snow conditions (lots of deep snow and tobo warm) but everyone made it ok albeit very tired. I will post some details and pics of our rotation tomorrow. […]
K2: Puja Day
Earlier this afternoon we had a mini Puja which is a Sherpa Nepali/Tibetan Spiritual Ceremony to allow for safe passage and return. You can read my detailed description about it here: https://www.ashkar.com/everest/puja-day/
K2: Rest day at K2 Base Camp
Today was a well earned rest day after the long and treacherous journey from Islamabad to Skardu to Askole onto K2BC. We got cleaned up by taking bucket showers, doing a little laundry (also in buckets) and organizing our gear. It was good to be reunited with Kami Sherpa who was with us on the […]
K2: Arrived at K2 Base Camp
We made it to K2 Base Camp and that final leg of the trek was memorable. We started walking at 5:00 AM and the light on K2 was simply amazing. Seduced by the magical beaty of this mountain, I elected to take the straight through trail down the glacier instead of the moraine as if […]