Brief Update, 19 August 2011 – Camp II (6,600 m):
After the four climbers had spent a very exhausting night in a small bivouac tent on the rocky shoulder between Camp I and Camp II, Gerlinde, Maxut, Vassily and Darek reached Camp II at 3.30pm Chinese time.
The conditions were extremely difficult and they had to wade through hip-deep snow in some parts. Snow conditions and trail breaking permitting, they will be climbing to Camp III (ca. 7,250 m) tomorrow.
Tommy Heinrich and Ralf Dujmovits have arrived at base camp safe and sound.
Warm Regards
Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner’s and Ralf Dujmovits’ home team
© TEXT G.Kaltenbrunner/R.Dujmovits ; TRANSLATION: Billi Bierling
Brief Update 18 August 2011 :
Since about midnight last night until 4.30pm Chinese time, it has been snowing with only two hours of interruption. Gerlinde’s team is making very slow progress and are planning to bivouac on the rocky shoulder, which is situated about half way up to Camp II. Due to high avalanche danger, Ralf Dujmovits abandoned his K2 summit attempt at the bottom of the couloirs and returned to Camp I.
Brief Update 4.30pm (GMT)
Gerlinde and the rest of the team arrived at the rocky shoulder between Camp I and Camp II and will be spending the night in a small tent there. Four members of the team are planning to ascend to Camp II tomorrow. In the late afternoon, Tommy Heinrich also descended to Camp I and will be going down to base camp with Ralf.
Warm Regards
Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner’s and Ralf Dujmovits’ home team
© TEXT G.Kaltenbrunner/R.Dujmovits
Brief Update 17 August 2011 :
Gerlinde, Ralf and the rest of the team are staying at Camp I (5,300m) for another night. Due to yesterday’s heavy snowfall and the potential avalanche danger that comes with it, the team decided to wait before ascending to Camp II (6,600m).
Today, a good amount of the fresh snow has already come down and the team is pretty confident that they will be able to climb to Camp II tomorrow. The weather forecast has not changed and still predicts dry and stable weather for the end of the week.
The itinerary for the summit attempt allows for an extra day on the mountain, which means that Sunday will remain their summit day. We will find out whether this plan will change or not in the next few days.
Warm Regards
Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner’s and Ralf Dujmovits’ home team
© TEXT G.Kaltenbrunner/R.Dujmovits; TRANSLATION: Elke Luginsland
Brief Update 16 August 2011 :
After a short break at the Chinese Base Camp, Gerlinde, Ralf and the rest of the team left for their summit bid this morning. At present they are aiming to go for the top on Sunday, 21st August.We wish them all the best and are keeping our fingers crossed.
Mountain-technology permitting, we will do our utmost to keep you updated in the coming days.
Warm regards
Gerlinde’s and Ralf’s home team
© TEXT G.Kaltenbrunner/R.Dujmovits; TRANSLATION: Elke Luginsland
6th Report – the International K2 Expedition to the North Pillar of K2
Dear Friends,
raining at the moment, as we write these lines, wet snow on our tent in the advanced base camp.
Tuesday night we are after eight very busy, very impressive days on the mountain come back here.
After looking at the end of July in the Chinese base camp had recovered well, we started on 2 August at Camp I on. A long, split at the end very rich ascent, where we asked ourselves how often we are likely to rise even through the rough glacier up. Good thing we had with the break-even waited a day. That day went by from the intense sunlight countless avalanches and the snow could sit well.
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