K2 Cesen Camp 2
Expedition leader Garrett Madison provides this update via sat phone from K2 Cesen Camp 2:
Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the K2 climbing expedition team. Today is July 9th. We had a nice rest day up at Camp 2 (6327m). A few of us went for an acclimatization hike up towards Camp 3 (7000m). Good weather today and all members of the team are now up at Camp 2. Tomorrow morning we are going to head back down to base camp. Everybody’s doing great up here, and the weather has been fantastic. We are looking forward to getting back down to base camp and having some good rest and some good food. And we are looking forward to the next phase of the expedition. We’ll check in soon. Thanks!
(photo: Madison Mountaineering archive)
Cesen route vs. Abruzzi Spur route. Team at Camp 2.
I’m just curious is the Cesen route an easier route than the Abruzzi Spur? I had not heard of this route before.
Paul
Hi Paul! The Cesen is a lesser climbed route than the Abruzzi Spur which is effectively the ‘standard route’ up K2. The Cesen or Basque route, as it is also known, is the South-Southeast spur on K2, runs somewhat parallel and then joins up with the Abruzzi at Camp 4 (~7700m) on “The Shoulder” below the Bottleneck. Because it avoids the House’s Chimney and Black Pyramid features of the Abruzzi Spur, some consider it safer but it does have its own set of objective hazards and is generally regarded as a bit more difficult than the Abruzzi.