Tag Archive for: K2 base camp

Back in BC

Gina and Liz taking a break on the Cesen route on the way down

Most of the team descended from Camp 2 on the Cesen route today and are back in BC, completing their acclimatization rotation.  Here’s Garrett with the details:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the K2 expedition climbing team.  Today we came down from K2 Camp 2 on the Cesen route to base camp.  Had a nice descent, some good views, and a great lunch and dinner here in K2 base camp.  So, we’re resting up now and just taking it easy; enjoying the comforts of base camp.  A few of our climbers are still up at Camp 2.  They’re acclimatizing for additional days.  It’s Victor, Louis, and Rick along with a couple of our Sherpas, Dawa and Mingmar.  And they will be coming down in the next couple of days.  Weather looks good, and everyone’s doing well here on K2!

Climbers on the Cesen route with Broad Peak behind

Climbers on the Cesen route with Broad Peak behind

On the Cesen route with base camp and Concordia in the distance

On the Cesen route with base camp and Concordia in the distance

Gina and Liz taking a break on the Cesen route on the way down

Gina and Liz taking a break on the Cesen route on the way down

 

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First rotation coming up

The K2 Cesen route is one ridge in from the right side

The K2 team’s first rotation is coming up and expedition leader Garrett Madison had this update today:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the K2 expedition.  We had a great day of training yesterday out on the ice near base camp – practicing fixed line ascending, repelling and footwork, all in preparation for our first rotation up the mountain.  Our sherpas were able to fix to Camp 3 on the Česen route yesterday.  Which is great progress.  And we’ll keep working to fix higher, hopefully, they can reach Camp 4 in the next few days or so.  Our plan is to head up tomorrow morning early on our first rotation to spend a few nights upon the Česen route acclimatizing and getting familiar with the route.  Everybody’s doing great here at base camp.  Beautiful weather and we look forward to more great days ahead!

Chogolisa as seen from K2 base camp

(7668m/25,157 ft) as seen from K2 base camp

The K2 Cesen route is one ridge in from the right side

The K2 Cesen route is one ridge in from the right side as seen from base camp

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Happy Independence Day from K2!

USA Independence Day dinner celebration with our team and friend Mike Horn

Expedition leader Garrett Madison and the team wish Americans everywhere a happy Independence Day from K2!

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the K2 expedition team.  Today is the Fourth of July!  Happy Independence Day to all the Americans on our team and elsewhere.  Today we went for an acclimatization hike up to advanced base camp.  Great weather, nice views, nice to stretch our legs, and get some fresh air.  We made it back in time for lunch and then this afternoon we had a small party with some other members from other teams in camp here to celebrate our holiday back in the United States.  Tomorrow we are planning on more training here in base camp.  All’s well on K2.  We will check in soon.  Thanks!

View of K2 and the Cesen route from hike to ABC

View of K2 and the Cesen route from hike to ABC

On the way up to ABC – K2 on the left

Going through the small icefall on the way to ABC

USA Independence Day dinner celebration (left to right: Garrett, Gina, Rick, Mike Horn, Brian, Louis, Victor, Valerio, Conan, Elizabeth)

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K2 Puja!

Climbers Elizabeth and Gina with K2 behind

Today on K2:  Puja!  As is the custom before any climbing begins, a Puja ceremony is held to ask the mountain for blessings and safe passage.  What follows is a fun afternoon party.  Here’s Garrett with the details:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the K2 expedition team!  Today we had our Puja ceremony.  It was a great day with all of our climbing members, our Nepal sherpa staff, and our Pakistani climbing staff and base camp team.  We asked the mountain for safe passage and blessings.  We had a Buddist Lama conduct the ceremony and afterward we had a dance party!  It was a lot of fun – good spirits all around.  And now we are excited to begin climbing up the mountain.  Beautiful weather here on K2 and looking forward to another great day!

Climber Brian leading the dance at the Puja ceremony

Climber Brian leading the dance at the Puja ceremony

Climber Louis dancing at the Puja ceremony! Our liaison officer Captain Faiz on the right

Climber Louis dancing at the Puja ceremony! Our liaison officer Captain Faiz on the right

Climbers Elizabeth and Gina with K2 behind

Climbers Elizabeth and Gina with K2 behind

 

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Training at Base Camp

Training in K2 base camp with Broad Peak behind

Yesterday, the K2 team conducted some training at base camp.  Expedition leader, Garrett Madison, provides the details:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the K2 expedition.  We’re doing great here in base camp.  It’s been beautiful weather the last few days.  We’ve got camp fully dialed in the way we like it:  great dinning tent for the climbers, communications tent, lounge tent, shower tent.  So it’s come along really well.  We’ve had some nice meals here and have been doing some training here in base camp to refresh our technical skills which we will use up on the route:  climbing fixed ropes and descending fixed lines.  So, everybody’s doing well here and we’re excited for our Puja ceremony!

Training in K2 base camp-practicing fixed line ascending and descending

Training in K2 base camp-practicing fixed line ascending and descending

Training in K2 base camp with Broad Peak behind

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Settling into Base Camp

K2 Base Camp

With the team settling into base camp and our satellite terminal uplink up and running, Garrett and team report in with photos and this expedition update:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the K2 expedition team.  We are at base camp.  We had a wonderful trek in over a week.  And arrived in base camp three days ago.  We’re getting base camp set up now and almost have it finally dailed in.  It’s nice to be here and get settled and get ready for our first rotation which is probably five or six days off.  Everyone’s doing well and we are excited to be here enjoying base camp.

K2 as seen from base camp

Broad Peak as seen from K2 base camp

 

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Establishing K2 Base Camp

Trango 3 tents at K2 base camp

The K2 team arrived at base camp yesterday afternoon and were busy getting things sorted and set up. They will continue to dial in the camp over the next several days as they settle into their home for the next three or four weeks. Early this morning, expedition leader Garrett Madison called in via sat phone with this update:

Hello, this is Garrett calling in for the K2 climbing expedition. Today is June 29th, and we arrived K2 base camp yesterday afternoon. Everybody’s doing well. We got great weather at the moment, and we’re just setting up camp here the next few days – waiting for our final porter loads of equipment to arrive so we can get base camp dialed into our specification. So, we look forward to getting set up here the way we want it. The weather sure is nice – great views of the mountain and surrounding peaks, like Broad Peak. Everyone’s doing well. We’ll check in soon. Thanks!

(photo:  Madison Mountaineering K2 2018 archive)

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