K2 winter attempt

SteG

SteG

Thru Hiker
I thought I would bring this man's blog to the attention of anybody that may be interested in this.
There are four teams trying to reach the top of K2 at the moment. K2 remains the only one of the highest mountains to not to have been conquered in winter.
Alan Arnette gives interesting insight into the individuals in the teams, and daily updates into progress being made in the attempts. https://www.alanarnette.com/blog/2020/12/29/winter-k2-update-fighting-the-cold/
 
Franky

Franky

Section Hiker
SteG said:
It's led me looking into back packing Pakistan, not that I will ever go, but nice to dream. Pakistan, Iran, Mongolia and Russia are the type of places I wished I could have seen.
Click to expand...

Backpacking Pakistan....logistically a big difference here.
Pre terrorism was always alert.
Dress behaviour also to fit in or you will be threatened with being stoned.. not joking!!!
Mountain routes there are massively long with no resupply possibilities. That’s why Companies offer trekking trips over 15 up to mebbe 20/25days plus. Long distances over glaciers and passes. High altitude.
No villages of tea shops en route as in Nepal.
Can definitely travel on ‘buses/trains’ between small towns and hop off if hiking possibilities but....used to be ok pre 90’s but now!!!!
And don’t go there if you’re a vegetarian
Lol.

And Iran....!!!! Take care!!!
 
Franky

Franky

Section Hiker
Truly a fantastic achievement considering during Winter.

The 1986 K2 expeditions ( In Summer.
June/August) claimed 13 climbers including 2 Britons; Alan Rouse and Julie Tullis.
Rouse was the first Brit to Summit K2 but perished on the descent. Julie died in her tent as got storm bound on the descent.
Her partner and friend, Kurt Diemberger survived.

There’s a plaque at base camp naming all who have died.

The Nepalese are true extreme climbers.
 
tom

tom

Thru Hiker
Franky said:
Backpacking Pakistan....logistically a big difference here.
Pre terrorism was always alert.
Dress behaviour also to fit in or you will be threatened with being stoned.. not joking!!!
Mountain routes there are massively long with no resupply possibilities. That’s why Companies offer trekking trips over 15 up to mebbe 20/25days plus. Long distances over glaciers and passes. High altitude.
No villages of tea shops en route as in Nepal.
Can definitely travel on ‘buses/trains’ between small towns and hop off if hiking possibilities but....used to be ok pre 90’s but now!!!!
And don’t go there if you’re a vegetarian
Lol.

And Iran....!!!! Take care!!!
Click to expand...

Iran was bad even in the Shah days before the Ayatollas took over....

I do remember Nepal without tourists (all those tea shops just for the locals and being the only "hotels") but more so Afganistan - the mountains, the desert, best food on earth...:) Just wish we'd spend some months there instead of weeks only :(. Or better even, across Afganistan on a horse like a mate of us did... This used to be such a beautiful part of the world before all the crazy violence and incredibly warm and hospitable peoples
 
Franky

Franky

Section Hiker
tom said:
Iran was bad even in the Shah days before the Ayatollas took over....

I do remember Nepal without tourists (all those tea shops just for the locals and being the only "hotels") but more so Afganistan - the mountains, the desert, best food on earth...:) Just wish we'd spend some months there instead of weeks only :(. Or better even, across Afganistan on a horse like a mate of us did... This used to be such a beautiful part of the world before all the crazy violence and incredibly warm and hospitable peoples
Click to expand...

Yes Tom;)..Kathmandu only had Freak St; Thamel did not exist. No chocolate cake shops then. Full of hash smog from hippies plying between the beaches of India and the Himalaya.
Iran was most scary place and Afghanistan carried on with life in their ‘normal’ way..you only saw men and boys. No women. Then the West intervened and disrupted everything there:mad:.
Sweet memories
 
  • Like
Reactions: tom
tom

tom

Thru Hiker
I would loved to hike in Karakoram - Eric Shipton's 'Blank on the map' is a real teaser and one of my favorite explorer books. But I felt even more drawn (but never made it there) to the Himalayan 'outsider' - Kangchenjunga ... Few descriptions in literature but both Joe Tusker's and Peter Boardman's books are worth a read just for the Kangchenjunga chapters...
 
WilliamC

WilliamC

Thru Hiker
tom said:
I would loved to hike in Karakoram - Eric Shipton's 'Blank on the map' is a real teaser and one of my favorite explorer books. But I felt even more drawn (but never made it there) to the Himalayan 'outsider' - Kangchenjunga ... Few descriptions in literature but both Joe Tusker's and Peter Boardman's books are worth a read just for the Kangchenjunga chapters...
Click to expand...
You could always settle for Coniston Old Man*


*Arthur Ransome reference.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tom
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top