Winter K2 climbers have endured cold and high winds at Camp 3 at 7,300m for four days already.
Sherpas managed to fix ropes and pitch Camp 4 yesterday, despite these rough conditions, then returned to Camp 3. The entire team planned to leave for the summit this evening, but high winds have kept everyone in their tents.
“With the gusts of more than 40kph and concerns over time and safety, the team has decided to stay at Camp 3 today,” Nima Gyalzen wrote. “Depending on the weather tomorrow and the day after, [we] will decide whether to go for the summit or descend.”
Grace Tseng displays her frost-covered glasses. Photo: Grace Tseng
Oxygen supplies may eventually become an issue, since climbers are probably using O2 in Camp 3, at least intermittently.
It’s now or never
Grace Tseng and her team can afford to wait one more day, but a new summit push is out of the question if they want to claim a winter ascent. Local outfitter Summit Karakoram told ExplorersWeb that everyone is due to leave the mountain by Monday or Tuesday at the latest. The porters are already on their way to retrieve the expedition gear. Their trek to Base Camp will take four days.
