Queridos Reyes Magos [Dear Wizard Kings]. This is how Spanish kids begin their letters to the Three Wise Men, from whom, according to Catholic tradition, they get presents on the night between January 5 and 6. This year, Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar have granted Sergi Mingote and Juan Pablo Mohr a safe return to Base Camp.
Sergi Mingote at Camp 1 on his way back to BC today. Photo: Sergi Mingote
They had to battle wind, vertical blue ice, technical down-climbing, sleep deprivation, extreme cold, and the unstable glacier between 5,300m and Base Camp that the recently evacuated Waldemar Kowalewski described as a game of Russian roulette.
Waldemar Kowalewski at Camp 1. Photo: Waldemar Kowalewski
After two attempts, Kowalewski is convinced that there is no way to attempt winter K2 without supplemental O2. It’s too cold, especially on the fingers and toes. You’d need battery-powered warmers for hands and feet that last at least 50 hours, and there’s nothing of the kind on the market yet.
Even melting water is a problem in winter because the butane mix freezes. Also, spending hours inside the tent melting snow that’s at -40˚ is extremely time-consuming. And yet, proper hydration, especially at altitude, is essential.
Puja ceremony in Base Camp. Photo: Seven Summit Treks
Tamara Lunger, who does plan to attempt the mountain without canned O2, commented today, “I imagine this will be the hardest thing I’m going to do!”
Meanwhile, with everyone back in Base camp, the Seven Summit Treks group performed a Puja ceremony “to a make connection with the mountains and pray for a safe and successful expedition,” said Dawa Sherpa.
The ceremony typically takes place before leaving Base Camp for the first time. The Buddhist Puja ceremony is rare in Pakistan, where 96 percent of the population practices Islam.
