Alex Gavan, “humbly listening to the signs” and heartbroken over the death of Sergi Mingote, has ended his attempt to climb K2 in winter without supplementary oxygen.
No word yet from partner Tamara Lunger.
More to come.
K2: Gavan Ends Quest
Jerry Kobalenko Jerry Kobalenko is the editor of ExplorersWeb. Canada's premier arctic traveler, he is the author of The Horizontal Everest and Arctic Eden, and is currently working on a book about adventures in Labrador. In 2018, he was awarded the Polar Medal by the Governor General of Canada.
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I remember all the articles about Alex Gavan spending his own funds, time, and resources to search for his friends Alberto Zerain, and Mariano Galvan, on Nanga Parbat, after they went missing June 24, 2017.
Not just that. He actively takes part in cleaning the trash from the basecamps and trek which doesn’t belong to him. I remember in his last trek to Baltoro Glacier, he picked up a lot of trash which was not his. He’s a true mountain lover.
I do think that your headline is a little harsh given the death of a close friend and team member.
Agreed. Jerry – perhaps you might consider a less emotive/loaded term than ‘quits’ given the circumstances?
Although “quits” does not mean “quitter”, I’ve softened the head in deference to those concerned that that’s the implication.
Tamara is continuing. She updated it on her Instagram.