As it often does, the wind ultimately decided success or failure in the mountains. Today, Alex Txikon, Pansang and Chappal Sherpa waited as long as they could for conditions to improve on K2, but they didn’t. Finally, the climbers decided to retreat “all happy to be together,” as they put it. “The mountain will remain there.”
They climbed down K2’s Abruzzi Spur to Advanced base Camp and then onto Base Camp before nightfall. Upon arrival, they sent over the videos illustrating the glorious views, the blue skies and the icy wind shaking the tent and drowning out the climbers’ voices.
