Although K2 summits are far more common than they were even a few years ago, doing so without bottled oxygen is still an impressive rarity. Federico Secchi of Italy and Liv Sansoz and Seb Roche, both of France, did so earlier this week. The French pair had acclimatized earlier by reaching 7,000m on Broad Peak.
Secchi, together with another no-O2 climber, Tommaso Lamantia, topped out on July 28. Two other Italians without supplemental oxygen, Matteo Sella and Marco Majori, had to turn back at 8,200m.
Yesterday, during the descent, Majori slipped and fell about 30m above Camp 3, injuring his shoulder. Secchi helped Majori to Camp 3. Here, worsening weather and darkness prompted the pair to overnight in Camp 3.
Liv Sansoz and Seb Roche on K2. Photo: Liv Sansoz
Because of Majori’s injury, speed climber Benjamin Vedrines, who was at Camp 2, returned to Camp 3 to help Majori down.
Since then, Secchi and Majori have safely reached Camp 2 despite some tense moments. They are currently descending without problems and should arrive in Base Camp in another few hours.
Vedrines, Fredriksen, Sansoz, and Roche had wanted to paraglide down from K2, but we have no news at the moment about whether any of the four did so.
