While several climbers have already returned to K2 Base Camp after summiting over the weekend, other teams topped out a little later and are still on the mountain. All climbed via the normal Abruzzi Spur route.
Nepalese guide Siddhi Tamang summited twice within 24 hours, matching Mingma Gyabu Sherpa’s past achievement. Tamang summited on both July 28 and 29 while accompanying clients to the top.
Tommaso Sebastiano Lamantia of the Italian Alpine Club team reportedly summited alone, without bottled oxygen.
Madison Mountaineering climbers atop K2. Photo: Madison Mountaineering
Australian Allie Pepper continued her summit list by climbing K2 without bottled oxygen. She topped out with Mikel Sherpa, her usual guide. Madison Mountaineering had 18 people on the summit, including Garrett Madison. Summiters with Seven Summit Treks included Jorge Egochega of Spain and Valery Babanov of Russia. Nepalese sherpas and Pakistani climbers also summited, including Ali Durani, who celebrated the third K2 ascent of his career.
Jean-Yves Fredriksen, climbing alone via the Cesen route, also summited. At Camp 3, the Cesen route joins the normal route.
Sultana Nasab was the only member of the Pakistani Women’s Expedition to K2 to successfully reach the top.
Sultana Nasab of Pakistan. Photo: Alpine Adventure Guides
It seems that Fredriksen and new K2 speed record holder Benjamin Vedrines did not paraglide down from the summit. This was possibly due to restrictions from local authorities after a recent paragliding tragedy.
Pakistan’s Naila Kiani led a team to retrieve the body of Mohammad Hassan Shigri, who died last year on the Traverse, above the Bottleneck. Yesterday, Kiani’s group brought down Hassan’s body to Camp 4. From here, they will carry it to the lower camps.
Uta Ibrahimi climbs Gasherbrum II. Photo: Uta Ibrahimi
Gasherbrums and Broad Peak
Marco Camandona of Italy summited Gasherbrum I, thereby completing his 14×8,000m series. Several climbers also summited Broad Peak, including an Italian party.
Uta Ibrahimi and Waldemar Kowalewski have summited Gasherbrum II this week.
According to Ali Saltoro of Alpine Adventure Guides, the Italians who summited Broad Peak are now heading to K2.
Climbers approach the upper section of K2 via the normal route. Photo: Mashabrum Expeditions
