07/29
- There is a dramatic rescue attempt underway on Latok I. Russian mountaineer Alexander Gukov is trapped at around 6,200m. His climbing partner Sergey Glazunov fell to his death on July 25.
- German alpinists Alexander Huber and Fabian Buhl have set out to climb Suma Brakk via a new route.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/www.explorersweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/24011801/latok-north-ridge-route-1024x768.jpg)
The north ridge route of Latok I. There have been over 24 attempts on the ridge since 1978. Photo: Alexander Gukov
07/26
- After summiting Broad Peak, Fredrik Strang and David Roeske were turned back on K2 due to high winds and heavy snow on July 24.
- With the monsoon season arriving earlier than usual, the weather window on K2 looks to have closed for the season.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/www.explorersweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/24011803/viridiana.jpg)
Viridiana Alvarez became the first Latin American woman to summit K2. Photo: Viridiana Alvarez
07/23
- Andrzej Bargiel becomes the first person to ski down from the summit of K2.
- Japanese climber Kojiro Watanabe fell to his death on K2 yesterday.
- Multiple teams summit K2 over the past two days, with more teams looking to make a push before the weather window closes later this week.
- Badamgarav Gangaamaa becomes the first Mongolian to summit K2.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/www.explorersweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/24011825/Marek-Ogien-1-768x512.jpg)
Polish ski mountaineer Andrzej Bargiel has become the first person in history to ski down from the summit of the second highest mountain in the world. Photo: Marek Ogien
07/21
- Over 30 summits on K2 today. This may mark the most climbers to have reached the top of K2 on a single day. The previous high is believed to be 28 on July 31, 2012.
- Luis Stitzinger completed his eighth 8,000m peak, summiting Gasherbrum I on Wednesday without bottled oxygen.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/www.explorersweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/24011838/Baltoro-768x511.jpg)
Baltoro Glacier from near the summit of Broad Peak. Photo: Abbas Shah
07/20
- Heavy snow has slowed progress at the top of K2, but the Seven Summits group aims to top out today.
- Numerous teams holed up at Camp 3 await their chance to summit.
- David Klein and Suhajda Szilard are turned back on Gasherbrum I, returning to Base Camp in difficult conditions.
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Midweek snowfall has stopped the Madison team at Camp 2, after a snowy climb through House’s Chimney. Photo: Madison Mountaineering
07/18
- Adam Bielecki and Felix Berg summit Gasherbrum II; Jacek Czech turns back at 7,500m.
- K2 teams are working together to fix the final sections of the route. Weather reports remain positive for a summit push around July 20.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/www.explorersweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/24011856/kalifa-himalayas-300x300.jpg)
David Klein and Suhajda Szilard have climbed the Japanese Couloir on Gasherbrum I and are now summit-bound. Photo: Kali Fa Himalayan Expedition
07/16
- The Furtenbach team has reported that they topped out on Broad Peak early this morning.
- Bielecki and Czech set out for the summit of Gasherbrum II at 3am today.
- Seven Summit Treks are now aiming to summit K2 on July 20.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/www.explorersweb.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/24011904/sevensummits.jpg)
The Seven Summits team leaving Base Camp on K2. Photo: Seven Summit Treks
07/15
- June brought persistent strong winds and heavy snow across the Karakorum. This slowed progress at first, but since early July, conditions have improved dramatically.
- Expeditions on Broad Peak may attempt summit pushes this weekend. The Furtenbach commercial team reports that they started their latest attempt from Base Camp yesterday.
- Teams continue to rotate up to Camp 3 on K2. Weather permitting, the weekend of July 21 could see the first summits of the season.
- The good weather may also allow summit attempts as soon as this weekend on Gasherbrum II and Gasherbrum IV.
- You can catch up on the biggest stories so far with our Mid-Season Update and Season Opener articles at the bottom of the page.
David Klein and Suhajda Szilard are attempting Gasherbrum I without oxygen or the support of HAPs. Photo: David Klein
https://explorersweb.com/2018/07/13/karakorum-2018-mid-season-update/
https://explorersweb.com/2018/06/27/summer-2018-k2-and-the-karakorum/