K2 Tall Mountain Expedition
 
 
Chuck called in from Paiju camp to report on their progress. The team has been hiking for 2 days after leaving the village of Askole at the end of the road. They have 4 more days before they reach the K2 base camp. They will rest tomorrow and enjoy the beautiful camping location. The camp is much improved from the last time Chuck was there, thanks to the work of some non-profit organizations. The campsites are clean and there are organized backcountry toilet facilities (pits). Andy’s missing bag arrived in Askole about the same time the team arrived. A joyous reunion with the photographic equipment! Chuck managed to consume something that made him sick for a couple days in Askole, but the Cipro has kicked in and he’s finally feeling pretty good today. Paul adds: “Chuck gave me a quick call as well. He sounded great. I heard about the cipro. Here's the scoop. Cipro, really ciprofloxacin, is a broad spectrum antibiotic that treats GI (gastrointestinal) infections, as well as other infections like sinus bladder and more famously anthrax. The GI tract becomes infected with bacteria from contaminated food or food handlers and that results in severe cramping and pain and diarrhea. The cipro kills the bacteria and restores the gut to normal after a few days. Travelers diarrhea is the more common term for the infection.” The agent, Karakorum Magic Mountains, is doing a great job so far. The food is good and there’s plenty of it. They’ve provided 3 extra tents, so the team should be pretty well set for base camp and mountain tents. Even though the agency provided food has been good so far, Chuck added that the Stoned Wheat Thins and Brie he had brought really hit the spot when they arrived at camp, hungry, after 9 hrs. of hiking. The team is really getting along well and having a lot of fun.
 
Paiju camp to report on their progress
Saturday, June 21, 2008