Report from Medical Director, K2 Tall Mountain Expedition:
Chuck called me today with some medical issues. He did some heavy load carries to higher camps with no problems a few days ago but on the last trip to camp 3 for a summit push he felt sick and nauseous and had to turn back. After talking with him we felt that this was not AMS (acute mountain sickness) but rather a stomach virus he might have picked up eating some food while visiting another expedition's camp. To be extra cautious we decided to put him on antibiotics for a few days.
Chuck reported that Broad Peak is in exceptionally bad shape this year with snow and ice melting higher up than normal. This has made the rockfall hazard quite severe. He said he was glad to be safely off that mountain.
K2 is in better shape and apparantly there has been a successful summit bid already.
The team remains in good spirits and in good shape (Chuck will be fine in a few days, I'm sure) and will head over to K2 base camp and begin the attempt on their primary objective.
Signing off for now.
Paul Alberti
Report from Medical Director
Friday, August 1, 2008
