K2 Tall Mountain Expedition
 
 
The team is waiting impatiently for a weather window, again. K2 Base Camp is deserted with only this team, Sunny Mountain Chogori Expedition (George Dijmarescu and his two sherpas) and Mike Farris, one of the leaders of the Altitude Experience team, remaining. There is a snowstorm underway today, but the team is hoping to get a couple of clear days to go up to Camp 2 or 3 before the weather forecasts predict more unsettled weather. They plan to bring down some of the trash that was left on the mountain. They are looking for a minimum of three days of good weather to make a summit attempt. They all spoke on the KSL radio show yesterday, and the podcast is now available online. (go to www.ksl.com, radio tab, Saturday line up, Utah Outdoors, podcasts). The teams that are still at base camp are pooling their resources and will go up the mountain as a team of five or six. Andy Selters is planning to leave base camp in another day or two per his original plan. The team will need to take about 500 m of rope up the mountain to fix the ropes that were taken out by the ice fall. They are still planning to take their own oxygen up the mountain to ensure they have an adequate supply, although it is rumored that oxygen tanks were left on the mountain. There was a lot of equipment left on the mountain as many teams left in a hurry after the incident. There have also been high winds for the last few days, so it’s hard to guess at what may or may not be left on the mountain and what the condition and stability of the snowpack is higher up. Overall, the team is in good spirits, but the waiting game is starting to get old. The social factors are significantly different now with just a few remaining players and no other teams to visit and hang out with. Chuck’s having troubles with his iPod but he still has a book to finish. Anyone wondering how Dan McCann is doing? He’s thinking about the team and sending good energy their way. He had surgery on the ligament in his thumb a couple weeks ago. He’s got a cast on now, but he made sure he took an ice ax to the doctor’s office so he would have a cast that would allow him to climb. The doctor is accustomed to treating athletes (including Tiger Woods), so he didn’t think anything of the request. The skin on his arm is healing well and Dan is heading to Mt. Rainier and Mt. Hood next week to guide some clients. He’s getting back on track. http://www.ksl.comshapeimage_2_link_0
 
Combining Resources
Sunday, August 10, 2008