The first team has arrived at K2 base camp for their winter attempt. The rest have yet to arrive in Pakistan.
Icelander John Snorri Sigurjonsson posted on Facebook on Saturday, December 5, 2020:
We have arrived to base camp of K2, 4.900 m. The weather is windy and freezing, – 20 °C. Now we are setting up our camp, where we will stay the next months. Everyone is feeling okay, but after 2 days we will become acclimatized. I am feeling happy and excited towards my expedition, I am surrounded with strong group, that I am looking forward to work with.
He is teaming with Muhammad Ali Sadpara and his son Sajid Ali. Aschar Ali Porik of Jasmine tour is providing the logistics. There are some reports he wants to try and summit before the end of December. You can follow them on their tracker.
And the Rest
There are three other teams (at least more may show up!):
Seven Summits Treks: 24 clients supported by 21 Sherpas. With so many clients, this effort seems to be well funded and the leaders of SST have all summited K2, but not in winter thus they seem to have the best chance.
Mingma Gyalje Sherpa: no foreigners, 3 Sherpas. Short of funds, their GoFundMe page shows $3,797 raised of the $47,500 goal. Mingma summited K2 in 2014 and 2017 plus made an ill-fated winter attempt last year. He has the strength and experience to pull it off if he goes. He will not be using supplemental oxygen.
Nirmal Purja Purja Purja Purja : has confirmed he is going but still no details.
Overall it looks like there will be close to 60 climbers this winter, similar to a normal summer season.
Other Huge Names
There are rumors for at least two other huge names in climbing and exploration surfacing that might be on K2 this winter. I’m not ready to share their names and have reached out for confirmation, but no response.
Other 8000er
There are also plans on nearby Broad Peak. Russian-American Alex Goldfarb and Hungarian Zoltan Szlanko are planning a climb, hoping to ski from the summit. Over on Manaslu, long-time climbers, Simone Moro and Alex Txikon will go for a winter summit. According to the Himalayan Database, there have been 114 people above base camp in the winter with 15 summits for a rate of 13.15, all without supplemental oxygen. There have been two deaths.
3 thoughts on “First K2 Winter Team at Base Camp”
I’m from Pakistan and what I can tell you is that Winter has been -very- mild this year. This may possible aid the climbers in claiming a Winter summit with the weather warm enough to be bearable, yet cold enough to minimize snow avalanche/etc danger.
All the best to the climbers!
Thanks Hasan. Warmer temps will definitely increase their cahces!
Hi Alan! Here we go again. I’m always nervous about K2 climbing. Thanks for the update!
Comments are closed.