K2: Kazakhs Taking An Alternate Route


Another update today from K2Climb.net on the progress of Kazakh climbers Maxut Zhumayev and Vassiliy Pivtsov, who are joined by Russian Serguey Bogomolov on their K2 summit bid.

The latest word is that the team is above C4 but have found the upper couloir too full of snow and prone to avalanche, forcing them off the Japanese route first taken to the top back in 1982. This minor inconvenience would mean the end of the road for most climbers, but with these men it just means they’ll need to take an alternate route to the top.

Currently, they are searching for a place to make Camp 5 where they can rest up and prepare for the final assault. They’re hoping to find some place around 8300-8400m where they can pitch their tents, rest, and melt snow for water. If all goes well, they could be making their final summit attempt by early this weekend.

Kraig Becker

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