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5th Report – the International K2 Expedition to the North Pillar of K2

5th Newsletter – International K2 North Pillar Expedition

5th Newsletter – International K2 North Pillar Expedition

When we were still on the mountain about a week ago, Charly had told us that we would have to deal with pretty bad weather for the coming days. With this in mind, we decided get some rest and breath some ‘thicker’ air at our Chinese Base Camp, which the locals call “Sughet Jungal”, at 3,850m. “Sughet Jungal” means virgin forest or jungle with bushes and that is exactly how we remembered it from our first few days of the expedition.

We had left our personal tents as well as the mess and kitchen tents pitched in the middle of these beautiful meadows, bushes and small creeks as we had expected to come back to recharge our batteries down there. After having spent more than four weeks at the rocky and barren Italy Base Camp at the edge of the K2 glacier, it was great to get down.

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4th Report – the International K2 Expedition to the North Pillar of K2

4th Newsletter Int. K2 North Pillar Expedition

4th Newsletter Int. K2 North Pillar Expedition

We spent another five days and four nights at high camps on the mountain. Last night we came back to our advanced base camp, tired but also very content. We left from our advanced base camp on 19th July after a forecast of at least six days of good weather.

Bad weather brought continuous snowfall and heavy fog from our deposit camp onwards, which left us doubting our plans on arrival at Camp I. The climb across the glacier — with lots of crevasses and several falls (no injuries) — didn’t make it any easier for us. Over night the sky cleared and so we started on 20th July at 5:30 am.

 

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2nd Report – Int. K2 expedition to the North Pillar of K2 | Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner & Ralf Dujmovits

 

The red dots show our route and what we are up to 7 July cameBild 21 von 21

The red dots show our route and what we are up to 7 July cameBild 21 von 21

2nd Newsletter of the International K2 Expedition to the North Pillar of K2

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner & Ralf Dujmovits

On Friday afternoon, 08th July, After four exciting, beautiful but also exhausting days, we returned to our advanced base camp (ABC) at the lower part of the K2 north pillar on Friday afternoon (8th July). We are now planning to rest at this camp, which is also called ‘Italy Base Camp’ (4,650m), for a few days and are hoping to get a break in this extremely changeable weather here. Since we arrived at the Chinese Base Camp (3,900m), a lot has happened.

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Before we depart for our expedition to K2 | Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner & Ralf Dujmovits

 

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner, Ralf Dujmovits

Dear Friends

I would like to give you a brief update before we depart for our expedition to K2. On Monday, we were finally able to send our cargo, which was a lot more than usual, as we do not have any stored gear in China.

When I wrote my last newsletter, it was not certain whether our friends from Kazakhstan would join us, so I am now even more than happy to tell you that they will be part of our expedition. Our team is now complete.

 

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Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner & Ralf Dujmovits Int. K2 North Pillar Expedition 2011

 

 

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner Ralf Dujmovits Int. K2 North Pillar Expedition 2011 root

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner & Ralf Dujmovits

Int. K2 North Pillar Expedition 2011 root

Dear Friends

Apologies for not having been in touch for such a long time but the last few months were packed with presentations, endurance training and a two-week climbing holiday in Croatia, during which I also had the time to recharge my batteries.

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