Team Geared Up

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Geared Up Blog) - K2’s west face has finally been climbed been the Russian pairing of Andrew and Vadim with neither using supplementary oxygen. More than 200 people have climbed K2 this season with all previous summits before todays coming on either the Abruzzi spur or the Cesen route. K2’s North and East faces still await a first ascent!

At 6:15 pm, local time the sumiteers have reported safe and sound from C6. Back from the summit, Andrew and Vadim had rested for some time in C7.

Earlier this morning, the Russian climbers on the west face of K2 woke to red storm clouds, poor visibility and 30/50 mph winds. In a 10 am radio call, Shabalin and Tukhvatullin were reported holding in C7 (8400 m), while Mariev and Popovich were out scouting above the camp. Four climbers were holding in C6 at 8150 m after a wrecked attempt to ascend further. The Jannu climbers were meanwhile approaching the high camp 6 as well. Serguey Penzov is still descending, and is now between C1 and ABC. None of the climbers is using supplementary oxygen.

-Eoin O’Driscoll