K2 Base Camp & Kharut Pyramid Expedition July '16

Expedition: K2 Base Camp & Kharut Pyramid Expedition
Leader: Mark Scales

17th August
The team are now back in Islamabad and just have time for a last meal together to celebrate their trip before catching their international flights home.

10th August
The weather has unfortunately closed in overnight and the team  are unable to travel over the Gondogoro La.  They will head out now via Concordia.

9th August
The team are now at Concordia, Nigel, Tom & Sophie are planning to head back via the Baltoro Glacier with the assistant trekking guide and assistant cook. The rest of the team will trek to Ali Camp tomorrow and then go over the Gondogoro La early on Thursday morning. Mark said the return journey across the glacier from Kharut advanced camp to K2 base camp was quite challenging because the weather had closed in. Similarly the weather made their departure from base camp quite subdued, but then the clouds lifted and dispersed and the teams spirits were lifted once again with the stunning mountain vistas that only the Karakorum has to offer.

7th August
The team set off at midnight with crystal clear night skies. The lower section of the climb was mainly snowy slopes, whereas the upper section to the col was ice. The steepest sections were up to 45 degrees and conditions presented no problems for the team. From the col the route turns into mixed climbing and they got to within 30 yards of the height of the true summit but a couple of very loose gendarmes blocked their way and the decision was made to turn around at this point since is was too risky to try and pass them. Happy with their success the team are now resting in the advance camp and will head back to base camp early tomorrow. Tuesday the whole team will trek down to Concordia and on Wednesday trek to Ali Camp at the foot of the Gondogoro La.

6th August
Mark called this morning to say the team climbing Kharut Pyramid are now at their advance camp. Peter & Nigel have opted to stay at base camp with the trekking team. The Kharut Pyramid team will set out in the early hours of tomorrow morning for their summit bid. They plan to climb a more direct route to the second col due to the minimal amounts of snow at the moment. The team at base camp went part way across the glacier to the advance camp yesterday and went to visit the Gilkey memorial today. All the clients agree that photographs of this area cannot compare to the beauty and dramatic scenery of real life in the heart of the Karakorum.

1st August
Mark phoned today, the lost kit bag has been located and all sorted. The team are chilling today, catching up on their washing. Over the last few days they have had a rest day at Piau and then an acclimatisation walk to Piau base camp with great views! Time has been spent organising kit and checking to make sure crampons fit and jumars and lanyards are ready for the next stage of the expeditions.

The walk from Paiju to Khoburste was a longer day with the glacier being in poor condition, so a few more ups and downs were encountered. That said everyone had a good day and amazing views of Trango towers.

Khoburste to Urdukas was an easier day with fantastic views of Mustagh Tower, Broad Peak and G4.
The weather has been good ; a little bit cloudy late afternoon with a stronger wind blowing up the glacier, but clearing to reveal starry nights!

29th July
Mark and the team are now at Paiju. The joys of adventure travel has carried on with a sad event of a mule being washed away crossing a stream taking one of the clients kit bags away with it never to be seen again. Not a show stopping event luckily. More kit, sleeping bag and boots already sourced and being brought on a day behind. Good work by Stu and our agent in Pakistan!

27th July
We had an interesting journey to Askole with a landslide cutting off the road before we got there. Lots of passing bags over to jeeps on the other side of the landslip got us back onto our way.

It’s been a very hot day today with rain helping to keep temperatures down a little.

In Skardu we had a rest day which was very relaxing with some sightseeing going up to the fort. Trekking to Base Camp tomorrow and heading to Jhole.

26th July
The team are now at Skardu feeling fine and making preparations to depart to Askole.

23rd July
Our team depart UK, arriving Islamabad the next day and transfer to the hotel for a few hours’ sleep. After an early breakfast they will return to the airport for the flight to Skardu, which usually departs mid-morning. Given good weather this is perhaps the most spectacular commercial flight in the world, with magnificent views of Nanga Parbat the ninth highest mountain in the world. The flight however will not operate in poor weather, and you must be prepared for a wait in Islamabad of the flight is cancelled.

Gallery