>>1444503Explorersweb has fairly regular updates.
>The Russian/Kazakh/Kyrgyz team is progressing fast and strong on K2. Last weekend, they left for Camp 1, planning to reach Camp 2 the next day and fix further ropes above. The men have now reached the House Chimney, an infamous rock section slightly above 6,500m. “It is cold,” they reported. “We’re going to work up tomorrow. Near us, Sherpas are fixing ropes [on a] parallel line.”>Two days ago, Alex Txikon – whose team includes five Sherpa climbers – left Base Camp to explore K2’s East Face. The wall is nightmarish even in summer due to its high exposure. Txikon hoped that conditions could differ in winter, and thus might permit a climb along a different line from the “normal” Abruzzi Spur.>However, all hope vanished when the climbers saw the face up close. “Too risky, too dangerous, impossible,” Txikon declared. They swiftly returned to the Abruzzi route, fixing ropes at considerable speed, within sight of the Russian/Kazakh/Kyrgyz group. “We’re going very well,” Txikon said. “We’ve fixed up to Camp 2 in two days!”>On a darker note, Waldelmar Kowalewski has to abandon the expedition after a chunk of ice struck him on the shoulder. The injured climber was helped back to Base Camp, where he will be evacuated tomorrow. 