GII Dispatch #5 – The long way down (part 2)
Getting up is only half-way, so watch part 2 to see the eventful and emotional descent of GII in Karakorum.
GII Dispatch #4 – The way up to the summit (part 1)
Amazing journeys always have a start and an end, watch the part 1 of what it took Moro, Urubko and Richards to make history with the over 8000m winter summit of GII in Karakorum
GII Winter Expedition: Celebrations and Emotions at the Summit
istory was made on Februray the 4th, 2011- The first ever Winter ascent over 8000m.
GII Winter Expedition: From Summit Back to Base Camp
“Well… … that day we just got up and we just started moving and you hit that 8,000m ceiling and every step above there gets harder and harder and harder. And being on top, I still don’t believe it happened. You just need time to process those things, but I know that it did, so it feels good.
GII Winter Expedition: SUMMIT REACHED. HISTORY IS MADE
Today February 2nd, 2011 at 11:28 PKT (Pakistan Standard Time)
It is the first over 8,000m to be climbed in Karakorum in the winter Season.
The team is now descending from the top towards Camp 3.
In a Sat Phone call from the top Simone said “It has been very hard, but the three of us feel well”.
GII Winter Expedition: Moro, Urubko & Richards have Reached Camp 3 (6,900m)
Today, Tuesday February 1st 2011, Moro, Urubko and Richards climbed up to 6,900m and established Camp 3. Here they will rest for few hours before leaving at 03.00 am (PKT Pakistan Standard Time) on February 2nd, 2011 for the final push to the GII summit.
GII Winter Expedition: Simone Moro’s SMS from Camp 2 at 6500m
Simone, Cory and Denis are now heading for the summit, they have reached Camp 2 6500m, the only way to stay in touch now is by SMS, stay with us as we stay with them through this adventurous journey.
GII Winter Expedition: Simone, Denis & Cory summit push | Camp 2 reached
“Before reaching the ridge I expect to have to break trail, but in knee-deep snow, not waist-deep like in the past days” says Simone Moro “this would allow us to be quite fast”. “We might aim for the summit directly from Camp 2, it’s about 12-13 hours… but it’s not like summer. The days are very short, the sun goes down early. I believe the best tactic is to move higher, set up Camp 3 and from there, at midnight, leave for the summit.” “Then it’s going to take us two days to climb back down to Base Camp, and the weather is not expected to be as good.”
GII Winter Expedition: Getting ready for the final summit push
The last night at 6500mt. Ready for the summit (watch the video)
GII Winter Expedition: After another three days of push on the mountain (-46°C)
We just returned to Base Camp after 3 nights and 4 days of hard work on the mountain. Last night was the coldest -46 ° C. We have had great difficulty in reaching the technical field 2. C1 we spent two days, having to set up a bivouac at 6250. Unbelievable, for 250 yards a day! But the difficulties and dangers were high and we had to proceed carefully. Now all the acclimatization phase is over and the next round will be groped for the summit.
