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K2 – Continuous snow & ECR interview

Written By: sean on July 4, 2009 3 Comments

 

 NB. update 13 May 2010…for any K2 or Karakoram climbers in the 2010 season I have three new cylinders of Poisk oxygen in Skardu that are for sale email Sean on venture@hot.co.za 

We’ve been in Base Camp for 6 continuous days and most likely for another 3 days.  The weather is super unstable with lots of snow…I’ve already seen 5 avalanches sweep across the mountains this morning.  Every so often the elusive summit of K2 is clear enough to have a gasp and good look at.  I doubt there is a more extreme or more intimidating lump of flaky rock.  The route to the shoulder at 8000 meters is desperate.  What lies above the shoulder and upwards is unimaginable.  Here at Base Camp at 5100 meters, there are no insects, no plants, no ringing phones, no doorbells, no running water, no fast-food, no television, no bills to pay, no traffic fines, there’s no exercise at the moment, there’s no pressure, there’s no surf, there’re no dogs, there’s no family and I guess to many, this makes absolutely no sense.  But one thing that we do have is determination and discipline. 

What is amazing is that none of us have caught any respiratory infections or other malaise and I guess you could put that down to everybody’s experience on other mountains. You cover your mouth and nose because the air is so dry and you sanitise your hands regularly and its certainly working.  There are definitely no opportunities here for swine flu – touch wood.

Still, the team are super amped and determined, and we are all willing.  We have such a strong crew.  So why do we do this?  The reason why we do this is to try and overcome these sorts of challenges because we love to celebrate success.  And we are challenged everyday.  Yesterday morning, we were set to leave at 5am to establish Camp 2 but the snow was falling again. It’s so difficult to be patient when we have a job to get the fixed lines up to Camp 3.  One thing we do have in Base Camp now is Russian bottled oxygen.  It arrived yesterday.  Well done Dave Hancock and the FTA team.  The most action we had yesterday is when Fabrice lobbed a snowball against the side of my tent.  My heart rate jumped from 45 to 90.  No matter where you go, you’ll always find a reprobate. 

The Ecuadorian expedition (Spanish) have moved over to the Abruzzi route now leaving less pressure on camp space, wear and tear on the fixed lines and anchors on the Cesen route.

Some other news is that yesterday my good mate and legendary waterman Julian Taylor swam 20 unprotected, shark infested kilometres in the open ocean to raise funds for the Danganya Primary school on Durban’s south coast.  Well done Jules – makes K2 a joke!

Please remember to preserve our mountains, oceans and recreational facilities.  And save Vetche’s reef from unscrupulous developers.

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East Coast Radio interview with Sean this am (full interview on ecr.co.za): 

Dave Guselli: If you don’t know who Sean Wisedale is, you soon will.  You’ll find this on our web page by the way at www.ecr.co.za…  The 43 year old is flying the East Coast flag very high.  He’s attempting to become the first South African to climb the second highest mountain in the world and Anisa Ussuph caught up with Sean some 6000m up K2 in Pakistan.

Anisa:  When you chat to Sean Wisedale, he seems like just a regular guy but this east coaster has done some extraordinary things.  For one, he is a member of the prestigious 7 Summits club, the first South African member in fact and that means he’s climbed all seven highest peaks on seven continents.  Now Sean is tackling what many regard as the deadliest of them all – K2 in Pakistan, the second highest peak in the world.  I caught up with Sean some 6000m up K2…

Sean: How’s Durban?

Anisa: O, it’s fantastic, absolutely sunny…warm but you’re obviously not feeling that are you?

Sean: No, it’s pretty chilled… pretty cold at the moment.  I’m sitting outside on the rocks… it’s the afternoon here so it’s really getting a bit chilly.

Anisa: Where exactly are you?

Sean: I’m at the base camp of K2 – it’s the second highest mountain in the world.  It’s in Pakistan, up in the north-eastern corner, in the Karakoram, on the China and Pakistan border. 

Anisa: Sean says mountaineering is part of his identity and so is film-making and he’s hoping to make a film about what it’s like to climb what’s regarded as the world’s deadliest mountain.  I asked him to describe the scene for us.  What could he see?

Sean: Ok, let me describe it to you…right now the weather has deteriorated this afternoon.  On the left hand side as I’m looking towards the east is the huge…aahhh… how could I say it… the omnipotent K2.  It’s shrouded in cloud right now… it’s a very, very steep, rock and snow encrusted pinnacle…an unbelievable wilderness.  It is one of the most incredible places to be.  It’s so powerful, there are these pinnacles and peaks… it’s far more attractive than the Himalayas. 

Anisa:  Sean, what will you do when you reach the top of K2?

Sean: I’m going to raise the South African flag and say please save Vetche’s Pier and Reef from development.

Anisa: What are you missing the most about home?

Sean: I’m missing the surf, I’m missing surf skiing, I’m missing the world in general, I’m missing my Katherine, I’m missing my mates… just missing Durban in general.

Anisa: What’s it like on the slopes of the world’s deadliest mountain, when’s Sean expected to reach the summit of K2 and how are his nerves holding up, for all that and more check out the buzz via www.ecr.co.za 

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Guided treks & expeditions with Sean: Mt Kilimanjaro, Mt Everest Base Camp, Mt Aconcagua, Mt Elbrus and Mt Kenya.  www.seanwisedale.com / katherine@seanwisedale.com

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3 Responses to “K2 – Continuous snow & ECR interview”

  1. Mark Taylor says on: 6 July 2009 at 1:07 pm

    Sean, go for it, but stay safe! Best, Mark

  2. Chris says on: 6 July 2009 at 5:01 pm

    Sorry I missed the chat on ECR but the blog certaily gives us a real insight into what is going on. Fantastic work keep it up – Chris and the Chakarinet team

  3. Magda Timms says on: 6 July 2009 at 9:53 pm

    Jeay! Bottled oxygen has arrived. Things can only get better from here. You are doing very well! Keep it up!

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