The season has ended and news from Base camp is that nobody has reached the summit of K2 this climbing season. Spaniard, Jorge Egocheaga claimed to be the only exception. In marginal weather, he reckons he topped out at 7.30am on the 19th of July after a solo push from Camp 3. No photo’s have [...]

Just heard news that the only three remaining members of the expedition to K2, attempting to reach the summit this morning, turned back at 8000 meters.  It seems the weather conditions were just not right this season.  Too much snow and too much wind. 

My opinion is that climate change got the better of things. It’s [...]

It’s so good to be home.  Last week I had to dash down to the Cape but managed to catch Jeffrey’s Bay in fine form – the surf was cooking!  I’ve been following the rest of the team on K2 and progress is slow.  4 other members have left for a number of reasons.  The rest of the [...]

Forget the logic that men in Kaftans can’t sprint. Porters Muhammad and Iqbal from Shikar accompanied me from K2 BC to Askole. They are absolute gems.

Now, there are two types of rock fall – 1) Serious and 2) Very serious. Serious rock fall sounds like small machine gun fire and the stones are usually about [...]

High winds and lots of snow have prevented climbing up to Camp 3.  Instead, a few of us went down the glacier to Broad Peak Base Camp.  On the way back, I walked pass the remains of a human torso – decomposed ribs and a spine.  I covered it with rocks.  A few weeks ago [...]

Latest news from Sean is that once again bad weather has moved in.  The team are at Base Camp – it’s a no go up the mountain to Camp 3 this weekend.

SAFM interview with Sean at K2 Base Camp (Sat 11th July)

Michael Abrahanson: I’m talking to Sean Wisedale who joins us on the line now… let [...]

K2’s summit was first reached in 1954.  Since then and after thousands of attempts, only 299 of the finest climbers in history have repeated that.  The odds of success are affected by storms and high winds, snow conditions, rock fall, crevasses, avalanches, physical and mental fatigue, malnutrition and dehydration, hyperthermia and frostbite, high altitude pulmonary [...]

There is obviously no scale here to weigh yourself.  The only weight measurements units available are fingers, fists, rotated fist and hopefully never 2 fists between my waste and the seam of my rods.

After 2 weeks at 5100 meters I’m now at a 5th width – that’s about 4 cm thinner.  What that equates to in [...]

At last we’ve been granted a window of fair weather and have resumed line fixing and camp establishing.  While the rest of the team push up to Camp 2 today, I’m in Base Camp preparing to push up tomorrow. Our program and plan is to haul 200 meters of rope and a tent to the [...]

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 [...]