K2 – Bad weather & radio interviews (SAFM & 5FM)
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 me tell you a bit about Sean. He’s in Pakistan at the moment and he is climbing K2 which is the toughest, steepest, most challenging of all peaks to climb. He’s putting together a documentary for Supersport entitled “K2 – Mountain of Mountains”. Let’s here from Sean. Sean, welcome to the show, lovely to chat to you.
Sean: Yes, thanks very much, lovely to be in your company this afternoon.
Michael: Now tell us a little bit about your expedition so to speak and what gave you the motivation to do it?
Sean: Well, this is a climb of a very unique mountain. It’s the second highest mountain on earth. K2 is in the Karakoram range…. Although the highest mountain is Everest, K2 is a lot tougher to climb because it’s technical and it’s a very, very remote mountain. It’s prone to a lot of storm activity, deep snow… all the normal things you’d expect on a great mountain except that K2 is super amplified. When I say that, what I mean is that really, among climbers, it is known as the mountain of mountains because it’s a very, very tough mountain to climb, literally because there’s lots of very technical climbing at altitude.
Michael: Now, you mention… I suppose climbing the mountain on its own is tough enough but when you’ve actually got to go and film and put a documentary together, what extra conditions does that impose on you?
Sean: Well, in many ways it really is a lot tougher to climb when you’ve got a whole pile of camera gear ….(satellite signal deteriorates).
Michael: Sean, what a pity, the signal is really not of broadcast standard, we’ll try and see if we can get hold of you again when we can get a clearer line but it’s really not broadcast quality so, Sean thanks so much for that…he’s, as I said in Pakistan. What an assignment to do, as he says – climbing K2 – one of the deadliest peaks in the world, with camera equipment. It’s really, really a tough climb for him. He’s in fact the first South African to climb and film the Seven Summits, more recently, this lensmen has guided groups to the summits of Mt Aconcagua, Mt Kenya and 9 summits of Kili – so he’s done it all. Hopefully we can get hold of him a little later on in the show but it doesn’t sound like the line quality is too good as to be expected – he is not in the most accessible place in the world.
(If Sean’s at Base Camp, another SAFM interview is scheduled to take place next Saturday afternoon – 18th July – during sports hour with Michael).
Radio 5FM interview with Sean at K2 Base Camp (Fri 10th July)
Sias du Plessis: Sean Wisedale currently climbing one of the most dangerous mountains, K2 in Pakistan, Sean good morning to you – what do you see in front of you and where exactly are you on the mountain?
Sean: I’m at Base Camp at the moment, I walked up the glacier to try and get some signal so right now I am sitting here in the snow and the breeze freezing off my macadamias.
Sias: Why K2, I mean, one of the most dangerous mountains in the world?
Sean: Well, for me really I’m out here to make a film and basically to climb the second highest mountain on earth, after climbing the Seven Summits. This is a progression for me and I’m out here with a very strong team of climbers and we’re making good progress in between the spells of bad weather…we’re in one at the moment. We’ve moved up to Camp 2 and we’re in the process of getting ready to leave tomorrow to try to establish Camp 3.
Sias: And when do you expect to summit K2?
Sean: Day by day, you know, we’re not running ahead of ourselves… we’re hoping for a weather window sometime between 26th July and 3rd August.
Sias: Well, good luck to you Sean.
Personally guided treks & expeditions with Sean: Mt Kilimanjaro, Mt Everest Base Camp, Mt Aconcagua, Mt Elbrus and Mt Kenya. www.seanwisedale.com / katherine@seanwisedale.com
Motivational Speaker: Sean has delivered hundreds of inspiring and motivating talks to many organizations. His multi-media presentation is about reaching the summit of Mt Everest. To book Sean for a talk, contact katherine@seanwisedale.com
Tags: Filming, K2, Mt Aconcagua, Mt Everest Base Camp, Mt Kilimanjaro, Sean Wisedale
Wow Sean this is radical – did not realise the magnitude when you told me you were going to do K2! Look after yourself and come back safely after kicking that overgrown piece of rock’s ass! Our prayers are with you.
Hey Sean! I was sitting down at DUC in an uncomfortable wind yesterday, and it had me thinking of you and the conditions that you are facing! Not only that – but what Kathrine must be enduring right now – waiting! It gave a huge amount of food for thought and for a while I was locked away in my own world – trying to imagine yours! Being in touch like this is just amazing! Thank you for sharing it all with the world! Hang in there and quietly wait! Your window will come and with it the sunshine! Be brave to both of you! Much love!