Large Avalanche On K2 Destroys Tents, Fixed Lines, and Food/Oxygen Caches | Ends Climbing Season On K2 For Most Climbers
K2 – On Saturday, July 23, 2016 a massive avalanche hit Camp III at approximately 7315 meters (24,000 feet) on K2 in Pakistan. According to AlanArnette.com, the avalanche “destroyed tents, buried fixed ropes and swept way the cache of food and oxygen bottles.” Luckily, all climbers and Sherpas are safe.
The summer climbing season on K2 is short. Most climbers left base camp on July 10 and were waiting for a weather window that was expected on July 24. When the avalanche struck Camp III, over 100 climbers and 25 Sherpas decided to abandon their summit bids for the 2016 season. It appears that they will all retreat to lower elevations and lower camps. Although AlanArnette.com updated his post on this topic to mention that a “few K2 climbers continue to have hope.”
K2 is a 8611 meter peak. It is the world’s second highest mountain. The mountain was first climbed by Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli on July 31, 1954. It is one of the most difficult 8000 meter peaks to summit in the Karakorum Range.
For more information on this avalanche incident and climbing big peaks, please visit AlanArnette.com.
Read more about the avalanche on K2 that struck Camp III from these sources:
