.

2008 K2 and Broad Peak Expedition

Dispatch Seventeen: June 15th, 2008

Day Seventeen: Paiju to Urdukas

Today, we woke up at 4:30am, had a quick breakfast, and got on our way on the longest day of the trek to K2 Base Camp. The day normally takes 8 hours but I managed to make it in 6; something I did in order to avoid the heat of the day. The other climbers all came in within another hour, however, our liaison officer was feeling quite ill due to the altitude, and took 4 more hours. He arrived with a headache, fever, and no energy. He wisely decided to stay at the army base just below Urdukas until his condition improved. The Italians and I went bouldering on one of the large stones quite close to camp; something that sounds a lot easier than it really is at this altitude. Afterwards, we chatted over some Italian cheese and coffee, and then parted ways for dinner. We returned for some small talk afterwards, and soon after, went to bed. Tomorrow, we plan on going to Goro II and the next, wholly due to the porters, Broad Peak base camp; a short hour short of K2 Base Camp.