K2 without oxygen in 2008 — Final preparations
K2, called the "killer mountain" because one in 10 who summit perishes.
(Picture by courtesy of Doug Scott)
June 7
The weather has turned and it was raining and cloudy when they arrived at Urdukas. NEA's forecast of rain and sleet for the next few daysis pretty accurate.
July 4
Robert and Edwin, who left for islamabad on June 30, went to Skardu by bus on July 3. Today they set off for Askole, where it was "extremely dusty and hot", Robert reported via satellite phone.
June 2008
Acclimatising to low oxygen
For several weeks Robert and Edwin have been training at the Singapore Sports Counci, breathing low-oxygen air while on the threadmill under the care of SSC exercise physiologist Daniel Plews. Apart from its generous grant to the expedition, SSC offered this specialise training to prepare the climbers for the rarified air at K2.
In mid June, they are also going on a trek to a 4,000m high pass in Nepal to acclimatise to high altitude. With this, they will be even better prepared for their K2 expedition.
Weather forecasts
Another crucial factor in any expedition to a big mountain is the weather. For this, they turned to the Natonal Environment Agency's Meteorological Division. The meteorologists will supply detailed charts on wind speeds and temperatures at different altitudes around the Karakorum region as well as pressure and precipitation readings and five-day weather forecasts.
These will help the mountaineers discern best possible conditions for their acclimatisation climbs on K2 as well as the summit bid.
You can send message to them here.
Training climb to Kwangde Lho (6,187m)
