K2 2009: American K2 Ski Expedition 2009 Update

Copyright© Billy Pierson

Earlier: Kathmandu was a hectic 3 days.  Got stuff sorted out.  2 weeks notice to organize an expedition is not enough. This has been really stressful and tiring. We flew to Islamabad on the 25th, Skardu on the 27th.
 
Now in Skardu and getting the sat phone and laptop dialed in. There is a young guy here in Skardu, Fida Hussain who is very good with this tech stuff. Repacking so the loads are 25kg each, and most importantly- takin it easy. 
 
The weather is nice, still hot, but bearable.  I met up with Ibrahim Munna yesterday, awesome guy.  He will help out by keeping us fed for the duration of the 2 month trip.  Munna was a great friend and help to us last summer. I'm really stoked to have him around.
 
As I repack the ski bag I can't help but think of the accident last week that killed Michele Fait on the same slopes that I am about to ski down.  It's very sad and unfortunate that these things happen.  It is a serious reality check, thinking back to last summer on Broad Peak when my ski partner took a 500 m fall, I get into a very serious  and focused frame of mind.  I came here to ski this line and I am still excited to get on it, though the ultimate ski descents have the ultimate consequences. 
 
I know how insignificant I am compared to the power of this mountain, What ever this king of mountains tells me, I will obey, if it dosent feel right, I'll back off.  But, I really want to ride this hill, and I'm going to try really hard to send.
 
Tomorrow we will drive to Askole, 8-10 hours of rad jeep trails, rockcrawling, washed out slopes of scree and sand, precipitous drops to raging rivers, a really gnary drive.  We'll stay a night in Askole, decide on which porters to use to carry our gear and food.  I estimate hiring 30 people to carry the loads.  We are a 3 person team (including the cook Munna).
 
The trek to base camp is about 60 miles and will take 6 days with one day of rest.  This trek up the Baltoro is one of the most amazing mountain treks on Earth. Incredible mountain beauty.  Base camp is at 5000m (16,500ft).  From there we start the real fun- climbing K2. Dave

Earlier: This summer American climber and skier, Dave Watson will attempt to ski the S-SE spur of K2 in Pakistan.
 
Dave, a 2-time Everest summiter, is hoping to complete the project he started last summer.  In 2008, he travelled to Pakistan to ski K2, dangerous conditions prevented him from realizing his dream. 
 
Watson acclimatized on Broad Peak and skied from 7600 meters during the only usable weather window of the summer 08' season.  After helping with rescues of climbers on K2 , during that same weather window, Dave and his team remained the only people in base camp for another 4 weeks, hoping for decreased wind speeds on the upper mountain.  The winds never decreased to a safe level and the season ended.
 
Using skis from the Karhu ski company, weighing only 3.4 pounds, he hopes to ski from the summit of the 8611 meter, K2.  Conditions will detirmine if he will attempt to ski the exposed traverse under the serac as well as the top of the bottleneck.

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