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The planned ascent
French-Led Independent K2 Expedition
Hugues d’Aubarède (leader)
KarimMeherban
Qudrat Ali
Jehan Baig
Nicholas Rice
Peter Guggemos
Basque Independent Climber (Alpine style)
Alberto Zerain
July 31
st
after 05:30 The Summit Attempt Is Set For August 1st
A weather window opens. On July 31st 2008, a total of 32 climbers assemble at Camp IV to commence their final
ascent of one of the most dangerous mountains on earth – K2. The teams arrange to have an Advance Team pave
the way for the following mass of climbers. It will set off before the rest of the expeditions, leaving on July 31st at
22:00 from Camp IV. The strongest climbers from each team will advance into the Bottleneck, a narrow, 91 metre
vertical passage, and on into the Traverse, a 100 metre section that runs horizontally alongside the foot of a towering
icefall – the Great Serac. They will establish a lifeline of fixed ropes, and bamboo sticks to help orientation through
the Bottleneck and Traverse.
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