Didn't get much sleep last night, the combination of glacier for flooring and pain in my legs didn't help. The glacier soaks the mattress and cold seeps up your leg until you wake-up turn to the other leg and repeat the process. I did get up around 1 am to take a peak. It was the most incredible sight; half-moon, stars and the silhouette of mountains so clear it seemed unreal. I couldn't stay out for long, the nights are very cold.
The walk to Concordia was absolutely gorgeous; blue sky behind us and fog covering the mountains in the horizon. Sometimes you can catch a glimpse as the fog lifts and as we get closer. Altitude is a factor now, walking uphill is a struggle, so we walk slow and drink water. They say that drinking glacier water is the best way to prevent altitude sickness.
Concordia is the name given to the meeting point of Baltoro and Goodwin-Austin glaciers; also around this area are some of the highest peaks in the world. The base camps to K-2 and three other 8K peaks (Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I & II) are a short hike.
K2 is remote and not visible until you get close to Concordia; when the first survey of this area was conducted in 1856 it appeared that there was no local name for the mountain (probably because it appears shorter then surrounding mountains or maybe because no one bothered to come this far). K2 is considered by many to be the world's most difficult and dangerous to climb, hence the nick name 'Savage Mountain'.
All hiking and climbing groups use this as a stopping point. The mountains around us make there own weather, at times competing with each other; we had light snow for a while, it cleared up and then there was sun for a while. There have been no summits to any of the 8K peaks this year the weather has been variable and unpredictable. So, there are a few expeditions heading back with hopes of returning back next year.
K2 is remote and not visible until you get close to Concordia; when the first survey of this area was conducted in 1856 it appeared that there was no local name for the mountain (probably because it appears shorter then surrounding mountains or maybe because no one bothered to come this far). K2 is considered by many to be the world's most difficult and dangerous to climb, hence the nick name 'Savage Mountain'.
All hiking and climbing groups use this as a stopping point. The mountains around us make there own weather, at times competing with each other; we had light snow for a while, it cleared up and then there was sun for a while. There have been no summits to any of the 8K peaks this year the weather has been variable and unpredictable. So, there are a few expeditions heading back with hopes of returning back next year.
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