Mountaineers intend to reach the K2 summit for the first time in winters

Mountaineers to summit K2 in winters

A 16-member expedition team lead by Viktor Kozlov will attempt to climb K2 in winters. If this epic adventure is successful, it would be the first ever summit by any team on K2 in winter. The mountain has a history of killing one out of four climbers under normal weather conditions.

Earlier two expeditions to climb the mountain in winters have failed while In 2010, an expedition involving three climbers from Italy and Russia successfully reached the summit of Gasherbrum II during the winter season.

The team, a blend of engineers, scientists, guides and experienced mountaineers, is considered to be the toughest team in the mountaineering world and has a list of achievements. 

This Russian K2 Winter expedition will start on December 24 and the team will attempt this particular climb without oxygen tanks on December 24. The expedition team is here for three months and will attempt to climb in two months and 15 days.

“The team always attempts the hardest, never climbed and straight routes on the world`s highest peaks,” said Viktor Kozlov during a departure ceremony at the Sports Complex on Tuesday.

“We are expecting 25 to 30 degree below Celsius temperature at the base camp. Weather is predictable there in normal days but unstable towards the end of December and January. Wherever we find a window we will attempt to reach the summit,” said Vitaliy Gorelik.