K2 news update
Violent storm hits K2. Koreans summit, Kammerlander forced to turn back
30 June 2000    A violent storm engulfed K2 (8611m) on 30 June, creating major problems for those on the mountain. According to Brasilian Waldemar Niclevicz, the storm front arrived early on 29 June while the group of climbers was moving up to Camp 1. It hit them at around 10.00am and made the ascent to Camp 1 extremely difficult. The storm raged throughout the night with high winds, intense snowfalls and visibility reduced to less than 100m. It did not die down the next day.   A second Korean team and one led by the Italian Hans Kammerlander, both climbing along the 'Cesen' route, were above 8000m when the storm hit them. The Koreans used supplementary oxygen to reach the summit at 8.00 am and then struggled to descend to Camp 3 (8050m). Winds of over 100km/h forced Kammerlander to turn back 300 m from the summit.   Weather conditions remain difficult and Base Camp is awaiting news of the teams blocked at 8000m. | |||
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