K2 2004 ITALY HOME BASE: A PYRAMID AT THE FEET of K2: Italian expedition Everest/K2 2004 expedition

K2 2004 - 50 years later

ITALY HOME BASE: A PYRAMID AT THE FEET of K2.

We have completed the set-up of CAMP ITALY.  The structure will contain a meeting room; the infirmary; and a press office.  At base camp, the second group of porters arrived today.  Tomorrow we are expecting the arrival of 300 more porters

Wednesday, June 2, K2 Base Camp:

We awakened under a “light snow” which has deposited about 10 cm. of snow on the ground. At breakfast we begin to talk about all the tasks that await us: the set-up of the rectangular structure which upholds CAMP ITALY. 

Mauri

Thursday, June 3, K2 Base Camp:

A gorgeous day! The rectangular pyramidal structure of CAMP ITALY is finished.  It is an artistic set-up.  We had a bit of trouble adapting the “design” to reality, but with good manners, and a lot of stubbornness, we succeeded.  What satisfaction!

Some analogies come to mind:

-          We have positioned CAMP ITALY in the same spot as Italian Base Camp was set up in 1954. 

-          The corner of CAMP ITALY is parallel to the Abruzzi Spur.

-          The pyramid we had at Everest is at the same level as this one (5000 m.)

-          The pumori behind the pyramid is like K2 behind CAMP ITALY.

-          From the edge of CAMP ITALY one can see the Concordia and the K2 Memorial.

A memory of Ardito Desio comes to mind. With him I came here alone to Pakistan about 10 years ago. I passed many unforgettable hours listening to his stories of adventure in the Karakorum.  That need of his to always see what was around the next bend. His true spirit of adventure has been for me the draw that today brings me here.

The porters of the second group have now arrived: only 70 of them, perhaps the rest slowed down by bad weather. The rest of the 300 are expected by tomorrow.

We looked over the tons of equipment that we have brought this time, and find that they coincide with what was brought in 1954!

Ciao, Mauri

Meanwhile, at Everest and K2 – Arrivals and Departures!

Yesterday at the Milan, Italy Malpensa airport the climbers and researchers who took part in the Everest adventure, returned home. Meanwhile, on the same plane, the members of the second K2 team departed for Kathmandu. 

There was only a small delay in retrieving the baggage of the climbers and researchers who returned with great success in both the scientific and sporting sectors of this expedition, but it prevented the hugs and good wishes between those arriving and those departing.

This morning, in arrival from DOHA was the entire team who succeeded in the scientific and sporting climb of Mt. Everest which will provide new measurements of the highest mountain in the world. 

With the same plane, the second group heading to K2 departed.  (North and South Face) On May 19th the first group departed from Italy and arrived, just yesterday, at K2 base camp to set up the maxi tent – CAMP ITALY, which will soon welcome all the climbers who have just departed.  

There was palpable emotion when the families of the climbers and researchers were finally allowed (by customs and regulations) to hug one another.

With just enough  time to reorganize the baggage and equipment and to have a brief vacation, this same group will begin to depart again (on June 16th) for Asia to rejoin the first and second teams who have already departed to begin the 50th anniversary memorial climb of the first conquest of K2 – an all Italian expedition.

 

Altitech2: Digital Altimeter, Barometer, Compass and Thermometer. Time/Date/Alarms. Chronograph with 24 hour working range. Timer with stop, repeat and up function. Rotating Bezel. Leveling bubble. Carabiner latch. E.L. 3 second backlight. Water resistant. 4" x 2-1/4" x 3/4" 2 oz. Requires 1 CR2032 battery. See more here.

  Altitude pre-
   acclimatization

   Ascenders

   Atlas snowshoes

   Black Diamond

   Botas

   Brunton

   Carabiners

   CaVa Climbing Shoes
   Clearance

   Clif Bar

   CMI

   Crampons

   Edelweiss ropes
   Eureka Tents

   Featured

   FoxRiver

   Garmin

   Granite Gear

   Harnesses
   Headlamps
   Helmets

   HighGear
   Ice Axes

   Kavu Eyewear

   Katadyn

   Kong

   Lekisport

   Lowepro

   Motorola

   Nalgene

   New England Ropes

   Nikwax

   Omega

   Outdoor Designs

   Pelican

   PowerBar

   Princeton Tec

   Prescription Glacier

   Glasses

   Primus

   Rope Bags

   Seattle Sports

   Serius
   Sleeping Bags

   Stubai

   Suunto

   Tents

   Trekking Poles
   Ushba
   and more here