K2 Mount Godwin-Austen Expedition
“K2 from Concordia” by sjorford
Expedition Details
Altitude: 8,848m
Location: Pakistan- Karakorm range
Estimated Price: $55-70k (Price can be in lower range if combined with Gasherbrum I/II or Broad Peak)
Number of days: 44-65 (highly conditions dependent)
Season: Summer (June-August)
K2 is nicknamed “The King of Mountains” and “The Mountaineers’ Mountain” as well as “The Mountain of Mountains”, a phrase popularized by climber, Reinhold Messner in his book on K2.
A K2 expedition is a multi-month undertaking, typically lasting 50-60 days, beginning with arrival in Islamabad, Pakistan. It involves a flight to Skardu, a jeep drive to the trekking point of Askole, and then the Baltoro Glacier trek to Concordia and finally K2 Base Camp. The core of the expedition is the climbing period to the summit, followed by the return trek to Concordia, Askole, a drive to Skardu, and finally a flight back to Islamabad for departure.
Itinerary
Days 1-2:
Arrive in Islamabad and prepare for the expedition, including gear checks and official briefings.
Days 3-4:
Fly to Skardu and prepare for the trek, which may include rest days for acclimatization and final equipment organization.
Day 5:
Drive by jeep to Askole, the last village before the trek begins to base camp.
Day 6:
Trek from Askole to Jhola.
Day 7:
Trek from Jhola to Paiyu.
Day 8:
Rest day at Paiyu for acclimatization and preparation.
Days 9-11:
Trek across the Baltoro Glacier, passing through Urdukas, Goro II, and reaching Concordia, a hub for Karakoram expeditions.
Days 13-35:
Rotation and Acclimatization where climbers establish higher camps (Camps I, II, and III) and begin acclimatizing to the increasing altitude.
Days 36-43:
Summit Attempt, involving a push from Base Camp to the summit of K2 and back down to Base Camp.
Day 44:
Clean up K2 Base Camp and prepare for the return trek.
45-49:
Trek back down the glacier via Concordia, Goro II, Khuburtze, and finally to Askole.
Day 50:
Drive by jeep from Askole to Skardu.
Day 51:
Fly from Skardu back to Islamabad.
Days 52-53:
A final contingency day or international departure from Islamabad.