K2: Chris Warner's 2002 expedition

3:33 PM EDT, August 4, 2002

Climbing K2

Leaving K2: How I got home and why I left

Once my decision to leave K2 was made, things happened fast. Seven porters magically appeared in the midst of the blowing snow, enough to take the gear of three of us back to the road head. We said our quick goodbyes and at dawn on July 24th, we shouldered our packs.

10:41 AM EDT, July 23, 2002

Climbing K2

Warner abandons K2 climb

We have decided to end our K2 expedition. The weather is simply not cooperating. We set off for Camp 1 yesterday, only to be turned back by a mini-blizzard - 24 hours later it is still snowing.

4:34 PM EDT, July 21, 2002

Climbing K2

Broad Peak summit proves elusive

On the morning of July 17th, I was planning on heading to Camp 1 on K2, but something about Broad Peak drew me in the opposite direction. I repacked my backpack at dawn, shouldered it and headed off by myself to Camp 1 at 6,200 meters/20,400 feet.

July 16, 2002

Climbing K2

Climbers press on despite weather

The cooks think we are nuts. Yesterday we woke them at 3 a.m. to make us breakfast. Six hours later we straggled back to camp, most of the gang being repulsed by a snow storm on K2, and me wandering in from Broad Peak. The smiling cooks made us a second breakfast.

3:15 PM EDT, July 14, 2002

Climbing K2

Warner persistent about summit attempt

The story of bad weather can be retold, but why bother? A flicker of hope has pierced the gloom, with a fresh email from some Spanish meteorologists.

11:49 AM EDT, June 30, 2002

Climbing K2

Weather on mountain makes things difficult

Despite the falling snow and howling winds, we actually heard the Japanese preparing to and finally setting of for Camp 2. The day before, Inaki had seen their tent at 2 laying in ruins: flapping blue nylon waiving from bent and broken aluminum poles.

June 29, 2002

It's getting crowded at Camp 1

As hoped, the team moved up the hill, just not as planned.

8:57 AM EDT, June 27, 2002

Climbing K2

Base Camp set at K2

On the evening of the 25th, dark clouds rolled up from the south, covering our tents with snow. We awoke to a chaotic weather pattern that lasted until the early morning of the 27th: brief storms shaking the tents, brilliant sunshine sneaking through holes in the clouds, fog rolling up and sliding back down the valley.

June 23, 2002

The K2 Climbing Team

Henry Todd is the Expedition Leader and owner of Himalayan Guides. Henry, from Scotland, has been climbing in the Himalaya for 3 decades. He regularly organizes commercial expeditions to Everest and Lhotse in the Spring and Cho Oyu in the Fall. Henry has summited on Cho Oyu and Broad Peak and has been over 8,000 meters more than anyone can count.

10:02 AM EDT, June 21, 2002

Climbing K2

Journey to K2 base camp

Three of the team, Rod Richardson, Joby Ogwyn and I, all boarded the same flight from New York to Islamabad. Seventeen hours later, we arrived in a very hot and sticky city, and were met by Henry Todd, the expedition leader.

June 18, 2002

K2: Climbing the "Savage Mountain"

Chris Warner, owner of the Earth Treks' Climbing Center and resident of Oella, and an international team of mountaineers are attempting to summit K2 in Pakistan in July.

June 18, 2002

Glossary of climbing terms

Abseil: rappel