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.
July 15th will be wonderful, the best day we've seen since July 3rd. The 16th, of course, is forecasted to be bad.
At lunch today we all discussed plans to get in some exercise tomorrow.
Joby, Inaki and Oscar are going to push as high as they can on the Abruzzi, returning to Base Camp the same day. Henry, Rod and Peta will spend tomorrow night at Camp 1.
If the weather allows, they will push on to Camp 2 on the 16th. Ray is heading straight to Camp 2. Even Simone Moro, who has now joined the team is going to climb high as well and might spend a night at one of the camps.
I'm heading in the opposite direction, to Broad Peak. A handful of our neighbors share my hope that we just might be able to force a route to its summit.
At any rate, the German expedition, with its 20-plus members need to either summit or collect all of their gear (they have tents at 5,800, 6,200 and 6,900 meters). Their porters are coming in a week to take them home, so it is now or never.
A Korean team is also on Broad Peak, with tents established up to Camp 3 (approximately 6,900 meters). Add to those teams Charlie Fowler and Christine Boskoff and all we will need is good weather to force the route upwards.
If the weather allows, I will not be back at K2 base camp for 4-5 days. Wish me luck.