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oliverka | profile | all galleries >> Mountain Trips >> Mustagh Ata (June/July 2017) >> 8 - Second summit attempt tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

8 - Second summit attempt

Days 18 - 20: As we have no established higher camp, we carry the tent and camp equipment up to camp 3. This is extremely taxing. We have to break all new trail with very sticky skins and a heavy pack. We set up camp at about 22,500ft but our stove is only getting wors at the higher altitude and we manage to only melt one liter of water before we tug in. We decide to delay our summit push by a day to work on the stove, hydrate more, but both tasks are not very successful. When we finally start our summit attempt on the next day we struggle with the cold and nausea and only ascend a few switchbacks in the dark and windy early morning. We descend back to camp and crawl back in our sleeping bags. All drive is gone and we know this was our last attempt. We pack up, and ski from camp to camp with an increasingly heavy pack while we collect all our gear and bring all down to basecamp in one push.
Starting from Camp 2
Starting from Camp 2
Breaking trail with a heavy pack
Breaking trail with a heavy pack
Looking back at camp 2
Looking back at camp 2
High above camp 2
High above camp 2
One of our frequent rests on the way to camp 3
One of our frequent rests on the way to camp 3
Rest in camp 3
Rest in camp 3
Rest in camp 3
Rest in camp 3
Rest in camp 3
Rest in camp 3
Skiing above 22,000ft
Skiing above 22,000ft
Kongur Tagh from high on the mountain
Kongur Tagh from high on the mountain
Skiing above camp 2
Skiing above camp 2
Skiing with a heavy pack
Skiing with a heavy pack
Skiing with a heavy pack
Skiing with a heavy pack
Carrying all gear back to basecamp
Carrying all gear back to basecamp
Carrying all gear back to basecamp
Carrying all gear back to basecamp