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5. Trekking day: Gore II - Concordia, 5.7.01
After three rainy days, we had a sunny day at the right moment because this day is the most spectacular on our way. Passing the Mustagh-Tower and Chogolisa, we went towards the Concordia Place.


Chogolisa

And suddenly one after another appeared between clouds: First, the Gasherbrum IV with its wall-like western flank, which has been climbed only one time, then the Broad Peak with its three peaks and finally the K2. The peak of the latter was still obscured by clouds. But when we arrived at Concordia, the gigantic amphitheatre of mountains, the K2 was seen in its unique beauty and size and our cameras ran hot...


K2

We used the opportunity of this sunny afternoon to take a photograph of our team in front of a breath-taking scenery. The porters, with some of them we already developed a friendly relationship, proudly showed us 'their' K2. Though they come here several times per year, they are still deeply impressed.

Only 2 days are left before arriving at our base camp and we are hot to do the first steps on the mountains. Even our officer of the Pakistani Army, Major Tariq Rehman, is excited. We had to promise to show him how to use ice-axe aclimbing-iron. He normally serves in one of the hottest cities of Pakistan at 40 degrees Celsius and it is already very cold for him. But he does not complain because he is a brave soldier... :-)

But also for us, the time gets closer to change for down-jackets and warm underwear, because its getting colder every meter we ascent. We are on 4600m altitude, only 200m below the maximum height of the Mont Blanc...

On each of the next two days, we will ascent another 300 meters until the base camp at 5200m altitude.

Markus Walter
Concordia place, 5.7.2001 - 18 o'clock local time

Note: The next update will be on Thursday, 12.7.01, because the webmaster has holidays. So, do not wonder.
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If you came here from another site directly, click here, to get all information about the Saxon Karakoram Expedition 2001!!!