Plans Second Attempt to Conquer K2 in Wintertime

John Snorri Sigurjónsson at the top of K2.

John Snorri Sigurjónsson at the top of K2. Photo/Kári G. Schram

Vala Hafstað

Icelandic mountaineer John Snorri Sigurjónsson is planning his second attempt to conquer K2 in the wintertime – a feat no one has yet been able to accomplish, mbl.is reports. His first attempt was made in February.

At 8,611 meters (28,251 ft) above sea level, K2 is the world’s second highest mountain, after Mount Everest. It is located on the China-Pakistan border and is the highest point of the Karakoram mountain range.

Snorri was the first Icelander to conquer the peak Lhotse in the Himalayas – the world’s fourth highest mountain. In addition, he is the only Icelander to have conquered K2, considered the most difficult one to climb among the world’s five highest mountains.

K2.

K2.


On his Facebook page, Snorri announced yesterday that he has started his journey for K2 and is on his way to Islamabad.

He has organized the expedition himself and will be accompanied by the most experienced high altitude porters:

“For my logistics I’m working with Aschar Ali Porik the owners of Jasmine tour,” his post reads.
“I will be working with two HAP (high altitude porters) Muhammad Ali Sadpara born in 1976 from Pakistan, who ascended Gasherbrum II in 2006, Nanga Parbat five times (2008, 2009, 2016 - first winter ascent - 2017 and 2019), Gasherbrum I in 2010, Broad Peak Foresummit in 2012, Broad Peak in 2017, K2 in 2018, and Lhotse, Makalu and Manaslu in 2019.
And his son Sajid Ali, he climbed K2 in 2019 and became the youngest conqueror in Pakistan.”

John Snorri Sigurjónsson.

John Snorri Sigurjónsson. Photo/Contributed

All Snorri’s mountaineering equipment is already at the base camp.

Snorri tells mbl.is the plan is to be at the base camp by December 10. That will give them more than a month to set up climbing ropes in the mountain. It is too early to tell, he states, when they could reach their goal. It all depends on the weather in January and February.

Three other groups of mountaineers are planning to attempt to conquer the mountain this winter.

Weather

Clear sky

Today

-2 °C

Partly cloudy

Later today

3 °C

Clear sky

Tomorrow

1 °C