Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner will only attempt K2 if fit enough

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner has declared that she will only attempt K2 in 2010 if she has the fitness to do it. Climbing a mountain as high as K2 takes its toll even on the fittest and the best mountaineers.

She also said that she would be back to K2 after her filed attempt last year. She made it to past the Bottleneck before turning back because of the deep snow last year.

She needs only 2 more mountains to complete all 14 8000m mountains. 2 other women are competing with her to be the first woman to climb all 14 8000m mountains.

Austrian Times

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner may face permit problems climbing Everest

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner may face difficulties getting a permit from the Chinese authorities this year. She wants to climb Everest in late April early May. At the moment her plans are to climb Everest on the Northern side. This is on the Chinese side of the border.

However, China has recently had a crackdown on westerners entering Tibet, from where she would have to go if she is to climb Everest.

This attempt, if it is to go ahead, will happen without oxygen. Her husband will join her on this climb.

Alison Hargreaves son to climb K2

The son of Alison Hargreaves will attempt to climb K2 by himself. He has been training for some time preparing for the second highest mountain in thew world.

He has been climbing seen a young child. Despite the fact that his mother died while attempting K2, it does not prey on his mind about the dangers of the mountain.

Last year his family moved to Switzerland. They did this so that he could pursue his mountaineering. The skills that he has learnt there will be put to the test on K2.

The British climber Alison Hargreaves died while climbing K2 in 1995. A fierce storm took her life and others who were trying for the summit. She most likely made the summit and on the descent the storm struck with a severity that may have blown her off the mountain.

Tom Ballard has visited K2 before. He, along with his dad and sister, made the trip several years ago to see the memorial to his mother.

He will be filming a documentary while he attempts the mountain. He will have a helmet camera and hand held ones to do this.

STV Article