In addition to the 4 climbers lost on K2, now there's 2 trapped on Latok 1

[Wonk]

Earlier thread about the K2 tragedy
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1911309

Latok 1

Benegas brothers: A run for their money

“We’re at 18,000 feet, stuck in our tent for about 36 hours,” the Benegas brothers told ExWeb this morning via sat phone. “And now it is becoming a little bit dangerous. There is now over 2 feet of snowfall so we have to go out to clean the tent every few hours, if not, we get pushed off the face. So our morale is really, really, really low right now.”

As of this morning, the Benegas remain stuck. They cannot go up or down due to the avalanche danger. And while moving up is definitely out of the picture right now, the brothers are focusing on getting down. Things looked fairly dark this morning, with a lot of new snow on the ground, but conditions seem to be improving.

According to the twins, Latok is giving them “another run around again.” They hope to be able to tie 3-4 ropes together and do a long rappell to a somewhat safer area tomorrow."

This is the Benegas borthers' 3rd attempt at the north ridge. Check out the twins detailed voice dispatch on their website today: Benegas brothers live dispatches http://www.humanedgetech.com/expedition/nf14/

http://www.mounteverest.net/news.php?id=14107

[Wonk]

1. Remember all the attention David Sharpe and Lincoln Hall got?

I wonder what's the difference? These mountains aren't as famous as Everest is? Sharpe was British, Hall was Australian, but the Benegas brothers are Patagonian?

Here's a much earlier report about their expedition:

http://www.globalgiving.com/news/friends_04-06-16.html

Born in the heart of Patagonia, the Benegas brothers have pursued a long apprenticeship in the mountains. They started on the big walls of Yosemite, the airy summits of South America, and the loftiest peaks of the Himalayas. But despite their many accomplishments, few expeditions have shown the promise of their upcoming attempt at the north ridge of Pakistan's Latok I (7,145m).


Known as the Walker Spur of the Karakoram, Latok I remains one of the world's most well-known unconquered routes. But more than that, the Latok I expedition gives the Benegas brothers the opportunity to give back to the communities surrounding the Walker Spur.

Teamed with GlobalGiving, The North Face has identified social and economic development projects that will yield enormous benefits to Pakistani people in surrounding villages. The North Face plans to donate funding for every foot that the Benegas brothers climb.

more...

[Wonk]

2. Good luck Benegas brothers, as you try to get down to BC today.

Maybe next year the weather will cooperate for a change?