Brief Update, 24 August 2011 – 10am local time – Team still descending

At midnight last night, Gerlinde, and a little later also Darek, reached Camp IV at 8,000m. Vassily and Maxut stayed the night at their bivouac at 8,300m, from where they left at 7am. They have now almost reached Camp IV.

Today, they are planning to descend to Camp I at 5,300m, where they will spend one last night at the foot of the North Pillar before they will go down to our deposit camp tomorrow. I am planning to go up and meet them there.

From there, it will probably take another three hours to carry our heavy gear across the dry K2 glacier to our base camp, which Tommy and I have almost completely dismantled.

В 10:30 звонил Максут Жумаев своей жене.
Утром в 7:00 Максут Жумаев и Василий Пивцов выдвинулись с места ночевки на высоте 8300 м. в сторону 4-го лагеря. В 10:30 успешно добрались до него. Самочувствие у всех нормальное, планируют спуститься сегодня как можно ниже.

All are safe back at the bivouac place of last night. Maxut, Vassiliy and Darek so far couldn´t take the decision wether to stay at the bivouac or descent to camp IV – Gerlinde will do so and she is on her way down to camp IV.

Thank you for keeping fingers crossed for safe descent of the team back down to basecamp

Vassiliy and Gerlinde reached the bivouac-tent. Maxut and Darek little behind. The decision if going to camp IV will be taken as soon as Maxut and Darek will reach bivouac-tent

** 5th Update 8:30pm local time – Team on Descent!

Ralf has just reported from base camp that he could see the four lights of the climbers at the end of the ramp, just above the Japanese Couloirs.