** 4th Update – The whole team reaches the summit!

Maxut, Vassiliy and Darek have also reached the top of K2 and were able to share the summit success with Gerlinde. The four of them are now on their way down.

Gerlinde is over the moon and can't believe how lucky they were to reach the summit TOGETHER in this fantastic weather, despite the difficult conditions during the ascent.

Gerlinde told Ralf on the radio that she would like to thank everyone, who was with her in their thoughts and kept their fingers crossed for her climb. She would also like to thank everyone for their mental support, which she could clearly feel and literally carried her to the summit.

However, despite this amazing achievement, we all know that the team still has to reach their camp safely and we wish them all the best for their descent.

Warm Regards
Gerlinde's and Ralf's Home Team

Международная экспедиция с участием казахстанцев Василия Пивцова и Максута Жумаева совершила восхождение на К2. Об этом рассказала жена Жумаева Ольга, которая получила от мужа SMS-сообщение с вершины Чогори. Ее слова также подтверждает немецкий спортсмен Ральф Дюймовец, который наблюдает за восхождением в подзорную трубу из базового лагеря.

Таким образом, несмотря на тяжелейшие погодные условия (25-градусный мороз и глубокий снег), альпинисты смогли благополучно подняться на высоту 8611 метров. Теперь в активе Максута Жумаева, Василия Пивцова и представительницы Австрии Герлинды Кальтенбруннер - все 14 мировых восьмитысячников. Стоит отметить, что в отличие от большинства альпинистов, участники этой экспедиции не пользовались кислородными масками.

2nd Update - 4:15pm local time

I was able to speak to Gerlinde over the radio at 3pm. They had just arrived at the ramp, which leads from the Japanese Couloirs to the summit ridge and progress was very slow due to the deep snow. At one point we could see from base camp how the four climbers were going in three different directions to break trail, however, all of them had to start from scratch as the snow was just too deep.

It is now 4pm and the two climbers who are breaking trail (I cannot tell who) are making much better progress and have almost reached the top of the ramp, which means they are almost at the summit ridge. The summit ridge is a rather wide slope that, according to the German Aerospace Centre, ends up in a basin which leads to the final slope.

Quite a lot of time has past but there is still not a cloud in the sky and as far as I can see from down here, the weather is still relatively calm.

Lets keep our fingers crossed! On behalf of Gerlinde, I would like to thank everyone, who is with the team in thoughts and has sent their best wishes - it gives a lot of strength and support, which is still necessary.

Many thanks and warm regards from base camp
Ralf Dujmovits

Radio call local time 4:35pm - Local time

Gerlinde and Vassily have just reached the summit ridge and Maxut and Darek are close behind.

Экспедиция клуба "7 вершин": К-2 - вершина.

Int. K2 North Pillar Expedition
2. Update - 16:15 Ortszeit

Um kurz nach 15:00 Uhr konnte ich zuletzt mit Gerlinde funken. Am Ende einer Phase des Aufstieges, wo auch auf der Rampe, die aus dem Japaner Couloir schräg hinauf zum Gipfelgrat führt nicht viel voranging.

Tiefer Schnee macht das Vorankommen fast unmöglich. An einer Stelle konnten wir von hier unten aus dem Basislager beobachten, wie die Vier in drei verschiedenen Richtungen ansetzten zu spuren, jeweils jedoch wieder wegen tiefen Schnee neu ansetzten mussten.