K2 West Face Direct Russian National expedition: news from July, 8-14

14.07.07 Snowfall is going on. The duo Shabalin - Tukhvatullin stay in camp S2, duo Mariev-Popovich did a cargo-climb from С2 in С3 and dug out a tent in camp C3. The group led by Sokolov remains in C4.

13.07.07 Weather deteriorated - the sky is cloudy, it's snowing and windy. Sokolov's group is in С4 periodically digging a tent out from the accumulated between the tent and slope snow brought by powder avalanches. Shabalin's group is climbing from С1 to С2.

12.07.07 Shabalin's group climbed from ABC to С1, Totmyanin's group descended to BC for rest, Sokolov's group made two pitches more.

11.07.07 Shabalin's group ascended from BC in ABC. Sokolov's group reached С4. Totmyanin's group made three pitches and descended to spend the night in С2.

10.07.07 Sokolov's group climbed from С2 to С3, then a two-man team Sokolov-Gorelik descended and made a cargo-climb C2-C3. Totmyanin's group moved C4 six pitches up and fixed one rope more. Volodin has a sore throat and went downwards.

09.07.07 Weather is excellent. Sokolov's group climbed from ABC to С2. Totmyanin's group made three pitches and prepared a site for the next setting of C4.

08.07.07 All the night long and day long it was snowing. Bolotov's group descended to BC for rest. Sokolov's group remained in ABC. Totmyanin's group works above С4, but because of heavy powder avalanches managed to do only a carry-climb up to the end of fixed ropes.