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Italian K2/Everest team nearing departure
13:21 p.m. EST Mar 17, 2004
The whole team, scientists included, had their final organizational meeting just recently. April 7th is the big date for departure. First up is Everest and then a dual North/South side K2 expedition.
The main topic was the training of the climbers to operate the scientific instruments that they’ll be using for the expedition. For K2 they’ll be using a georadar on the summit, "The new georadar - emphasized Giorgio Poretti, in charge of the Geodesy sector - is a technological jewel. Its weight was successfully reduced to 4 kg against the 30 kg initial weight." The climbers are probably especially thankful for this.
The georadar will penetrate the snow down to the rock of K2, measuring the snow pack at the top. This is essential information to have in determining the true height of the mountain (snow accumulation doesn’t count).
The team will also be measuring air quality on both sides of K2 at different levels. You would think that in such a remote location, air pollution is a non-factor. The Italians and probably more think otherwise, and we’ll soon see just how bad or good it is.
This large, ambitious Italian expedition is sending a 19-member team to scale Everest’s north side this spring then two large teams to scale K2 from each side in commemoration the 50th anniversary of K2’s first ascent (by Italy).
Image of the team courtesy of Montagna.org
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