KOREAN K-2 EXPEDITION LEADER KIM WI-YEONG
Hwang Ki-Yong scales K-2
AUGUST12-2000
By
Asem Mustafa Awan
ISLAMABAD
— Seven member Korean expedition from Taegu Branch of Corean Alpine Club
returned after successfully putting one climber on the summit of K-2 on
July 30 at 11:14 am from the South East Aburuzzi Ridge.
Of
the eight expeditions attempting K-2 the Taegu team was the first to
establish the route on K-2 from Advance Base Camp 5500 metres to Shoulder
at 7900 metres.
Thirty-one
year old Hwang Ki-Yong reached the summit first on July 30 using oxygen
followed by Yamanoi of Japan, and four members of the American
international expedition Chris Shaw, Andy Evans Andy Collins and Billy.
Forty
five year old Kim Wi-Yeong lead the team and was very happy that the team
made the summit on its own prowess starting from scratch and making the
summit.
He
said," One of my climbers Lee In-Sik (27) reached 8550 metres but
returned on my call as his oxygen was finished and he was on his first
overseas expedition."
"In
my opinion he made the summit as I called him back and he obeyed my orders
as I feared he will be exhausted after making the summit and he would have
problems getting down."
"It
was the highest Lee has ever been," said Kim adding," Lee
contacted me about his oxygen I told him to get down and he came
down."
"The
team came down in one piece and expedition is a success, I am very happy,
Lee has the virtues
of becoming a great alpinist."
The
expedition took two high altitude porters Muhammad Ali and Muhammad
Ibrahim (both from Machlo) who went the expedition till Camp 4 at 7900
metres and waited for them for two nights as they were making the summit
bid and helped them down to Camp 3 at 7450 metres."
"The
two did a commendable job besides the cook Sadiq who is also from Machlo,"
said Kim adding," One of the high porters developed high altitude
sickness and we gave him oxygen for one and a half hour both Hwang Ki-Yong
and Lee In-Sik applied it from their oxygen bottles and he became OK after
some time."
The
leader said," It was a great experience for all of us and we will
come for Gasherbrum I & II in couple of years."
Lee
Seung-Ik member of the expedition interpreted the entire conversation for
the leader Kim Wi-Yeong.
Other
members of the expedition included Jang Ki-Su (30), Park Jae-Ho (27), Lee
Seung-Ik (40, record) and Kang Jung-Gu (36, photographer).
CAPTION:
Corean Alpine Club expedition leader Kim Wi-Yeong sitting in the center.—Photo by the writer