Polish Climbers set off for first winter ascent of K2

A group of Polish mountaineers have set off to attempt a possible first ever winter assent of K2, the savage Mountain, at 8,611 meters (28,251 feet) above mean sea level.

While K2 is known for its atrocious weather around it and the difficulty to climb, all successful attempts have been made during the summers mostly in month of July. K2 was first climbed by two Italians on 31 July 1954. More than 70 people have perished in attempting to stand atop the second highest mountain after Mt. Everest. 

The Polish team includes 13 mountaineers led by Krzysztof Wielicki, who in 2003 headed a winter expedition of K2 that was unable to clear the 8,000 meter threshold.

Wielicki told Reuters that his team would begin their ascent on Jan. 8 or 9 and, if successful, expect to return to base camp by mid-March.

Source | Read more about K2

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Would you like to cycle to the South Pole - specially if you are a female?

[ via BBC News Magazine ] 4 Jan

Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton is hoping to become the first person to use a bike to reach the South Pole. She is attempting to travel 500 miles (805km) across Antarctica and will cycle for large parts of it, as well as snowkiting and walking. She hopes to complete the trek for Sport Relief in 20 days.


At this time of year, the average temperature in Antarctica is -25C, but can drop to -50C. Severe coastal winds come from cold air flowing down off the interior ice sheet. Wind speeds can reach up to 125mph (201km/h) and average about 80mph.

Read details about expedition, the woman and her cycle.
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Saudi woman set to conquer Antarctica

[ via Arab News ]

Sahar Al-Shamrani

Sahar Al-Shamrani from the Eastern Province is preparing to be the first Saudi woman to travel to the South Pole, Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper reported Monday.

“The objective of this trip is to contribute in projects to save planet Earth,” she said.

Scientists and environment experts, including British scientist Robert Swan, will accompany Al-Shamrani.

She said she was prompted to take the risk by the words of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah who has always encouraged Saudi women to undertake their role in society.

A woman from the United Arab Emirates, who had taken the trip before, also encouraged her. “I am very concerned with environmental issues and the ecological changes, which started to have their impact on Mother Earth,” she said.

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Siberian Snow Leopards Photographed for the First Time

The Moscow Times 1 Dec

A Russian-Mongolian expedition has captured the first-ever photographs of snow leopards in a remote part of the Altai Mountains. Scientists climbed to altitudes of up to 4,000 meters to post 10 photo-traps on Chikhachyova Ridge, on the Russian-Mongolian border.

Rare Siberian Leopard photograph - photographed for the first time

Two snow leopards were photographed by the motion-sensitive cameras between Oct. 26 and 30. The scientists were accompanied by a German shepherd trained to search for snow leopard traces, including hair and feces. 

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