Australian Hiker

298-K2 Base Camp Trek

Show notes

For many hikers, a key bucket list hike has been trekking to the Everest Base Camp. However, this trek, along with the world’s tallest mountain has become less unique and more pedestrian. Recently I was contacted by hikers Simon and Cheryl Staddon who undertook the K2 Basecamp Trek, something that I wasn’t even aware was a thing and something that I was keen to find out more about.

Podcast overview

Introduction to Australian Hiker and todays podcast
- Podcast and Episode introduction (time index 0:01:33)
- Before we discuss your trip, please give us a brief introduction to yourself. (time index 0:02:03)
  - Your general background
  - Involvement in the hiking
- How did you decide to do this trek? (time index 0:04:25)
  - Why this trek?
  - Who was the instigator?
  - Different from Everest base camp?
- Was there any special training that you needed to do to prepare for this trip? (time index 0:12:42)
- Was there any special gear that you needed or was it standard hiking gear? (time index 0:16:38)
  - Boots versus trail runners?
  - Snow gear?
  - Did you carry a day pack and did porters manage things like tents sleeping bags etc?

- Now let’s talk about the trip logistics (time index 0:22:27)
  - From start to finish how did the trip work?
    - Flights onwards
  - Was this an organised trip or self-organised
  - Talk us through the travel to Pakistan, was it complex?
  - Travel to the trek start – how did this go?
  - The return – how long was the trip all up?
  - 60 porters for 13 people
- What did a typical day on-trail look like? (time index 0:33:34)
  - Describe a typical day from start to finish
    - Bed tea then breakfast
    - Packing
    - On trail by around 7:30am
    - Average day around 6-7 hours
    - Settle into camp resting
    - Dinner then often in bed and asleep by 8:00pm
- What was the landscape like? (time index 00:41:00)
  - The mountain scenery?
  - The trail tread?
  - Any animal or bird life?
    - Marmots
    - Birds
    - Sheep
    - ‘One way goats’
- What were the trip highlights? (time index 0:44:46)
  - The camaraderie
  - The scenery
  - Sense of achievement
- What were the challenges? (time index 0:50:14)
  - Any issues with Altitude Sickness?
  - What was the highest altitude?
    - 5,600meters approxiamtely
  - Other challenges?
    - Remoteness
    - Toilets
    - No internet
    - No alcohol
- What advice would you give others who are looking to do this trip? (time index 0:54:56)
  - Go with the flow
  - Build your fitness
- What’s your next great adventure? (time index 0:59:04)
Final thoughts Gill and Tim (time index 1:01:08)
Close (time index 1:13:47)

Cheryl and Simon on the K2 Basecamp Trek (images by Simon and Cheryl Staddon)

Simon and Cheryl having a cuppa. This is also taken from Concordia with ‘triangular’ K2 directly in the middle with the top of the mountain in the cloud (as it always was) (images by Simon and Cheryl Staddon)

Campsite at Concordia on the K2 Basecamp Trek (images by Simon and Cheryl Staddon)

K2 Basecamp Trek Elevation change (images provided by Simon and Cheryl Staddon)

K2 Basecamp Trek Elevation change 2 (images provided by Simon and Cheryl Staddon)

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