Latest news with #basecamp
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
K2 climber killed by rockfall while descending from world's second tallest mountain
A Chinese climber has died after being struck by falling rocks while descending K2 in northern Pakistan, a day after she summited the peak. Authorities are working to recover the body of Guan Jing, who was in her early 40s. K2, in the Karakoram range, is considered one of the world's most perilous climbs due to its steep terrain, unpredictable weather, and rockfall hazards. A Pakistani official told the Associated Press that a team had set off on foot to recover Jing's body on Thursday. Earlier, officials said they were ready to begin the operation but were 'waiting for better weather conditions'. Officials said all fellow climbers who summited K2 the same day were making their way safely back to base camp. Jing died on Tuesday night between Camp I and Advanced Base Camp on the Abruzzi Spur – a common climbing route on K2 – after being struck by falling rocks. Just a day earlier, she had stood on K2's summit alongside fellow climbers. Over 30 mountaineers reached the K2 peak on Monday. K2 rises 8,611 metres (or 28,251 feet) above sea level, making it the world's second-highest peak after Mount Everest, straddling the border between Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region and China's Xinjiang. Jing's death comes just two weeks after German mountaineer and Olympic gold medalist Laura Dahlmeier died attempting another mountain, Laila Peak, in the region. Jing, in her early 40s, was an experienced high-altitude mountaineer who had previously climbed several peaks above 8,000 metres. The Pakistan Alpine Club confirmed her death on Wednesday and said that she had reached the K2 summit on Monday along with others. 'The incident occurred on the Abruzzi Spur route between Camp I and Advanced Base Camp, a section notorious for frequent rockfalls,' the Alpine Club said. In her final Instagram update last week from Camp 2, Jing shared that she had, for the first time, navigated the House's Chimney – a steep, vertical section at 6,600 metres, just above the camp. She wrote on Instagram: 'Arrived K2 camp 2, first time clim (sic) House's Chimney, my backpack block this area, almost consume at all energy! take long rest continue climbing under the way how to save energy, thanks God (houses chimney ) not to long , no matter how hard is, finally we will get to destination!' Last month, a Pakistani climber died in an avalanche near Camp 1 on K2, while Czech mountaineer Klara Kolouchova, believed to be the first woman from her country to summit both Everest and K2, was killed after a fall on Nanga Parbat. Pakistan, home to five of the world's 14 peaks towering above 8,000 metres, sees a surge of climbers each summer between early June and late August.
The Independent
05-08-2025
- The Independent
The pitfalls of volcano trekking in Guatemala – and why travellers still can't resist the pull of nature's mighty fire show
Three days before I'm due to summit Guatemala 's Acatenango volcano, a text pings on my phone. It's from my tour guide: 'Tours are currently cancelled, will update with more information as soon as possible.' Earlier that day, neighbouring volcano Fuego – one of the most active in Central America – had erupted, violently spewing lava, ash and rock, prompting Guatemala authorities to evacuate more than a thousand people from nearby communities. This explained the grey fog that had descended across Antigua, the colonial-era city I was staying in, just 16km from Fuego's slopes. The clear blues skies that once painted a perfect backdrop to the city's famously stunning Spanish Baroque architecture had now turned a heavy charcoal. Before the eruption, my plan had been to hike 3,976m up Acatenango – an active but 'quiet' volcano that hasn't erupted in nearly a century. I'd been warned the trek would be tough: the first day involved 4-5 hours of steady, steep climbing to reach base camp. The next morning, we were to wake well before sunrise and trek another hour or two to the summit, where panoramic views of the still-smoking Fuego typically steal the show. Now, that seemed increasingly unlikely. But if nothing else, the sudden cancellation was a stark reminder of how unpredictable volcano trekking really is. While I had opted for Acatenango, many hikers venture closer to Fuego's infamous 'knife-ridge,' a narrow trail flanked by 500m drops on either side. The eruption had cast a spotlight on the risks that come with such exhilarating adventures. In recent years, volcano tourism has surged in popularity. Adventurous travellers are flocking to hotspots like Iceland, Italy, and Guatemala for a front-row seat to the raw drama of nature. Fuego, in fact, has erupted multiple times in the past few years, including as recently as March and June 2025. Similarly, Italy's Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, has been spewing lava and ash on and off throughout the year. Perhaps most dramatically, Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano roared back to life in March 2021 after lying dormant for over 800 years. In the six months that followed, more than 356,000 visitors came to see the eruption, according to the Icelandic Tourism Board. The pull is undeniable. There's something deeply primal about watching the earth crack open and fire spill forth – an experience that combines awe with a subtle undercurrent of danger. But volcano tourism also carries very real risks. This June, a 26-year-old Brazilian tourist was found dead after falling while hiking near the crater of an active volcano in Indonesia. Efforts were hampered to reach her by the extreme terrain and weather conditions. On 3 June 2018, Fuego erupted catastrophically. Fast-moving currents of hot gas and volcanic matter raced down the mountainside, devastating nearby villages. The official death toll stood at 218, but with thousands more reported missing, many locals believe the true figure is significantly higher. The tragedy prompted an overhaul in safety protocols, said Ox Expeditions, which runs several hiking tours to both Acatenango and Fuego. 'The most tragic thing about the eruption is that with proper warning systems and education many of the deaths could have been avoided,' the organisation said. 'Since the eruption lots of volcano monitoring equipment has been donated and many more studies are being conducted. These are looking at how to improve warning systems and educate the local people living in high risk areas so as to reduce loss of life in future eruptions.' Despite the risks, for many visitors the chance to climb an active volcano is too compelling to pass up. Chloe Steuer, a backpacker from the UK travelling across Guatemala, described her hike up Acatenango as one of the highlights of her trip. 'Everyone in town was talking about it,' she told me. 'I was excited to get into nature and see something as incredible as an active volcano.' Chloe had debated whether to join the hike at all, having heard that Fuego had been quiet for weeks. Another traveller I spoke with had cancelled their trip entirely for that reason. But Chloe went ahead and was glad she did. 'It was a tough, challenging climb to base camp,' she said. 'After we reached it, we had dinner and went to bed in our little huts. Everyone was knackered.' What happened next, however, made it all worthwhile. 'At 3am, we were woken up by what sounded like a bomb. The tin shelters we were sleeping in were shaking. People outside were shouting 'lava!' Me and my friends jumped out of bed. We didn't even put shoes on. We ran outside to see this incredible, fiery eruption happening right in front of us. It was unbelievable.' While it was dramatic, Chloe never felt unsafe: 'The guides were great, and it felt really well organised. I found out later that the group after ours had to be evacuated from base camp because the smoke got too intense, so they clearly have safety procedures in place.' For sure, volcano tourism is an exercise in controlled risk. Operators walk a tightrope between delivering unforgettable experiences and ensuring visitor safety – particularly for countries like Guatemala where so many tourists specifically head to the destination to seek out these natural wonders. For better or worse, the very thing that makes it dangerous is also what makes it unforgettable. Though as my own trip reminds me, sometimes nature gets the final word. Ox Expedition Tours, while Chloe went with Soy Tours Antigua. Getting there You can fly from London to Guatemala City with several airlines, including United, Lufthansa and American Airlines, usually with a connecting flight in the United States. Total flight time is around 16 hours. It's then about an hour drive to Antigua, which can be travelled by bus, shuttle or taxi. Where to stay Robyn was a guest of Pensativo House Hotel in Antigua, which has doubles from around £140 per night, including breakfast. Views of Fuego can be enjoyed from the rooftop restaurant where breakfast is served. There are also plenty of additional hotels and hostels to choose from for all budgets.
Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
England unhappy with Fifa plan to control where teams stay at World Cup
Thomas Tuchel and the Football Association will lobby Fifa to change new protocols for the World Cup next year that require countries to move to new base camps for each knockout round. England head coach Tuchel arrives in Florida next week to watch Manchester City play Juventus in Orlando at the Club World Cup on Thursday and also to visit potential base camps. Those include some in Kansas, the Midwest state that is the approximate geographical centre of the United States. The FA is keen to put the squad in a place where they can travel relatively quickly to stadium venues although much is unknown until the draw on December 5, qualifying permitting. In such a large country, base camp planning is very difficult ahead of the draw. Kansas is one option that connects to all World Cup venues in less than four hours. The reorganised World Cup plan from Fifa is that once teams emerge from the group stages, they move according to where the draw takes them – a complete departure from past tournaments. Up to now teams have been based in one place for as long as they stay in the tournament, allowing national associations to build a familiar hub with players' families accommodated close by and – ideally – develop a strong group dynamic. Fifa has trialled the movable base camp concept at the Club World Cup, currently under way in the US, although not every club has signed up to the idea. Manchester City booked their accommodation in Boca Raton, Florida, before the draw was made and will stay there for as long as they remain in the tournament – flying in and out of match venue cities. Fifa has asked that nations qualifying for the 48-team 2026 tournament pick venues from those supplied on its official list and then follow the route through the rounds set out by the governing body's organisers after that. There is hope that approach may change. The FA feels that would undermine the sense that the players get from a familiar 'home away from home' which was part of the tournament successes under Gareth Southgate. Whether it was in Qatar at the Souq Al Wakra hotel in Doha, or based at St George's Park for the Euros in 2021, the team benefitted from a base that was fitted out to suit their needs. The FA invests much in its base camps – including food, entertainment and pictures of the players' families in their rooms. It is the same for other European nations, with Germany building its 2014 success in Brazil around its base in Bahia. The US team have elected to stay on the west coast next summer and, as one of the three co-hosts have been able to select their group – Group D – with two games at the SoFi Stadium in California and one in Seattle. The west coast is regarded as more suitable for summer sport with cooler temperatures. With only one more of the 10 predominantly US groups based on the west coast next year, England's chances of playing there are slim. Co-hosts Mexico and Canada will be the top seeds in their groups in their home nations and therefore England are unlikely to be drawn in either of those groups. Some of the 10 groups not featuring Mexico or Canada do include games played in one of those two nations. With England likely to be among the top seeds for tournament, that opens up the possibility that they will play elsewhere, with the eastern seaboard very hot and humid in June and July. Conditions for elite football are demanding, as the Club World Cup has demonstrated. As well as other potential base camps around the US, the FA are looking at the three facilities in Kansas City. They include the one belonging to the MLS franchise Sporting Kansas City – the Pinnacle National Development Center which was built seven years ago, and is also used by the US national teams.
