Austrian Aims For K2 In A Day

Austrian mountaineer Christian Stangl has taken the ultra-lightweight ethos to new summits with a series of record-breaking speed ascents across seven continents, and now has his sights set on climbing the world's most notorious "Savage Mountain" K2 in a single day.

Including a "mind blowing" ascent of Aconcagua in just four hours, Stangl completed the Seven Summits (highest peak in all seven continents) in just 58 hours of total climbing time. With next to nothing in terms of equipment: solo, and without supplementary oxygen his approach is to travel light and fast to avoid weather problems and the debilitating effects of prolonged stays at altitude.

Stangl's own term for this technique is "Skyrunning" and he's used it to achieve a stunning 17-hour ascent of Everest carrying just a single ski pole and a daysack containing carbohydrate gels, salted biscuits and rosehip tea!

Now he's turned his attention back to K2, where last year he was thwarted by the avalanche that wiped out 11 climbers. Stangl also highlights the environmental benefits of "Skyrunning" with its minimal impact - no advance camps, waste or leftover equipment left on the mountains, just footprints!

You can follow his progress at EverestNews as he takes on his third 8000m summit the lightweight way.