Avalanche
In a heart-stopping moment captured on video, Italian mountaineers Federico Secchi and Marco Majori narrowly escaped a potentially deadly avalanche on K2, the world’s second-highest peak. The incident occurred during their ambitious summer expedition to climb Broad Peak and K2 without supplemental oxygen.
Resting in his tent at base camp, Secchi was jolted awake by a thunderous roar. According to his Instagram post, he began filming as a massive ice avalanche, triggered by a collapsing serac, barreled down the mountain towards their camp.
The video below shows the terrifying progression of the avalanche, with climbers anxiously watching as it approaches. Fortunately, the most destructive force of the avalanche dissipated before reaching the camp, leaving the climbers engulfed in a cloud of ice particles.
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Both triumph and setback marked Secchi and Majori’s summer expedition. While both successfully summited Broad Peak (26,414 feet) without supplemental oxygen, their K2 (28,251 feet) attempt saw mixed results. Despite their best efforts, only Secchi reached K2’s summit in late July. Due to deteriorating weather conditions, Majori was forced to turn back near the peak.
In 2008, a similar serac collapse on K2 killed 11 climbers. Experts note that Secchi and Majori’s team demonstrated good judgment in camp placement, pitching their tents at a relatively safe distance from the most hazardous areas.
The climbers have since returned home safely and shared their experiences through social media. Secchi’s video of the avalanche has garnered significant attention, offering a rare glimpse into the perils faced by high-altitude mountaineers.
