UAE-based adventurer Adrian Hayes, 54, is gearing up to reach the summit of one of the world’s most dangerous mountains.
Nestled between Pakistan and China, K2 is the second highest mountain on Earth at 8,611m and is regarded as the world’s most difficult peak to summit.
“I love setting big goals and in mountaineering terms, this is the biggest challenge and biggest prize,” said Hayes.
With an international team of 12 climbers, Hayes will reattempt to summit K2 this year, after a deadly avalanche aborted his advances last year. Poor weather conditions forced Hayes back down the mountain and claimed the lives of two fellow climbers, Marty and Denali Schmidt.
“You can never be totally safe, it is a risky sport and is dangerous,” admits Hayes. “But the idea is to minimise the risks. No one wants a death wish. I climb to feel alive and to respect nature in the deepest way.
“There is a level of respecting and hearing the power of nature on a salient level. You can’t conquer any mountain, if it wishes, it will allow you to go and if doesn’t you won’t.”
Splitting his time in the UAE and the UK, Hayes has been actively training for the arduous trek. Swapping snow for sand, the former Gurkha officer has been sand dune running in the country, to help simulate hiking in soft snow. In addition, he has even been practising his skills climbing Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain and the Hajar mountains along the border of the UAE and Oman.
This week sees the daredevil head to Nepal for a ‘taster’ session, where he plans to climb the Lobuche East Mountain. Just shy of 6,200 metres, the peak will help Hayes pre-climatise to the high altitude conditions and give him a chance to test out his gear ahead of attempting K2.
The expedition is a historic one. This year sees the sixtieth anniversary of the first ascent of K2, and if successful, Hayes will be the first ever Briton to have summited the world’s two highest mountains and reached both the North and South Poles.
“This attempt really is a follow up from last year. We aborted the climb after the avalanche and were unable to reach the summit. It is unfinished business,” said Hayes.
To find out more visit: www.adrianhayes.com
