Fort Collins' Alan Arnette summits K2
Alan Arnette wanted to tackle the world's hardest disease by climbing the world's hardest mountain.
Mission accomplished for the Fort Collins mountaineer.
Arnette reached the summit of K2 on Sunday morning.
Sunday is Arnette's 58th birthday, and he became the oldest American to summit the 28,251-foot mountain, the second highest peak on Earth.
Madison Mountaineering crew member Garrett Madison, Matt Du Puy and Arnette became just the 16th, 17th and 18th Americans to summit K2 and the first since 2007.
Summit days are the longest and most dangerous on K2, and any 8,000-meter mountain. After a quick celebration at the summit where Arnette and Madison both made calls with satellite phones, the team quickly descended.
After a short rest at Camp 4, the team made it to Camp 3 at 24,100 feet where they slept Sunday night. The Americans and three Nepalese Sherpas plan to return to K2 Base Camp Monday.
In his audio dispatch sent from the summit, Arnette said K2 was every bit as tough as advertised.
"This climb is everything it is made out to be. The traverse at the Bottleneck was one of the scariest things I've ever done in my life. It truly was a 90 degree angle, it was in the dark, and I climbed it," said Arnette, who climbed Mount Everest in 2011.
Arnette dedicates his climbing to Alzheimer's research and awareness. Through his climbing of K2 and the Seven Summits, he has raised more than $200,000 for Alzheimer's nonprofits.
Jim Davidson, Arnette's good friend and climbing partner, received a satellite phone call from Arnette on K2's summit.
"Just an hour ago, Alan told me over the sat phone that he greatly appreciated the help of his teammates, especially Kami Rita Sherpa. He said he hugely appreciated everyone who has been following and supporting this expedition to fight against Alzheimer's, especially Albila, Cure Alzheimer's Fund and USAgainst Alzheimer's," Davidson wrote on Arnette's website.
"Then, in a powerful and emotional voice, Alan emphatically said: 'Tell everyone I can feel their support. Tell them I appreciate it. Tell them all that we can beat Alzheimer's. Ask them to donate so that we can beat it soon.' "
To follow Arnette's progress or to donate to his cause, visit www.alanarnette.com/blog/k2curealz/.
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