high marking K2??

[fatcat65]

i have a good friend that is surveying potential hydro electric locations in southwest china in tashkurgan county near the karakoram mountain range. i am planning a trip to take some sleds and ride in these mountains sometime in the near future. he is footing the bill for shipping our sleds there (sweet right?!?!!?!) as well as setting up lodging, water, yak jerky, bilingual sherpas and or translators.

we are going to attemt to at least one highmark session near the summit of K2 second tallest mountain in the world @ some 28000'. just getting to this spot will be the biggest challenge. we have done alot of research with some of the brightest fellows in the snowmobile engine world and for our engines to even run at this altitude, we have to run an oxygen injection system similar to NOS on a car. that in conjunction with our own breathing aparatus's. one of the biggest challenges will be clutching as we go. we will have to take what we know works here (we usually ride from 7-10,000') but you have to imagine we will be traversing at least twice that elevation on our way to the worlds highest mark ever!!

any info on super high elevation clutching would be much appreciated, as well as any open comments or ideas.

thanks!
Team K2 Summit

 

[aebsledder]

I know there has to be a techno genius on here somewhere that could figure it out.

 

[tudizzle]

Sounds like an adventure of a lifetime.


Is there even a passable route to the summit for a sled?

 

[tudizzle]

As air pressure decreases, it becomes increasingly difficult for the engine to achieve the correct compression, and this reduces engine efficiency. Airplane engines rely on pressure-compensating devices to enable their engines to run in low pressures at high altitude​

That must be your oxygen injection system...how much will the sled need to compensate?

 

[happylilcuss]

WOW sounds like an adventure of a lifetime. You guys are going to have the most unbeliveable time. However you are not going to get anywhere near the top. or even much past the base. You might get on a glacier and get near the base but I forsee that being the summit of your trip.

However I am sure you have done your research and have a great plan and I cant wait to see how it goes. I am sure you will be the highest sledders on the planet.

 

[fatcat65]

thanks for the quick responses!!

as for the plausable route, all the base camps and major routes are on the pakistani side. maybe we can get some blackwater contractors to clear us a path LOL.

there is 1/3 as much oxygen at the higher levels to we will take that into consideration when tuning our O2 injection.

 

[tudizzle]

 

[milehighassassin]

I would think you would need to increase the head compression quite a bit. Or bolt a snail onto that motor!

 

[backcountryislife]

I can't imagine you're going to get above 15-17k. Still enough to challenge the standard motor, but I would think that it's not enough to require supplemental oxygen.

Looking at topos, I'd guess you'll encounter a bergschrund at around an absolute max of 5800 meters, which would be impassable on the sleds, not to mention the crevasses. Not sure if that approach has a serac field that you'd have to pass... but there's no way that would be happening on a sled.

If you did this... I'm just glad it's Pakistani S&R dollars being spent, not US dollars, to go get you guys!!

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Baltoro+Glacier,+Gilgit-Baltistan,+Pakistan&sll=28.632144,77.220154&sspn=0.469484,0.891953&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Baltoro+Glacier,+Gilgit-Baltistan,+Pakistan&ll=35.857196,76.500206&spn=0.108381,0.222988&t=p&z=13

 

[Scott]

That is unreal.....You'd BETTER post pictures of that one.

 

[xrated]

good luck but remember it never happened if you don't have pictures.

 

[Mtn-Track]

Oxygen injection isn't enough with the lack of intake pressure. You'll at least need twin turbo's just to keep the sleds running. I fly a Piper Malibu that's twin turbo'd and keeping her at 25,000' is possible but even then the turbos barely put out enough to keep the cabin pressure safe AND the engine running.

Don't forget your sno-bunjies.................

 

[AndrettiDog]

That's about 5 gram weights....LOL

 

[Scott]

This thread could really evolve into HUGE tuning entertainment. LOL

 

[tudizzle]

we ride up to about 13k with no problems....bet the air thins quick from this point.

 

[Double A]

ya...And the highly planned out and researched route of ascent via the pakastani side would be?
Please post BIG picture with lines and stuff like the regular little chute climbers do so we can observe how the worlds biggest highmark is achieved.
Thanks.

 

[backcountryislife]

Oxygen injection isn't enough with the lack of intake pressure. You'll at least need twin turbo's just to keep the sleds running. I fly a Piper Malibu that's twin turbo'd and keeping her at 25,000' is possible but even then the turbos barely put out enough to keep the cabin pressure safe AND the engine running.

Don't forget your sno-bunjies.................

There's no way they'll get ANYWHERE near 25k. The absolute highest I think he could get is around 19 (not taking ANY of the realities of glacial travel or high mtn ascents into account)

Here's a couple shots of baltoro glacier for perspective.

It sure as hell would be COOOOOL to be able to ride up there though... I hope I'm wrong, I'd love to see some shots!

 

[polaris dude]

yeah I'd definitely need to see a route to even consider thinking its possible. But the thing is...if your buddy is in china looking at hydroelectric power and such why are you in Pakistan sledding?

 

[fatcat65]

yeah I'd definitely need to see a route to even consider thinking its possible. But the thing is...if your buddy is in china looking at hydroelectric power and such why are you in Pakistan sledding?

this range borders both china and pakistan.

 

[Double A]

This spot doesn't look too darn aweful bad. Might need a little oxyboost here to maintain good power so your sled self levels out okay and stuff...