[SatNews] Eighteen days after leaving for the K2 expedition, UAE-based British adventurer Adrian Hayes and his team have reached base camp at K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth, on the border of Pakistan and China. Record-breaking explorer and adventurer, Hayes plans to reach the summit of the mountain by August 2013, over a period of 60 days.
Speaking of the expedition, Hayes said, “The trek has been challenging so far and we have experienced a few delays due to weather, unrest in Pakistan and health issues. However, we are looking forward to the next stage of the journey and it’s all systems go!”
Hayes has been documenting his journey through his social media channels and on his website, where he recently posted an audio update using the Thuraya IP+ and the SatSleeve, sponsored by Thuraya and its Service Partner, Xtra-Link. This marks the first time that the Thuraya IP+ and the Thuraya SatSleeve have been used on such an expedition. Reaching the summit of K2 will make Hayes one of only three people in history who have summited the world’s two highest mountains and reached both poles, and he will be the first Briton to have achieved this.
Bilal El Hamoui, Vice President of Distribution at Thuraya said, “We are extremely proud of Adrian and his team. Satellite communications are a vital part of communications for people who live and work in remote areas. Equipment such as satellite phones and terminals have to be extremely durable, easy to set-up and use at all times. We are happy to be able to contribute to this expedition. In spite of the challenges, we strongly believe in their success and we are cheering them on towards reaching the summit of K2.”
The positive sentiment is echoed by Hans Kujit, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Xtra-Link, “This is the second time that we’ve worked with Adrian and he has been very supportive of Thuraya and Xtra-Link. Satellite communications is crucial for adventurers as it helps them stay in touch with their loved ones and team members during these tough expeditions.”
In 2011, Thuraya and Xtra-Link also supported Adrian Hayes in the Footsteps of Thesiger expedition where his team trekked 1,500 kilometers from Salalah in Oman to Abu Dhabi.
