2018 Sergi Mingote Broad Peak and K2 Double Expedition
In July 2018, Catalan endurance mountaineer Sergi Mingote achieved the astonishing feat of summiting Broad Peak (8,051m) on July 16 and K2 (8,611m) on July 23—climbing both Karakoram giants within seven days without supplemental bottled oxygen.
Mountain Safety & Conditions Disclaimer: High-altitude climbing, glacial travel, and technical ascents entail severe objective risks including avalanches, serac collapses, rapid weather collapse, and altitude illness. Historical route descriptions and summit claims on Mountanity reflect documented archival sources and must not be used as live operational safety assessments. Local regulations, permits, and physical glacial topography change continuously.
Peer Review: Senior Editorial Board & Historical Reviewers • Editorial Standards
Official Expedition Narrative & Archival Record
In July 2018, Catalan ultra-endurance athlete and mountaineer Sergi Mingote arrived at the Baltoro Glacier to inaugurate his '3x2x8000' project, aiming to climb six eight-thousanders in under one year without supplemental oxygen. Commencing on Broad Peak (8,051m), Mingote pushed rapidly through high camps on the West Ridge, reaching the main summit on July 16 without artificial oxygen. Instead of resting for weeks, Mingote descended to Base Camp, refueled for two days, and crossed the Godwin-Austen Glacier directly to the foot of K2 (8,611m). Capitalizing on an exceptional high-pressure weather window, he ascended the steep Abruzzi Spur, climbing House's Chimney and the Black Pyramid in a single continuous rhythm. On the night of July 22, he departed Camp IV on the Shoulder at 8,000 meters. Traversing beneath the Great Serac and ascending the Bottleneck without bottled gas, Mingote stepped onto the summit of K2 on the morning of July 23, 2018. Climbing Broad Peak and K2 back-to-back in just seven days without supplemental oxygen stood as an extraordinary athletic milestone in modern high-altitude mountaineering.
Documented Team Composition
- Sergi Mingote (Spain/Catalonia, Summit Climber)
- Lluís Cortadellas (Spain)
Key Statistics & Topographic Figures
- Event Dates
- July 16 – July 23, 2018 (7 Days)
Broad Peak & K2, Karakoram, Pakistan
- Broad Peak Summit
- July 16, 2018 (8,051m)
Without Supplemental Oxygen
- K2 Summit
- July 23, 2018 (8,611m)
Without Supplemental Oxygen (7 Days Later)
- Glacier Transit
- Broad Peak to K2 Base Camp
Godwin-Austen Glacier in 48 Hours
- Campaign Project
- 3x2x8000 Project Kickoff
Six 8,000m Peaks in 367 Days
Archival Primary Source Quotations
“My legs were burning from Broad Peak, but on K2 my mind entered a realm of pure flow; the mountain welcomed me, and I gave it everything.”
Defined Alpine Terminology & Concepts
- High-Altitude Double Header
- The back-to-back ascent of two separate 8,000-metre mountains within days using peak physiological acclimatization.
- Abruzzi Spur Bottleneck
- A narrow, steep 80-degree ice couloir at 8,200m on K2 pinned beneath the Great Serac forming the crux of the summit push.
Frequently Asked Questions: 2018 Sergi Mingote Broad Peak and K2 Double Expedition
What historic double summit did Sergi Mingote achieve in July 2018?
He summited Broad Peak on July 16 and K2 on July 23—climbing both 8,000-metre giants in seven days without oxygen.
Did Sergi Mingote use supplemental bottled oxygen during this double ascent?
No, both Broad Peak (8,051m) and K2 (8,611m) were summited strictly without supplemental bottled oxygen.
How much rest did Sergi Mingote take between Broad Peak and K2?
He rested for barely forty-eight hours at Base Camp before crossing the glacier to begin climbing K2.
What route did Sergi Mingote climb on K2?
He ascended the classic Abruzzi Spur, negotiating House’s Chimney, the Black Pyramid, and the Bottleneck couloir.
What project was launched with this seven-day double summit?
It launched Mingote’s "3x2x8000" project to summit six eight-thousanders in under one year without bottled oxygen.
What time did Sergi Mingote reach the summit of K2 on July 23, 2018?
He reached the 8,611-metre summit of K2 at 7:45 AM local time under clear morning skies.
What athletic background enabled Sergi Mingote’s rapid recovery?
His background as an elite ultra-endurance athlete, Ironman competitor, and high-altitude trail runner.
How many eight-thousanders did Sergi Mingote climb in the subsequent twelve months?
He completed six eight-thousanders in 367 days without supplemental oxygen: Broad Peak, K2, Manaslu, Lhotse, Nanga Parbat, and G2.
Ascent Route & Topography
Abruzzi Spur (Southeast Ridge)
The Abruzzi Spur is the most famous and frequently climbed route on K2, tracing the mountain's steep southeast ridge from the Godwin-Austen Glacier to the summit. First explored in 1909 by Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi, it was successfully climbed to the summit in 1954 by an Italian team. The route requires extreme physical endurance and high-grade technical climbing on rock, ice, and mixed terrain through legendary cruxes like House's Chimney, the Black Pyramid, and the Bottleneck couloir.
Normal Route (West Ridge & Northwest Face)
The Normal Route on Broad Peak ascends the rugged western spur from the Godwin-Austen Glacier, navigating steep mixed rock ribs before entering the upper glacial basin beneath the high saddle (the Col). From the Col at 7,800 meters, climbers enter the Death Zone to tackle the long, corniced summit ridge leading across the Foresummit to the true summit at 8,051 meters. First conquered in 1957 by an Austrian team in lightweight alpine style without bottled oxygen, and climbed in 1982 by Reinhold Messner, Nazir Sabir, and Sher Khan in a groundbreaking rapid alpine push.
Target Objective Peaks
K2
K2, at 8,611 meters (28,251 ft), is the second-highest mountain on Earth and widely regarded as the most technically demanding and lethal 8,000-meter peak. Located in the heart of the Karakoram on the border between Pakistan and China, K2 is characterized by sheer relief, severe weather anomalies, and persistent objective hazards including the notorious Bottleneck couloir.
Broad Peak
Broad Peak, at 8,051 meters (26,414 ft), is the twelfth-highest mountain in the world. Located in the Karakoram directly across the Godwin-Austen Glacier from K2, it is famous for its 1.5-kilometre-long summit crest. First climbed in lightweight alpine style without supplemental oxygen or high-altitude porters in 1957 by an Austrian team.
Featured Expedition Climber
Sergi Mingote
Sergi Mingote Moreno was born on August 28, 1970, in Parets del Vallès, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Combining elite athletics with civic public service, he served as the Mayor of Parets del Vallès from 2011 to 2018 while maintaining an extraordinary career in ultra-endurance trail running, ironman triathlons, and high-altitude mountaineering. He climbed his first eight-thousander, Cho Oyu, in 1998, followed by Mount Everest in 2001 and 2003. In 2018, Mingote embarked on his historic '3x2x8000' project: an audacious endurance quest to summit six 8,000-meter peaks across the Himalaya and Karakoram in less than one year strictly without supplemental bottled oxygen. In July 2018, he shocked the alpine world by summiting Broad Peak (8,051m) on July 16, followed by the summit of K2 (8,611m) just seven days later on July 23—both without oxygen. He continued his relentless campaign, summiting Manaslu (September 2018), Lhotse (May 2019), Nanga Parbat (July 2019), and Gasherbrum II (July 2019). By completing six eight-thousanders in 367 days without artificial gas, Mingote established a historic speed record in clean-oxygen climbing. In the winter of 2020–2021, Mingote returned to the Karakoram as co-leader and climbing director of the international winter K2 expedition. On January 16, 2021, while descending from Camp I to Advance Base Camp after an acclimatization rotation, Mingote suffered a catastrophic fall on an icy slope and died instantly. His sudden death profoundly shook the global climbing community. Posthumously awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sports Merit by the Kingdom of Spain, Mingote is remembered as an inspirational leader, a fierce clean-oxygen purist, and a champion of sports for people with disabilities.
Associated Historical Chronicles & Stories
The Seven-Day Lightning: Sergi Mingote's Broad Peak and K2 Double
In July 2018, Catalan endurance athlete Sergi Mingote conquered Broad Peak and K2 back-to-back in just seven days without supplemental bottled oxygen.
Documented Sources & Archival Citations
- American Alpine Journal: Broad Peak and K2 Double Without Oxygen by Sergi Mingote(American Alpine Club)
Supporting claim: Official expedition record verifying the July 16 Broad Peak and July 23 K2 summits
Accessed/Documented: 2019 - A Pulmón: Seis Ochomiles en 367 Días(Sergi Mingote / Editorial Desnivel)
Supporting claim: First-hand documentation of the seven-day Karakoram double ascent without bottled oxygen
Accessed/Documented: 2020