A PAIR of intrepid Cumbrian climbers are set to scale the notoriously challenging peak of K2.

Before taking on the second highest mountain in the world, Pete Brittleton and Paul Etheridge will tackle the 8,051-metre neighbouring mountain of Broad Peak.

Pete Brittleton, 53, a builder from Kirkby Stephen, will also be taking on the challenge without the added support of supplementary oxygen. He achieved a similar feat on Everest in 2008.

K2, which sits along the China-Pakistan border, is 8,611 metres high and is well-known for its harsh and unpredictable weather.

Mr Etheridge, 45, of Sedbergh, said: “It does scare us. If you’re not scared, I don’t think you’re really taking it seriously enough.

"We’re chomping at the bit to go now."

It will be the third time the duo have attempted K2. An avalanche in 2016 led to the loss of equipment and stopped an attempt at around 7,500m. They came closer to summiting it in 2019, reaching about 8,100m before a storm on the mountain meant they had to turn back.

Both men have decades of experience in climbing as well as other sports. Previous challenges include Mr Brittleton cycling from Land's End to John o' Groats non-stop for his 50th birthday, a feat that saw him go a remarkable 54 hours without sleep.

Before embarking on the expedition alone, they will spend around two weeks teaching and training high altitude porters, known as HAPs, from villages near K2, aiming to give them the skills necessary to provide mountaineering support to visitors in future.

“The mountain for 20, 30 years has been drawing people in to go and look at it," said Mr Etheridge, who works as an expedition leader.

"But, actually, if they can start providing mountaineering support, mountaineering help, and they can safely do that, it’s just going to create more income for villagers and people.”

The pair say that no British team has ever been recorded as completing Broad Peak and K2 as a pair.

They will begin the challenge in June and plan to spend 65 to 70 days climbing the mountains.

Visit @cumbriatok2 on Instagram for more.