This is when things got interesting- not far below C2, with me in the lead and out on my own, I managed to lose my repelling device during a transition- as I released the rope to change at an anchor it literally exploded out of my caribiner, disappearing over the face and into oblivion. I felt the panic explode through me- this was a problem. To calm myself I checked my safety, got myself secure at the anchor and settled back into my harness. Think. Breathe. A quick inventory of my gear and a bit of fiddling about allowed me to settle on a solution- if I reverse up a screw lock caribener, and then use an Italian hitch, that should replicate the required rope motion and get me moving? Suddenly I was grateful for the hours of tutorial and practice Woody and I had put in on rope theory and technique recently. Then the big moment- rig it up, sit back, load it, release safety, we're away. With 2000m exposure below me (pretty much what you can see in the photo- the entire South face of K2), this was the real deal.