Farris has climbed in the Pakistani Himalayas several times: This photo is from a previous trip at K2.

Hamline associate biology professor Mike Farris has decided to stay behind at base camp on K2 as the rest of his six-climber team heads home.

“The calculus that went into this decision is both simple and complex. I want to explain my thinking so hopefully you aren’t convinced that I’m an utter idiot,” he wrote on his personal blog this morning. He goes on to say that he will only make the attempt under certain conditions. He said there is a group of competent climbers at base camp, and that his equipment is already set up at Camp 2: He’ll only have to carry food up the lower mountain. He said he’d only make a single attempt, assuming he is part of a group effort, then come home.

As for the series of accidents that led to the deaths of 11 climbers, Farris said it’s too soon to know what happened. “I know as much about the details of what happened as anyone does, and believe me, NOBODY knows just what happened yet.”

The title of his blog entry was “Back to the Dragon’s Lair.” “The title refers to the scene near the end of the Hobbit where Bilbo creeps into the dragon’s lair and steals a gold cup while the dragon sleeps,” Farris writes. “Ascending K2 involves stealth and intelligence, not a massive military style attack. My goal is to see if the dragon is asleep, then maybe, just maybe, steal a trinket and escape.”

ike Farris, a biology professor at Hamline University, was attempting to climb K2 with six other climbers when an avalanche roared down the mountain in the Pakistani Himalayas Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 climbers.Farris (who I profiled two years ago) reports in his blog that he helped in the rescue attempts and was back at base camp as of Sunday. It seems possible his team was among those who helped rescue Italian climber Marco Confortola, the last climber rescued today.At last count, 11 climbers are dead, and it will be some time before we know exactly how it happened. Farris’s last blog post was Sunday. I’m trying to contact his friends and relatives for any new information. Watch this space for updates, and if you know Farris, please e-mail me at welsch@startribune.com.Farris, 52, is an accomplished climber who wrote “Rock Climbing in Minnesota and Wisconsin” for Falcon Guides. On Sept. 2 his new book comes out: “The Altitude Experience: Successful Trekking and Climbing above 8,000 Feet.” The new book combines information on the affects of altitude on the body with advice on how to climb safely in extreme conditions.Farris has climbed high peaks in the Himalayas multiple times. In 2006 he successfully summited Gasherbrum in Pakistan, a 26,362 foot high mountain. He was a key player in a high altitude rescue on Broad Peak in Pakistan in 2004.