In advance of a trek to K2 Base Camp and Gondogoro Pass, I’m doing some reading about those insane alpinists that dare to climb the second highest peak in the world.
The 1954 Italian Karakoram expedition finally succeeded in ascending to the summit of K2 via the Abruzzi Spur on 31 July 1954. …
… 23 years after the Italian expedition, Ichiro Yoshizawa led the second successful ascent, with Ashraf Aman as the first native Pakistani climber. …
The third ascent of K2 was in 1978, via a new route, … by an American team led by James Whittaker …
I recommend K2: Life and Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain. (2010) by Ed Viesturs.
Ed’s the Mount Rainier alpine guide who went on to become the most accomplished American high altitude climber.
Cautious and lucky, Ed survived 30 expeditions to the world’s highest peaks. And he’s climbed Rainier over 200 times.
