| In our modern day and age most things that were | | | | summit there is 1/3 as much oxygen as there is at |
| considered remarkable 100 years ago are now | | | | sea level. The steep terrain makes it almost |
| considered commonplace. Many of us hear over and | | | | impossible to retreat during a storm. Despite several |
| over again someone new climbing to the top of Mt. | | | | attempts no one has ever ascended K2 in the winter. |
| Everest the tallest mountain in the world. We take | | | | There was also a legend associated with K2 for |
| the difficulty and life threatening possibility for | | | | women. In 1986 Wanda Ruthkiewicz was the first |
| granted. The common person may also take for | | | | woman to reach the summit. The next five women |
| granted the seriousness of climbing K2. | | | | to reach the top are all dead. Three of whom died |
| While this mountain is the 2nd tallest in the world it is | | | | on the descent down. |
| certainly much more difficult to climb than Everest. | | | | The mountain also has been home to heroic tales. In |
| While thousands have reached the summit of | | | | 1953 American Pete Schoening was able to save |
| Everest less than 300 have made it to the top of K2. | | | | three of his fellow climbers by stopping a steep fall |
| The mountain was first discovered in 1856 by the | | | | by using his ice axe and dislocating his should in the |
| Western world and it took another 100 years before | | | | process. |
| the first men reached the summit in July of 1954. | | | | For all the successful ascents to various mountains it |
| From 1939 over 66 people have died trying to scale | | | | is important to remember that there is a large |
| K2. In 1986, 13 of 26 climbers perished. In August of | | | | difference between most mountains and K2. We |
| 2008 11 climbers gave their lives when an avalanche | | | | remember those who have fallen and give special |
| knocked down their safety ropes used for descent. | | | | honor to those who have climbed "the Savage |
| What makes this mountain so difficult is the steep | | | | Mountain. |
| terrain and extreme weather conditions. At the | | | | |