K2: The Savage Mountain
K2, also known as Mount Godwin-Austen, is the second-highest mountain in the world, standing at an astonishing height of 8,611 meters (28,251 feet)above sea level. It is part of the Karakoram Range, located on the border between Gilgit-Baltistan (Pakistan) and Xinjiang (China).
Name and Significance
The mountain was first surveyed in 1856 during the Great Trigonometric Survey of India. It was labeled “K2” because it was the second peak surveyed in the Karakoram Range.
Local Names:Geography and Location
In Balti: Chhogori, meaning King of Mountains.
Sometimes referred to as the “Savage Mountain” due to its extreme difficulty and high fatality rate.
Geography and Location
Range: Karakoram Range.
Nearby Peaks: Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I, and Gasherbrum II.
Accessibility: The most common approach is via the Baltoro Glacier in Pakistan.
Climbing History
First Attempt: 1902, led by Oscar Eckenstein and Aleister Crowley, but unsuccessful.
First Successful Ascent: Achieved in 1954 by an Italian team led by Ardito Desio, with climbers Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni reaching the summit.
Notable Records:
Few successful summits compared to Everest due to its technical challenges.
First woman to summit: Wanda Rutkiewicz (Poland) in 1986.
Challenges of K2
Steep Climbing Routes: K2 has no easy route to the top, with extremely steep sections.
Weather: Sudden storms and extreme cold make climbing dangerous.
Avalanches and Rockfalls: The mountain’s geology and weather increase risks.
Fatality Rate:Approximately 25% of climbers attempting the summit have lost their lives.