But k2 is so remote even today its 75 miles from the nearest village that there wasnt an agreed local name. Joska was a member of the 1983 italian expedition led by francesco santon, which made the second successful ascent of the north ridge 73183. Scaling the worlds most lethal mountain, in the dead of. Learn how it got its name, and why it is one of the most dangerous peaks. Situated on the pakistanchina border, k2 is the highest peak of the karakoram range. The survey generally preferred to use the native names for the mountains, but k2 was located in such a farflung corner of pakistans karakoram range, it had no widely used local name. Ed viesturs is one of the top high altitude climbers in the world. K2 is, in some important sense, the last mountain, but its auraand our awedepends on it remaining unclimbable. All are located in the two highest mountain ranges in. Mountains information and facts national geographic. Mar 30, 2010 the k2 mountains have a dangerous reputation in the mountainclimbing world. It is considered to be harder to climb than mount everest. Some of the most common plants you can find on mountains are conifers a type of evergreen tree. For the most part, however, k2 has been the name of choice, and has even evolved into ketu, the name used by the balti people who act as porters in the region.
In 1956, when it was first measured by a british surveyor, tg montgomerie, it was given the temporary designation k2 for karakoram 2. Haramukh 125 miles to the south, noted two prominent peaks to the north, calling them k1 and k2. K2 is a savage mountain that tries to kill you, according to american climber george bell. The summit of k2 was first reached by two italians, lino. Jun 29, 2009 the name k2 is derived from the notation used by the great trigonometric survey. In this book, the authors explore the reasons for this tragedy and six other fatal. Everest, denali, kilimanjaro these names are known around the world, but one of the most dangerous and famous mountains has a much simpler title k2. There are 14 mountains over 8,000 metres 26,247 ft and are often referred to as the eightthousanders. For climbers, it is extremely challengingover one threeyear period, 15 expeditions attacked k2 without putting a single climber on its summit. Read about messners climb of k2 without oxygen an amazing feat even for todays best conditioned climbers. The first real attempt to climb k2 was in 1902 by an angloswiss expedition. The himalaya in asia formed from one such massive wreck that started about 55 million years ago.
It is located on the chinapakistan border between baltistan in the gilgitbaltistan region of northern pakistan, and dafdar township in taxkorgan tajik autonomous county of xinjiang, china. Life and death on the worlds most dangerous mountain. Fold mountains are formed when two plates collide head on, and their edges crumbled, much the same way as a piece of paper folds when pushed together. My list of notable books set in wnc smoky mountain news. Metal mess plates, punched with the names of some of the fallen climbers, tinkled. Or, you may be extremely into hiking and choose a name that reflects one of the most popular mountains to hike. K2, also known as chhogoriqogir, ketukechu, and mount godwinausten is the second highest mountain in the world, after mount everest, at 8,611 metres 28,251 ft above sea level. Life and death on the worlds most dangerous mountain viesturs, ed, roberts. Van rooijen, in his book surviving k2, supports the theory that karim bivouacked even higher on the mountain than van rooijen, confortola, and mcdonnell. Heres what our readers have added to our list of the best mountaineering movies ever made. The first climber to summit k2 twice was a czech climber josef rakoncaj. No matter which path you choose to go down, when it comes to mountain themed names, there is no doubt that it will be memorable and impressive. In this top ten list, we are going to start with the ranges with the highest peaks including four subranges of the himalayan system, move on to some of the longest ranges, and end with a few mellow old ranges on quiet continental.
By the time somebody gets to the summit of k2, theyre exhausted, rice said. Everest k2 is located in the karakoram mountain range between pakistan and china the name k2 was given in 1852 by british surveyor t. K2s difficulties begin with its remoteness, reflected by the fact that the balti hill people dont even have a name for the mountain. The first two chapters of the book recount k2s initial exploration and early climbs. The local name of k2 is chogori, which in balti language means the king of mountains. This book not only tells of viesturs ascent of k2 in 1992, but also recounts the history of six other k2 expeditions up to 2009, including an assessment of successes, catastrophes, k2, the worlds second highest peak at 8,611 meters 28,251 feet, is located in the korakoram range of northern pakistan. Most mountains have resonant, poetic names like the matterhorn or. By foot to the base of k2 in pakistan the new york times. Mortenson describes the origins of his humanitarian work in his bestselling but later discredited book, three cups of tea. It is a series of peaks, the highest of which is called annapurna i.
Detailed 6 day mountain weather forecasts for climbers and mountaineers planning expeditions. As the secondhighest mountain in the world, trailing only mt. The savagery of this mountain is due to the fact that it has the 2nd highest fatality rate among the eight thousanders mountain ranges, only to be surpassed by the. Heroine who was damsel in the distress, had a daughter and had some power. As you would expect from the name, this book is about climbing k2, one of the highest mountains, and technically way more difficult than mt everest. All are located in the two highest mountain ranges in the world, the himalayas and the karakoram mount everest 8,848 ft 2,697 m k2 8,611 m 28,251 ft. Viesturs, who wrote the book with david roberts, claims that the mountain has a lot to teach.
These days climbers on 8000m peak expeditions carry radios to keep. Here are some of the earths highest, longest, and most famous ranges. At 28,251 feet, the worlds secondtallest mountain, k2 thrusts skyward out of the karakoram range of northern pakistan. The king of mountains everest may be on every mountaineers bucket list, but true mountaineers know the prize lies on the summit of k2, or karakoram 2, the king of mountains. Life and death on the worlds most dangerous mountain kindle. Martin conway, climbing and exploration in the karakoram himalayas, 1894, yakushi c336a. Thomas montgomerie made the first survey of the karakoram from mount haramukh, some miles to the south, and sketched the two most prominent peaks, labeling them k1 and k2. The k2 was so remote that no other suitable name could be found source. Mountain climbing weather forecasts for 6 elevations of k2, karakoram, greater himalaya, pakistan. K2 is the second highest mountain in the world, and is thought by many.
May 11, 2014 this documentary tells the story of our successful climb of k2 via the abruzzi spur on july 31 2012. On august 1, 2008, a group of 25 mountain climbers attempted to summit k2. Dec, 2015 then they would give it a local name, like gasherbrum or kanjut sar. It is therefore generally frequented by more serious and experienced climbers than everest, but still has a higher percentage death toll. Now that the husband is gone his wife is failing also, alesha has memory problems now. A pair of climbers share a love of risky mountain climbing and embark on numerous collaborative expeditions. The other mountains were originally named k1, k3, k4, and k5, but were later changed to use local names. Montgomerie with k designating the karakoram range and 2 since it was the second peak listed. K2, at 8,611 metres 28,251 ft above sea level, is the second highest mountain in the world. K2 is known as the savage mountain after george bell, a climber on the 1953 american expedition, told reporters its a savage mountain that tries to kill you. Also, the higher the mountain goes up, the colder it gets this means different kinds of plants and animals might live at the top of a mountain than at the bottom, depending on just how high it is.
It was dubbed k2 k for karakoram and 2 for the second peak in the range to be identified by the british mapmaker t. Aug 06, 2008 the thin air was 40 below zero, and climbing down k2, its said, is even harder than climbing up. As once a italian climber, its name echoes adventure, mistery, life and. K2, at 8,611 metres above sea level, is the second highest mountain in the world, after mount everest at 8,848 metres. The quote engulfs the essence of mountaineering and when it comes to the climbing options, k2 is the next name after the mount everest. Soaring 8,612 meters 28,253 feet into the sky, k2 is a mountain in the karakoram range that crosses the border of china and pakistan. It is located on the chinapakistan border between baltistan in the gilgitbaltistan region of northern pakistan, and the taxkorgan tajik autonomous county of xinjiang, china. K2 is the highest point of the karakoram range and the highest point in both pakistan and xinjiang.
The highest mountain range in the world is the himalayas in asia. Although the subtitle refers to k2 as the worlds most dangerous mountain, the subtitle of a more recent viesturs book calls annapurna the worlds deadliest peak. A book of the names and address of people living in a city. My purpose was to research a book about the climbers who challenge these. K2 sometimes referred to as the holy grail of mountaineering is just 800 feet shorter than mount everest, but it is a much more dangerous climb. Montgomery was the surveyor who assigned the peak this designation in 1856. K2, also known as mount godwin austen or chhogori is the second highest mountain in the world, after mount everest, at 8,611 meters 28,251 feet above sea level it is just 237 meters 777 feet shorter than mt. During an 1850s survey of india, thomas montgomerie named 6 peaks in the karakoram range k1 through k6. Montgomerie of the survey of india, and it was given the symbol k2 because it was the second peak measured in the karakoram range. K2 is just 800 feet shorter than mount everest, but its considered a far. The story of the savage mountain is the first comprehensive climbing history of this beautiful but deadly peak. Kacper tekieli, at 32 a mountaineer of some repute, nears a summit in the tatra mountains in poland, where many climbers build their skill.
Team member thomas montgomerie called the mountain k2. Since that time, the name mount godwinausten has occasionally been used, in honour of the man who directed the survey. Fold mountains are the most common type of mountain. Chasing angels or fleeing demons, go to the mountains jeffrey rasley. Annapurna is a section of the himalayas in northcentral nepal. The book meets up to the standard of the man and thats why its number one on this list of the best mountain climbing books. A first picture book in the girls who code line introduces young enthusiasts to computer coding through the story of a little girl and her trusty, rustproof robot, who use code to break down a building design into the smaller steps that result in the creation of an impressive sandcastle before their summer vacation ends.
K2, also known as the savage mountain, is the secondhighest mountain on earth and is regarded by many as the worlds most difficult peak to climb. Mountains can join up with other mountains to make up a range. Its about a wife who ran away from her husband and had his daughter. It seems to give a realistic view of what it is like to climb one of the worlds toughest mountains. K2 simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. For another book with tales of adventure on a slightly smaller scale, try rocky mountain adventure collection. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study.
During one of these climbs, they encounter a team of fellow mountaineers preparing to tackle the legendary pakistani mountain k2. At the base of k2 stands the gilkey memorial, a cairn with the names of those. The king of mountainseverest may be on every mountaineers bucket list, but true mountaineers know the prize lies on the summit of k2, or karakoram 2, the king of mountains. For example, it can be raining at the top but not at the bottom. The worlds largest mountain ranges are fold mountains.
This is a list of selected mountains, ordered alphabetically by continent or region and country. The name k2 came from the first survey of karakoram. A new york times feature about the current climb describes k2 in awestruck. The book weaves a true tale of tragedy, courage, and humanity about the most skilled climbers in the world who carry the rest of us to the top of unforgiving mountains inhabited by their goddesses. Everest 8,848 meters, many people assume that the name k2 is due to its silvermedal standing. Montgomerie with k designating the karakoram range and 2 since it was the 2nd peak listed. Rising steeply above the karakoram range along the pakistanchina border and battered by atrocious. A thrilling chronicle of the tragedyridden history of climbing k2, the worlds most difficult and unpredictable mountain, by the bestselling authors of no shortcuts to the top. He states he traveled to northern pakistan in 1993 to climb the worlds secondhighest mountain, k2, as a memorial to his sister, christa. As for its name, k2 was a notation given to the peak by britains great trigonometric survey in the middle 1800s. K2, chogori, qogir, and the savage mountain soaring 8,612 meters 28,253 feet into the sky, k2 is a mountain in the karakoram range that crosses the border of china and pakistan. These were the six visible peaks from his station on mount haramukh in kashmir. To the mountaineer, k2 can be regarded as the mountain of mountains. Mountains are very rocky and difficult to grow things on.
About andrew szalay andrew szalay is a washingtonian the d. The islands of hawaii were formed by undersea volcanoes, and the islands seen. K2 is the only major mountain in the world which has surveyors notation as its common name k stands for karakoram, 2 means it was the second peak listed. The same year that hillary and tenzing climbed everest, a plucky team of amateur americans attempted k2, the worlds secondhighest mountain. The worlds tallest mountain ranges form when pieces of earths crustcalled platessmash against each other in a process called plate tectonics, and buckle up like the hood of a car in a headon collision. K2 remains what you might call a mountaineers mountain. K2 and the last problem of the himalayas the atlantic. May 02, 2020 during an 1850s survey of india, thomas montgomerie named 6 peaks in the karakoram range k1 through k6. It is located in central nepal and is approximately 26,545 feet 8,091 meters tall. Names of the mountains interesting stories about how the lindberghs parents had taught all the kids about the mountains of the world, and star constellations as that is how they flew. K2 has the secondhighest fatality rate among the eightthousandfeet mountains. Why k2 brings out the best and worst in those who climb it. With the mountain lacking a local name, the name mount godwinausten was suggested, in honor of henry. From fateful first attempts to the harrowing events of 1986 and more recent ascents, the book examines the human and natural factors that have given the mountain its reputation.
Mountain, as well as the mountain of mountains after climber reinhold messner titled his book about k2 the same. The sheer icy summit is flanked by six equally steep ridges. Known as the savage mountain, it is one of the worlds most difficult mountains to ascend. Life and death on the worlds most dangerous mountain, ed. Why is the secondhighest mountain in the world called k2. Vanessa obrien, a 52yearold exmorgan stanley banker from new york, on july 28 became the first american woman to summit pakistans k2, the worlds second highest mountain at 28,251 feet.
The name mount godwin austen is for the peaks first surveyor, col. The name k2 was given in 1852 by british surveyor t. K2, at 8,611 metres 28,251 ft above sea level, is the second highest mountain in the world, after mount everest at 8,848 metres 29,029 ft. K2, also known as chogori, is the secondhighest mountain in the world. Francis younghusband, the heart of a continent, 1896, yakushi y27 1892 british conway. In most cases, they are found in elongated ranges or chains. The peaks were surveyed from a high point 200 km away in kashmir, which was typical for the ti. After more than 70 days on the mountain located in the karakoram range, mortenson failed to reach the summit. Mountain inspired dog names popular male and female names. Real and imagined journeys in the himalayas, i read hundreds of books some skimmed, some pored over and reread several times. Sep 20, 2016 k2, chogori, qogir, and the savage mountain. K2 is known as the savage mountain as it is very hard to climb.
On the other hand, k2 is a really serious mountain more serious than everest in some respectsand climbers whose ambitions dont match their experience, i think, can get in over their heads. Top 10 books about the himalayas books the guardian. When she was found by her husband she was forced to resume her life with him. K2 is located in the karakoram range and lies partly in a chineseadministered enclave of the kashmir region within the uygur autonomous region of xinjiang. I understand that a book cannot give one the complete experience of trying to climb k2, but this book goes into detail and gives some good insight into the process of climbing in high altitude. Death on k2 k2 sometimes referred to as the holy grail of mountaineering is just 800 feet shorter than mount everest, but it is a much more dangerous. David roberts is the author of more than twenty books, including finding. At that time, the surveyors gave each mountain a simple label of k followed by a number. Volcanic mountains form when molten rock from deep inside the earth erupts through the crust and piles up on itself. Also occasionally known as chhogori, or mount godwinausten, other nicknames for k2 are the king of mountains and the mountaineers mountain, as well as the mountain of mountains after climber reinhold messner titled his book about k2 the same. The following is a list of books about k2, a mountain in the karakorum range between pakistan and china, listed by expedition date. The longest mountain range in the world is the andes in south america.
In 1892, martin conway led a british expedition that made it to the baltoro glacier. K2, chinese qogir feng, also called mount godwin austen, called locally dapsang or chogori, the worlds second highest peak 28,251 feet 8,611 metres, second only to mount everest. The name is from the original survey designation of peaks in the karakoram by the british 19th century survey of india, which first surveyed k2 in 1856. K2 is located in the karakoram mountain range between pakistan and china. Free solo 2018 high lane 2009 edie 2017 third man on the mountain 1959 cliffhanger 1993. It is dedicated to all the mountaineers killed on nanga parbat in june 20 including some of. It is also the story of their culture, their families, and physiologically why they are especially adapted to climbing at high altitudes. After seven years of interviewing many of the nations top military leaders, retired admiral james stavridis and r. The k2 mountains have a dangerous reputation in the mountain climbing world. If you are a mountain lover and love climbing them then heres a buffet for you. What is the climate like on the k2 mountains answers. Its allure arises from the combination of its isolation, extremes of weather, great altitude and technical climbing demands. Located on the border between pakistan and china, k2 is widely believed to be one of the most dangerous mountains in the world.