K2: Triumph And Tragedy

The World’s Second-Highest Mountain… All 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks are located in the Himalaya or the Karakoram ranges in Asia. Of the group, Everest reigns as the supreme highest mountain in the world. And yet it is a neighbor with the strange name of “K2” that many consider the harder to climb. Everest is deadly, but the ridges running up to the summit are said to be less challenging than K2. K2 is the true monster among mountains.During 1986, twenty-seven persons made the summit of K2, a triumph for the climbers. But thirteen persons lost their lives that year in the attempt to master what many have named “The Savage Mountain.”Author Jim Curran was on the mountain during the summer of 1986. His work as a climbing cameraman for the British Fullers Expedition gave him plenty of insight into the climbers and the mountain.Some of those who reached the summit of K2 that summer died on their way down. In fact, seven of the thirteen had reached the summit before disaster overtook them. Two Americans were killed in an avalanche, one man fell to his death in a crevasse just out of base camp, and seven were trapped at 26,000 feet for days. Only two would survive and they were almost dead when they finally were helped into base camp.But all was not tragedy. A young man named Benoit Chamoux made an historic 23 hour climb. Wanda Rutkiewicz became the first woman to summit K2. There were moments of heroism, including the author’s rescue of one of the two survivors of the summit disaster.Curran tells his story much like he lived it, one day at a time. We witness his rejoicing at the accomplishments of the climbers. We feel his anxiety when his friends are trapped for days. He shares his sorrow for the ones who were left behind, dead on the savage mountain that claimed their lives.This is a fascinating account of triumph and tragedy. I give the book four stars.Quoth the Raven…

Well written account of the 1986 achievements and deaths on K2. Twenty-seven climbed the mountain that year. Thirteen died. Eight died above 8,000m. The other five died from a falling rock, avalanches, and falls.I found a very crucial piece of information that apparently had not been read or heeded by most climbers on K2 in 2008 when eleven climbers died in similar circumstances. That is that a Korean summiteer in 1986, tried to fix the cut line across the traverse under the serac and put up a new line for others to traverse. Unfortunately, he left about a three foot hank of rope hanging down between the old and new rope line that others in the dark, and in fatigued conditions clipped onto and fell from in the dark. In 2008, many people who did summit couldn't find their way back to the fixed rope. Those with skills, used their crampons and ice axes to go down a near vertical wall of ice. Others, sat down to wait for morning. I think the lesson is, you have to plan to save yourself if possible . Cecilie went on later to be the first woman to win the Explorers Grand Slam, climbing the highest mountain on each of the seven continents and going to both the north and south poles.In 2008, only Cecile Skog's team knowingly carried a 300' length of climbing rope for emergencies such as this, and fixed a crucial line just cut from an avalanche under this terrible serac, which also took her new husband down to his death.Jim was a minimal climber. He was along for videography, photos, and ultimately a documentary. He was the last member of his team left there by the time he trekked out to go home. I highly recommend this book to people like me who are interested in climbing, and especially for climbers.

Once again it shows what happens when an art or triumphant attempts are tried to make look simple and easy! Precious lives are lost in just -

If you have an interest on mountains + mountaineering this is a must read. The mountaineers bravely challenging all the dangers K2 supports,Joy misery + death. The mountain + expedition I took to heart. I’ll never forget it Thank You

Many have tried and many have died...There are six great tales from the mountain of mountains, and this is the one. Prior to the 1980's, Pakistan allowed only one expedition to K2 per year. The previous decades saw only four attempts before the Italians made their successful ascent in 1954, but 1986 saw no fewer than eleven expeditions make their way to the top. All top flight climbers from around the world, all with very lofty goals on unclimbed and very challenging routes. It's called Triumph & Tragedy for reason, as many would claim a series of firsts on K2...from the first woman to summit, the first success on the Magic Line, etc. But no team would not meet with some kind of tragedy on the way down. The story of 7 climbers getting trapped on the Shoulder with no food or water is gripping. A solo climber, who makes it all the way back down only to fall into a crevasse, get rescued and pulled to safety, only to die within minutes. These stories are incredible and every one of them on par with what happened in 2008.

One of those books you just keep reading. There were multiple stories to follow of multiple and different country teams.

I think that Curran first popularized the "T&T" phrase. So, even though I would normally run away screaming when I see it, it's alright in this case.This book has been quoted from and mined for info on the terrible summer of 1986 on K2 by everyone else so often that at times I felt as though I had read it already. However, it's a great read. Curran's writing is clear and his humanity is touching. The events of 1986 are just as terrible and yes, tragic as they were shocking then. His rejection of the usual blame game in these disasters is refreshing.

This is a well written recital of a very sad story; typically found in climbing the 8000 meter mountains, but especially K2 and Everest, the two tallest mountains in the world. I think every mountain climber should read this book and others like it before they climb. There's a lot to learn from these stories and especially the ones that have tragic endings. It may help prevent further tragedies and keep mountain climbers alive for the next climb.

An honest and full explanation of the triumphs and tragedies of 1986 on K2.Couldn’t put it down even though I knew what happened

Curran does not hold back and sets out the bare facts without judgement. Refreshingly honest and thought provoking though quite heartbreaking at times. Curran pieces together the events that led to the worst season on k2 and dismantles some of the more melodramatic conclusions drawn by the worlds media.

This tells warts and all giving consideration to reasons and feelings of pure endeavour challenging fortitude what if could always be considered but this is told how it is. Brill

Super!

Super storytelling