K2
K2 is the world’s second-highest mountain above sea level, rising to 8,611 metres in the Karakoram on the China–Pakistan border.
First ascent of K2: The 1954 Italian expedition led by Ardito Desio made the first confirmed ascent of K2. This expedition reached K2’s summit for the first time on 31 July 1954.
K2 routes: The established climbing lines on K2, including the Abruzzi Spur and the Cesen Route. Each route confronts the mountain’s steep upper slopes and objective hazards differently.
Karakoram: A mountain range spanning parts of Pakistan, India, and China, containing many of the world’s highest peaks. K2 is the range’s highest summit.
Mount Everest: The world’s highest mountain above sea level, in the Himalaya on the Nepal–China border. Everest is higher, while K2 is widely regarded as more technically demanding.
K2 disaster of 1986: A cluster of accidents and deaths among climbers on K2 during the 1986 climbing season. The season exposed how quickly K2’s weather and technical terrain can turn fatal.
Abruzzi Spur: The southeast ridge of K2, used by the most commonly climbed route to its summit. Its upper section funnels climbers toward the exposed Bottleneck.
Eight-thousander: A mountain whose summit rises above 8,000 metres above sea level. K2 is one of the fourteen recognized eight-thousanders.
Kangchenjunga: The world’s third-highest mountain above sea level, on the Nepal–India border. It is the next-ranked summit after K2 in elevation.
1995 K2 disaster: A storm on K2 in 1995 killed six climbers during the descent from high altitude. The disaster became one of the mountain’s deadliest single-season tragedies.
K2 weather: The mountain’s high-altitude weather, marked by severe cold, strong winds, and rapidly changing conditions. Brief weather windows govern when summit attempts can safely proceed.