K2, Mountain peak in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, China
The summit rises to 8,611 meters (28,251 feet) above sea level, forming the second-highest point on Earth within the Karakoram range along the Pakistan-China border. Steep ice faces and rock walls characterize every approach to this massive peak.
British surveyors catalogued the peak as K2 during the Great Trigonometrical Survey in 1856, with K denoting Karakoram. Italian mountaineers Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli reached the summit on July 31, 1954, via the Abruzzi Spur as the first humans to stand on top.
Balti herders and local guides regard the mountain with deep respect, weaving it into oral stories passed through generations. Expedition teams work closely with regional porters who use traditional methods to carry gear across steep paths.
Expeditions demand at least two months of preparation with acclimatization at lower camps, and the climbing season runs from June through August. Access typically begins from the Pakistani side through Skardu, requiring a multi-day trek to base camp at 5,150 meters (16,900 feet).
The fatality rate among mountaineers stands at roughly one death for every four successful summits, making this one of the most dangerous peaks above 8,000 meters. Fewer than 450 people had reached the top by 2023, compared to over 6,000 on Mount Everest.
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