Life and death on the worlds most dangerous mountain 1 by ed viesturs isbn. Author graham bowley tells the stories of the hikers who braved the summit of k2 and faced one of the worst mountaineering disasters in history, the basis for his book, no way down. I n the cold dawn of 1 august 2008, 31 climbers from eight separate international expeditions set off for the final days ascent of k2 in northern pakistan a nearperfect pyramid which, though. By nimish dubey few events have generated as much interest albeit morbid as the 1996 disaster on mount everest when several climbers perished in an attempt to make the summit. I have read every book and account concerning this incident and feel this one deserves 4 out of 5 stars. The epic saga of the first ascent, draws on those interviews, as well as newly released diaries and letters, to take us inside the obsessions, feuds, and acts. It covers the 1986 k2 disaster which saw the death of the. Bigfoot encounters, predator book 1 k2, the savage mountain.
After a brief chapter of trekking to base camp, we jump right into camp iv and summit day. No way down tells the story of the 2008 k2 disaster that saw 11 climbers lose their lives. Martin conway, climbing and exploration in the karakoram himalayas, 1894, yakushi c336a. No way down by new york times reporter graham bowley is the harrowing account of the worst mountain climbing disaster on k2. K2, mountain of dreams and destiny, mountaineers books.
The endless knot by kurt diemberger overdrive rakuten. K2, the worlds second highest peak, has taken more than 70 lives 11 of them on one day last month. Why k2 brings out the best and worst in those who climb it. Triumph and tragedy and over 8 million other books are available for amazon. It is one of the most unrelenting and testing of the worlds 8000metre peaks. In 1986, rouse returned as the leader of a british expedition and obtained a permit to climb the difficult northwest ridge, instead of the. But, i suppose, at least the book comes across as authentic to that aspect of his personality. Life and death on the worlds most dangerous mountain. Francis younghusband, the heart of a continent, 1896, yakushi y27 1892 british conway. That year, climbers from a variety of expeditions died on the mountains infamous slopes. The film follows the story of four people whose parents died on k2 in 1986. This documentary program follows the climbers that reached the summit of k2 on august 2, 2008 and then the disaster that followed.
For climbers, it is extremely challengingover one threeyear period, 15 expeditions attacked k2 without putting a single climber on its summit. 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. Ive read a few of these and have a bunch saved on scribd to read hopefully this summer. On august 4 1986 alan rouse and julie tullis reached. I have since read one mountain thousand summits, which i find to be a more detailed and accurate portrayal of the 2008 k2 disaster. The following is a list of books about k2, a mountain in the karakorum range between pakistan and china, listed by expedition date. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Thirteen people died while climbing k2 during the summer of 1986 and the author.
No way down graham bowley on the k2 mountaineering disaster. The summit is about an even bigger disaster but it happened on k2, also called savage mountain. See all 17 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. John marshall talks to ed viesturs, the first american to reach the summit of all 14 of the worlds highest peaks, about how. A new documentary depicts the events of august 2008, when 11 mountaineers lost their lives on k2, the worlds secondhighest mountain. K2 the book switches back and forth between firsthand accountanalysis of climbing the savage mountain and scholarly history of the many disasters that have unfolded on its flanks in the last century. Triumph and tragedy is a solid account of the disastrous 1986 climbing season on k2, the worlds second highest mountain. An older book, but by a very respected climber, longstanding in the uk climbing scene is the late jim currans k2 triumph and tragedy.
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. In 1986, barrard climbed with her husband maurice barrard, and. The missing climbers include a team from korea, a norwegian, a serb, frenchman, and several nepali and pakistani guides and highaltitude porters. A few false moves in early august, after 11 climbers died on the worlds secondhighest peak, people wanted to know. A monumental book i defy anyone to read it and remain unmoved. Thats five more than died in the 1996 killer storm on everest. Wanda rutkiewicz became the first woman to reach its summit, but people also died on the mountain.
No way down by graham bowley is a good book concerning the 2008 k2 tragedy. In 1983, rouse made his first attempt on k2, by a new route up the south ridge, with an international team. The worst season in k2 climbing history was 1986, when died. Jim curran came to k2 as a climbing cameraman with an unsuccessful british expedition, but.
No way down is probably the single most detailed account of the 2008 k2 disaster in which 11 people died on the mountain. More technical in most routes than everest, the worlds secondhighest peak is considered the ultimate achievement by many mountaineers. The summit, a documentary that premiered at sundance, tries to untangle the truth about the day in 2008 when 11 climbers died. The incredible true story of the worlds worst nuclear disaster voices from. The summit of k2 was first reached by two italians, lino lacedelli and achille compagnoni, on 31 july, 1954. With bill billmeier, joe butler, marco confortola, ryan davis.
Chris bonington and jim curran trace the history of k2 expeditions from 1903 to 1986. The 1986 k2 disaster refers to a period from 6 august to 10 august 1986, when five mountaineers died on k2 in the karakoram during a severe storm. Stephen venables, alpine journal acclaimed as one of the most powerful accounts of mountain adventure and tragedy ever written, the endless knot is a harrowing account of the 1986 k2 disaster. Graham bowley on the k2 mountaineering disaster youtube. He discuses events from his own experienced viewpoint, and the book is considerably more levelheaded than most k2 writers. A lot of these books are about similar events, the 1996 everest disaster, and the august 2008 k2 disaster. Uses astonishing visuals to tell the intersecting stories of george mallory, the first man to attempt a summit of mount everest, and conrad anker, the mountaineer who finds mallorys frozen remains 75 years later. The 1986 k2 disaster is a truly harrowing story that offers a startling glimpse into how dangerous the high mountains can be. In 1986 k2 claimed the lives of climbers in nine different parties attempting its summit. On august 1st 2008 eleven mountaineers from international expeditions died on k2, the secondhighest mountain on earth. More recently, on 1 august 2008, a group of climbers went missing after a large piece of ice fell during an avalanche taking out the fixed ropes on part of the route.
In my opinion, it does for k2 what harrers book, the white spider, does for the eiger nordwand. Yet only one book chronicling the k2 disaster was published in the united kingdom or the united statesjim currans k2. Notably, climbers from several expeditions died in 1986 in the 1986 k2 disaster, five of these in a severe storm. Before the 1996 everest disaster made that mountain synonymous with tragedy at 8,000 meters, there was k2. In telling this story it also examines the human spirit and drive to conquer the unconquerable. Across the world, there was a backlash against the values of modern mountaineering. In the chaotic summer of 1986, thirteen climbers died on k2, including several who were among the finest alpinists in the world. As an internationally renowned expedition leader, you are anxious to gain prestige by leading a group of high profile climbers from your country to the top of the most difficult peak in the world, k2.
Polish climber wanda rutkiewicz became the first woman to reach. In august 1986, british climber alan rouse attempted to climb k2s difficult northwest ridge, instead of the conventional abruzzi ridge. K2 was definitely book about a series of epic disasters on k2 in the summer of. Viesturs focuses his writing on the most significant climbs on k2, namely the 1938, 1939, and 1953 american expeditions, the 1954 italian ascent, the 1986 freeforall, and the 2008 disaster. The rigorous historical narrative ends, seemingly prematurely, at 1986. In 1986, two polish expeditions summitted via two new routes, the magic line and the polish line jerzy kukuczka and tadeusz piotrowski. One of the main reasons for this interest is the fact that it inspired arguably the best mountaineering book in terms of narration, into thin. I would definitely recommend it as this is the best book on the k2 disaster that i have read. Thirteen climbers from several expeditions died in the 1986 k2 disaster. If you have time to only read one book, read that one.
Eight other climbers were killed in the weeks preceding, bringing the total number of deaths that climbing season to. Though its the worlds second tallest mountain, k2 has gained a reputation as the darkest and deadliest peak on earth. How they made it back to safety is renowned in the annals of climbing. Piotrowski fell to his death as the two were descending. Acclaimed as one of the most powerful accounts of mountain adventure and tragedy ever written, the endless knot is. Houston, when a combination of storms and illness stopped the team short of the 28,251foot summit. The classic true story of disaster and survival on the worlds secondhighest mountain visit sunny chernobyl.
Real everest tragedy more horrifying than film shows the sun. On august 4 1986 alan rouse and julie tullis reached the summit but nev. In this book, curran traces the history of primary ascents and attempted ascents on the mountain of mountains. K2 is the second highest mountain in the world, at 8611 metres only a couple of hundred metres lower than everest. Play solitaire or compete against another player to lead your nations team of expert climbers to the summit of k2 and back down safely against the elements and events that portend. Truth of everest tragedy is even more horrifying than film shows. K2, the savage mountain is the remarkable firsthand account of the 1953 american expedition, led by dr. In august 1986, british climber alan rouse attempted to climb k2 s difficult northwest ridge, instead of the conventional abruzzi ridge. Update when we first reported about last summers disaster on k2 the killing peak, by matthew power, november 08, a few facts had not yet come to light. So, for todays post, were going to see 35 of the best books about mount everest, k2, and the himalayas. Sharon woods book rising is a reflection of her 1986 ascent of chomolungma everest and a maledominated culture then and now sarah boon april 3, 2020 mountain troops rope up and strengthen bonds during the partnership for peace program in switzerland nathan fry april 2, 2020. In 1995, six climbers died during a single day on k2, including american rob slater. It is highly opinionated, with viesturs trying to draw lessons and willing to place blame for mistakes. K2, earths second highest mountain, is regarded as a much more difficult climb than the highest mountain, everest, and has a higher fatality rate.