The Savage Mountain

August 8, 2004 10:55 AM

The Savage Mountain Amongst peaks over 20,000 feet, K2 is the hardest and most dangerous. Edurne Pasadan became the 6th woman to summit on July 29th, but can she survive the curse of the women who climb K2 ? K2's danger and challenge has attracted a wide assortment of characters, ranging from the bizarre Aleister Crowley to the glamourous Araceli Segarra . The deadly toll continues. Two Russian climbers are missing on the mountain. Read a history of 50 years of K2 summits, and accounts of another ascent here.
posted by F4B2 (5 comments total)

Oh, and K2news has some info on the routes climbers take to ascend K2.
posted by F4B2 at 11:00 AM on August 8, 2004

I've wasted too much damn tine on reading these links and others. Incredibly interesting. Great fun for a lazy sunday. Thanks!
posted by damnitkage at 11:43 AM on August 8, 2004

more links to Aleister Crowley's mountaineering exploits. I can't find the second part of the article on K2 News, but Crowley's sadistic side can be seen in accounts of an attempt on the third highest mountain, Kanchenjunga, and in his own words in chapters 51 and 52 of the "Confessions of Aleister Crowley".
posted by F4B2 at 12:09 PM on August 8, 2004

Unfortunately, both Edurne and Juanito Olazabal (the expedition leader) are currently in Spanish hospitals due to complications from the climb. Juanito might lose all but 2 of his toes - although he is already planning his 3 next trips, including yet another 8000+ meter peak, the Nanga Parbat in Pakistan. Yet again.
posted by magullo at 4:28 AM on August 9, 2004

Awesome stuff. I love reading about mountaineering, even if I can't understand why anyone would want to do it.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:19 AM on August 9, 2004