A workmanlike telling of the first ascent of k2 and the expeditions leading up to it. Lino lacedelli on the peak of k2 at the end of the first. In this definitive account, mick conefrey grippingly describes the early attempts to reach the summit and provides a fascinating exploration of the first ascen. The true stories of the first five women who climbed k2, the worlds most feared mountain hardcover. Thankfully, rick ridgeways the last step offers a stunning account of the first american ascent of k2, with writing so vivid and immediate youll feel as if youre actually climbing alongside the author. The 2008 k2 disaster occurred on 1 august 2008, when 11 mountaineers from international expeditions died on k2, the secondhighest mountain on earth.
Oct 15, 2015 at 28,251 ft, k2 might be almost 800 ft shorter than everest, but its a far harder climb. Led by italian climber ardito desio, the expedition to make the first successful ascent to the summit of k2, did so via the abruzzi spur on 31 july 1954. The ghosts of k2 by mick conefrey aims to shed new light on the first ascent its history has been covered in depth in a number of wellknown books, so why write another one. While everest is of course the worlds highest mountain, it is k2 that is perhaps the worlds most coveted summit among hardcore mountaineers. This exhilarating book traces the climbing history of k2, the worlds second tallest peak at 28,251 feet, and offers a new twist to its controversial first ascent. Unlike everest, there is no yak route for commercial clients. Its archive footage of the 1955 british kangchenjunga expedition. Confessions from the first ascent of k2 italians proudly describe the first ascent of k2 as one of the golden pages in climbing history. May 23, 20 a new book published by the royal geographical society this week celebrates the 60th anniversary of the first successful ascent of mount everest on 29 may 1953. He also saved his whole team, seven lives in one belay, on k2 in 1953. Polish heading to k2 for first winter ascent attempt.
K2 is the highest point of the karakoram range and the. He and andy kauffman made the first ascent of gasherbrum i, hidden peak. Desio, ardito victory over k2 by ardito first edition. Artur malek, who made the first winter ascent of broad peak, will be on the. Unfortunately, the author was subject to a smear campaign regarding his contributions to the first ascent of k2 for reasons outside of his control and this book reveals the injustice and presents a convincing case as to how the whole episode originated. Martin conway, climbing and exploration in the karakoram himalayas, 1894, yakushi c336a. They were members of an italian expedition led by ardito desio. Nov 12, 2015 at 28,251 ft, k2 might be almost 800 ft shorter than everest, but its a far harder climb. But it was an ascent which was also to lead to recriminations, accusations of deceit, slanders, libels and court cases. This book describes the first american ascent of k2 via the difficult northeast ridge, with jim wickwire and lou reichardt reaching the summit on september 6, 1978, lou being the first person to climb k2 without oxygen. After 50 years, lacedelli finally talks about what really happened on the first ascent of k2 in 1954. I have been reading every non fiction book on everest and.
Second highest peak in the world, 1955, yakushi d167b, united kingdom edition. 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 was a cause for celebration in a wartorn country. A superb mountaineer, the k2 trauma left him physically and emotionally ravaged, but it also marked him out as an instinctive and tenacious survivor. The series of deaths, over the course of the friday ascent and saturday descent, was the worst single accident in the history of k2 mountaineering. The following is a list of books about k2, a mountain in the karakorum range between. It seems like the author did a lot of research on the many different first ascent attempts of k2. This book has been signed on the shorttitle page by achille compagnoni and by lino lacedelli, the two who made the first ascent of the mountain. In 1954, an italian expedition climbed k2, the worlds second highest mountain and arguably the most difficult of all the 8000m peaks. I have long since forgotten the name of the author and the title of the book but i remember the picture of everest on the cover with an inset of ed hillary sadly no tenzing. We take pride in offering carefully described books and excellent customer. Critical analysis of conefreys text in his book the ghosts of k2 published on october 10th oneworld publications challenging bonattis story of the k2 1rst ascent and its revised cai official version 2004 contradicting the 2004 statement published 50 years after the event by the italian alpine club vetting bonattis version of the k2 ascent, backed up by all the press and. There is plenty of excitement, but by focusing more on the what and how than on the why, the ghosts of k2 bypasses the insight into character and small group psychology that elevates the best adventure literature beyond the genre.
A thrilling chronicle of the tragedyridden history of climbing k2, the worlds most difficult and unpredictable mountain, by the bestselling authors of no shortcuts to the topat 28,251 feet, the worlds secondtallest mountain, k2 thrusts skyward out of the karakoram range of northern pakistan. Mick conefrey guides us through the early story of the legendary mountain and the extraordinary attempts that led up to its first ascent in 1954 these are tales of. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the ghosts of k2. Everest gets the publicity, but secondhighest k2 28,250, 80 miles from the nearest habitation in the karakoram range of pakistan is, by almost any standard, a tougher mountain. Life and death on the worlds most dangerous mountain by ed viesturs is really interesting. Why k2 brings out the best and worst in those who climb it. Its a totally fascinating account of the first ascent of annapurna.
So, part mystery story, part eloquent ode to mountains and climbing. Viesturss bona fides include being the first american to climb the worlds 14 8,000meter peaks thus joining an elite fraternity of 16 other. Together with achille compagnoni, he was the first man to reach the summit of k2 on july 31, 1954. It is located on the chinapakistan border between baltistan in the gilgitbaltistan region of northern pakistan, and dafdar township in taxkorgan tajik autonomous county of xinjiang, china. At 28,251 ft, k2 might be almost 800 ft shorter than everest, but its a far harder climb. Americas only time making a first ascent of an 8000 meter peak. A bit misleading, the book not only covers the first attempt, but covers all of them, fascinating accounts of the attempts to climb k2. Apr 07, 2015 a workmanlike telling of the first ascent of k2 and the expeditions leading up to it. Amongst the general public, mount everest will always be the mountain a place that is fascinating and amazing. He agrees that walter bonatti became a victim and a sacrificial lamb.
Well written account of the first ascent of k2, and the many different attempts. Archive footage of the 1955 first ascent of kangchenjunga. One of michael chesslers top 100 mountaineering books. K2 trekking guidebooks, books, external links, dvds and videos. 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. The following is a list of books about k2, a mountain in the karakorum range between pakistan and china, listed by expedition date. Hermann buhl reach the summit later on the same day. This is the official account of the 1954 italian expedition that completed the first ascent of k2, with achille compagnoni and lino lacedelli reaching the k2 summit on july 30, 1954. K2 had claimed the lives of thirteen climbers that summer.
K2 book jackson county library services bibliocommons. The savage mountain devours its victims during the long winter beteween climbing seasons. Glacier books are experienced and professional booksellers. Official account of the first ascent of k2 8611m by the leader of the expedition. The book measures 218mm tall x 145mm, and has 273 pages, 63 bw photos on 24 plates, 3 maps, 1 chart. In this definitive account, mick conefrey grippingly describes the early attempts to reach the summit and provides a fascinating exploration of the first ascents complex legacy. It is also known as mount godwinausten or chhogori. It is the original first italian edition with all text in italian. Janusz golab, 50, will assist in planning and tactics.
The 1954 italian k2 expedition is probably the most rancorous in the history of mountaineering. This is fine, and of course knowledge of the topography and route potential of various parts of the mountain gained from the failed efforts certainly aided subsequent expeditions. A new book published by the royal geographical society this week celebrates the 60th anniversary of the first successful ascent of mount everest. The trip leader will be 67yearold krzysztof wielicki, one of the top highaltitude climbers from the 1980s. The name k2 came from the first survey of karakoram. Dec 07, 2018 the book that motivated me to explore the outdoors and the trekking world was an account of first ascent of everest. A rare firsthand account from a survivor at the very epicentre of the drama, the endless knot describes the disaster in frank detail. Someone already mentioned annapurna by maurice herzog.
A monumental book i defy anyone to read it and remain unmoved. K2 is the second highest mountain in the world, at 8,611 metres 28,251 ft. Its a history of some notablenotorious k2 expeditions told from a mountaineers perspective. Same size as the englishlanguage editions but illustrated much better with more than twice the number of photo plates, plus.
By 1978, when ridgeway and eleven other men and women set out on the sixth u. Its not often ive sat through a whole silent movie that doesnt feature slapstick comedy and a honkytonk piano playing in the background, but in this case i made an exception. K2 simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The two climbers who reached the summit were lino lacedelli and achille compagnoni. Oct 21, 2015 the ghosts of k2 by mick conefrey aims to shed new light on the first ascent its history has been covered in depth in a number of wellknown books, so why write another one. We specialise in hiking, cycling, running, camping, ski and triathlon clothing and gear designed for every south african environment. He has years of experience in the himalayas, including a gasherbum i ascent with adam bielecki. The epic story of the first ascent of everest, 2014, etc.
At 28,251 feet, k2 might be almost 800 feet shorter than everest, but its a far harder climb. Mick conefreys book accounting the early ascents of k2 is a straightforward description of the incidents, leading up to the eventual summit of k2 by the italian team in 1954. The first successful ascent of k2, which at 8,611 m 28,251 ft is the worlds second highest mountain, was achieved by achille compagnoni and lino lacedelli both italy on 31 july 1954. Some 800 feet shorter than everest, k2 makes up the difference with ruthless weather, treacherous terrain, and an isolation that makes even approaching its base a challenge. Mick conefrey asks this very question in the prologue of his new book the ghosts of k2. First ascent of k2, the second highest peak in the world. This is the first printing of the first italian edition of ascent of k2 or victory over k2. There are 16 pages of colour photos, 12 pages of bw photos, and 27 bw photos inline with text. Its not just about the 1954 first ascent, but the whole of k2s early climbing history up to that point. Kurt diemberger is one of only two climbers to have made first ascents of two 8000metre peaks, broad peak and dhaulagiri. As many pages are devoted to the five prior efforts 1902 1953. K2 is situated in the karakoram range on the border between pakistan and china. Adventure tale aficionados will find new details about the first successful everest summit expedition that havent been previously published in one book.
A thrilling chronicle of the tragedyridden history of climbing k2, the worlds most difficult and unpredictable mountain, by the bestselling authors of no shortcuts to the topat 28,251 feet, the worlds secondtallest mountain, k2 thrusts skyward out of the karakoram range of northern. Find out what you need to know about climbing here. It encases the torsos in ice and grates them against the rocks, only to spit out the digested remains decades later, scattering limbs among the avalanche debris. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our.
Avondale is chicagos worldclass climbing gym, designed to serve and grow the local climbing community. The italian 1954 first ascent covers about half the book. The first successful ascent of everest 60 years ago in. The book that motivated me to explore the outdoors and the trekking world was an account of first ascent of everest. This is a good overview of expeditions to k2 from 1901 through recent years. K2 life and death on the worlds most dangerous mountain book. Francis younghusband, the heart of a continent, 1896, yakushi y27 1892 british conway. Mick conefrey guides us through the early story of the legendary mountain and the extraordinary attempts that led up to its first ascent in 1954 these are tales of riveting drama and unimaginable. First ascent is south africas leading technical outdoor clothing and equipment brand. It is located partly in china and partly in pakistan. K2, at 8,611 metres 28,251 ft above sea level, is the second highest mountain in the world, after mount everest at 8,848 metres 29,029 ft. Cycling first ascent best outdoor clothing and gear hiking. The epic saga of the first ascent ebook written by mick conefrey. The epic saga of the first ascent, which was released in hardcover last week.
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