K2

Life and Death on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain

De: Ed Viesturs, David Roberts

Narrado por: Fred Sanders

A thrilling chronicle of the tragedy-ridden history of climbing K2, the world's most difficult and unpredictable mountain, by the bestselling authors of No Shortcuts to the Top

At 28,251 feet, the world's second-tallest mountain, K2 thrusts skyward out of the Karakoram Range of northern Pakistan. Climbers regard it as the ultimate achievement in mountaineering, with good reason. Four times as deadly as Everest, K2 has claimed the lives of seventy-seven climbers since 1954. In August 2008 eleven climbers died in a single thirty-six-hour period on K2–the worst single-event tragedy in the mountain's history and the second-worst in the long chronicle of mountaineering in the Himalaya and Karakoram ranges. Yet summiting K2 remains a cherished goal for climbers from all over the globe. Before he faced the challenge of K2 himself, Ed Viesturs, one of the world's premier high-altitude mountaineers, thought of it as "the holy grail of mountaineering."

In K2: Life and Death on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain, Viesturs explores the remarkable history of the mountain and of those who have attempted to conquer it. At the same time he probes K2's most memorable sagas in an attempt to illustrate the lessons learned by confronting the fundamental questions raised by mountaineering–questions of risk, ambition, loyalty to one's teammates, self-sacrifice, and the price of glory. Viesturs knows the mountain firsthand. He and renowned alpinist Scott Fischer climbed it in 1992 and were nearly killed in an avalanche that sent them sliding to almost certain death. Fortunately, Ed managed to get into a self-arrest position with his ice ax and stop both his fall and Scott' s.

Focusing on seven of the mountain's most dramatic campaigns, from his own troubled ascent to the 2008 tragedy, Viesturs and Roberts crafts an edge-of-your-seat narrative that climbers and armchair travelers alike will find unforgettably compelling. With photographs from Viesturs's personal collection and from historical sources, this is the definitive account of the world's ultimate mountain, and of the lessons that can be gleaned from struggling toward its elusive summit.©2009 Ed Viesturs and David Roberts; (P)2009 Random House

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Riveting . . . Viesturs illuminates K2’s challanges, triumphs, tragedies, and follies.”—The Daily Beast

“Viesturs’s you-are-there narration communicates effortlessly the enormous effort, and high adventure, of scaling K2.”—Publishers Weekly

Gripping views into the Super-Alpine world

Worth every penny, this historical perspective of one of the world’s most perilous peaks will enthrall you with extraordinary feats and shine light on human despair and ambition as well as triumph.

Well written and narrated

A good listen for anyone interested in high altitude climbing. The narrator did a good job and the writing flows well. Good personal insights into what it’s like climbing high altitude mountains, particularly K2.

Makes you proud to be human

I knew nothing about K2. I actually thought it was next to Everest. This book is breathtaking. That picture on the cover must be The Motivator. It's probably Ed himself. He is a humble storyteller while singing the rightful praises of others. Go onto YouTube and see how scary this mountain is. It is steep steep steep! This book takes you there. I really liked it, and I am hard to please.

Ed-Inspired

Would you listen to K2 again? Why?

I've listentened to K2 twice through, and my favorite sections, three and four times. I find the commitment of these Climbers, the early attempts, the isolation, in a word the HISTORY, exhilerarating.

What was one of the most memorable moments of K2?

Having heard of "the belay" (Pete Schoening), for years, I especially enjoyed the chonicling of the American Expedition of 1954. The trek, just to reach the foot of the mountain by the early expeditions (350 miles), the glacier and river travel, their 1st view of those giant mountains; just fascinating.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene has to be the 1939 expedition when Fritz Wiessner turns back near the summit because his Companion is not wanting or able to proceed. Leadership.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes, I did have an extreme reaction to K2. I was inspired to sign up for my first climb, Spring 2013...Mt Whitney (no spring chicken here).

Any additional comments?

I've read and enjoyed three of Ed Viesturs' books, and await a tome.

interesting but a little conceited

I guess it’s inevitable that the author, as someone who has climbed and survived all 14 8000ers, is a little judgey towards other climbers, a little elitist, and more than a little defensive … if you can look beyond that, it’s a good listen.