No Way Down - Graham Bowley on the K2 Mountaineering Disaster

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.

[@jarrodderr]

The sun is shining. It’s 80 degrees. I should really do something today. Like close the blind to get the glare off my TV. ( ._.)

[@markmnorcal]

Pull the cord with your arm and back muscles.

[@markcarolan5356]

I feel your pain Jimmy

[@3piecesoda403]

Takes 6 days just to reach basecamp!?!?! Let that sink in. K2's basically starts where most mountains end.

[@joseluisdiaz7444]

A

[@Devast8r34]

Right i love the respect the mountain demands

[@Devast8r34]

@jutubaeh no no you cant permits are needed and no where to land its that rough

[@saucejohnson9862]

It’s known as “Savage Mountain”

[@TheAskald]

It's actually much more than that. 6 days is just the trekking part, first you have to get there on dangerous roads. And when you reach the base camp you have to acclimate for at least a week.

[@inobi30]

Celebrating after two deaths just show the insanity of these thrill seekers. Its an ego pursuit. I've been there and locals live in the shadow of these sacred mountains and never feel the need to conquer them.

[@fingerman6646]

Yep, surprised by far people can shove their heads up their asses

[@sunlight4l881]

This is Untrue and disrespectful to the locals that sacrificed to carve the routes into these mountains. Anyone who lives close to such feats of nature that have a soul full of vital energy will want to climb and conquer. It’s hard to understand the embrace of foreseen death and fight on for accomplishments bigger than ones single material being. That’s why these types of souls sailed into unknowns where no knowledge preexisted and fought wars with only wives tales of the lands they would soon conquer. “The summit team also included Mingma David Sherpa, Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, Geljen Sherpa, Pem Chhiri Sherpa, Dawa Temba Sherpa, Kili Pemba Sherpa, and Dawa Tenjing Sherpa. Nine of the summiteers are Sherpa, whose fathers and grandfathers made possible many of the great mountaineering firsts.” Would not want to live up to the dreams of your elders and further their skills and sacrifice? Or would you rather enjoy the fleeting forgettable comforts of modernity? You Decide Bug Man!!!

[@mayasamsara]

90% of these climbers achieve this due to the Sherpas or other local guides and support. The lines need to be fixed and porters, cattle, etc etc. I respect a man who climbs alone or leaves a minimum footprint. This us just what money can give you.

[@inobi30]

@@sunlight4l881 this is just wrong. While their have been sherpas who summit most are paid to do so. Seems the western ego can't comprehend people who don't need to "conquer" nature. How is risking your life and the life of others selfishly an accomplishment? Want to accomplish something? Help people. It is exactly what I said. An ego pursuit. Can't even be called exploration anymore. Conveyer belt of rich western egotists leaving garbage everywhere.

[@Taintedgod771]

Obviously you've never experienced true danger. Ever have to call an SOS for a person who is lost in an avalanche? Or fell down a couloir? How about having to perform a self rescue because a snow bridge gave out... It's not ego, it's the challenge. It's mastering yourself physically, mentally and in a sense spiritually. The 8,000 club especially those who summit K2 deserve those smiles and feelings of accomplishment.

[@qayxswedcrfv1]

2 died and they casually continue? Damn thats cold

[@gertanckaert3023]

i know...i don’t get it...facing down death..like we r not all going to die??

[@qayxswedcrfv1]

@@gertanckaert3023 we do all die. But to die like an idiot is something else. I would prefer the tyrion approach "at 80 with a belly full of wine and a woman around my cock"

[@Defender78]

That's mountaineering for you, ya just gotta keep moving. You've got to justify the expense of being there and your goal to make it to the top and back

[@billcook4768]

Of course it’s cold. It’s like minus 30 up there.

[@vanessaruiz4705]

they will probably not have another chance in their lives. It's sad 2 people died and i am sure they cried when it happened. But what would change if they give up? are those coming back to life?

[@adils_gaming]

That first row man is Ali Sadpara ❤️

[@k2vlogs662]

K2 and 3 other 8000 ranges mountains are in Shigar Pakistan.I belong to this beautiful valley Shigar.I never went at k2 base camp but one day I will definitely go there (Inshallah).I love these hardworking porters of Shigar who carry more than 35 kg weight from Askoli to K2 base camp more than 200 km to make both end meet.My father used to go k2 when I was 5 years old.I love my father who is my hero and my roll model. I also love K2 ,Gharashabrum 1,grashabum2 ,grashabrum 3 ,4 and broadpeak and all the hardworking porters. ❤️

[@itsPriyangshu]

I always find the porters so fascinating. What amazing feats of strength and courage they have. Its mind boggling

[@waitomo1996]

How do you lose two climbers on the way up, then pose for grinning selfies on the summit? This is sick and depraved.

[@garygwinn4256]

I agree 100%

[@thelasthourgetready]

@Finite Automata lol

[@willyD200]

It seems to have been this way for a long time, but especially over the last 25 years. Many old time mountaineers comment about this modern insatiable egotism and greed . These self centered parasites simply walk past others in dire need, but to be fair and deadly honest, it's a two way street, typically those in dire need should never have been allowed a permit to climb in the first place and most likely would do the same , walk past someone in dire need. It's a clear and obvious fact that once someone is in trouble at 22 -24 thousand feet its tremendously difficult , if not impossible to actually help them on your own . It takes at least a few rugged, trained and energetic climbers all their efforts to get the hurt party down where its a safer environment. It puts those at risk , those whoever are decent enough to try this type a rescue. When you have these types of clients staggering around some place they should never be in the first place this is what you can expect. I wonder the same , as the above commenter mentioned, how could you be jumping around with a smile on the summit after walking past another person who is obviously in great distress and without immediate help will probably be dead when you pass by on the way down. You may know in your heart your not going to be able to help them on your own or even help them as a group, but this lack of empathy , lack of communal empathy is sickening to say the least. If you watch enough of these documentaries you find often enough, many of the perished went against the strong , demanding advice of the sherpa , to turn back now. The cost of egotism is sometimes the ultimate price. The profits involved for the expedition companies also plays a huge part in enabling unskilled wealthy egos to meet their demise.

[@nifty1940]

@@willyD200 Very well said.

[@yayaceravieja1461]

@@willyD200 I totally agree. It is utter depravation!

[@alpsofsilence1461]

"You can smell rotting flesh." No you can't. They just say any ridiculous, Hollywoodian nonsense, just to step up the drama.

[@F8sassassin]

You do realize the snow is so steep that they have to use belays and ice tools, right? That is very technical climbing. If you don't think so why don't you go try it.

[@LardGreystoke]

So...the disaster didn't happen?

[@E3ECO]

I know that was just an ad, but it was still interesting.

[@ProcyonAlpha]

I did K2 in crocs

[@key2adventure]

But both Kangchenjunga and especially Annapurna is more dangerous, just not so fancy to write about. Actually the early story of Kangchenjunga is just as interesting including climbers completely disappearing, like Mallory and Irvine on Everest in 1924 - though Mallory was found in 1999. I'm climbing 8 thousand meter peaks myself (summit of G1, Broad Peak and Cho Oyu, attempts on Dhaulagiri and Everest), and it is most certainly not because I want to face death on the contrary I do everything possible to minimise the risk. Greetings, Bo

[@syedhaniraza]

where is kengchengunga?

[@key2adventure]

+Hsi S Kangchenjunga stands at the North Eastern border of Nepal - the border to the Indian province of Sikkim.

[@Assassunn]

Yes but K2 is mythic, technically you know it's more demanding than Annapurna or Nanga Parbat, it's also the second highest 8k. If you take unexperimented people I bet K2 would be deadlier

[@MultiMrMiles]

the death ratio is the highest on Annapurna.

[@TheRealTaco]

a lot of that is because of 43 deaths from an avalanche...

[@Requiredfields2]

David Sharp was left to die on Everest while others summited. On the way down he was still alive but beyond saving. So what priorities are at play here?

[@anthonyjlomenzo8584]

***** Not to be picky, but the book you are referring to by Joe Simpson [and well worth the read!] is entitled "Dark Shadows FALLING" --- [paperback, 208 pages, 1999] with an ISBN # 089 8865 905. --- Doc Tony

[@Requiredfields2]

***** What would you be more satisfied with: summiting and returning safely, knowing someone died who you might have been able to save? Or abandoning your attempt to help someone? It's as simple as that. You may succeed in saving him or you may fail. Point is, when someone's life hangs in the balance, getting to the top of a mountain no longer matters. I'm not saying to put your own life in danger, just do what you can. For example, share your oxygen with him, get on the radio and try all possibilities. Which choice would you feel better about afterwards? Which one would you have more trouble rationalizing? This has to be the attitude to take before you even get to the mountain. The summit really doesn't matter.

[@RolnOrangeClvrs]

Requiredfields2 David Sharp went to Everest with no support. Went for the summit in the afternoon!?! Had no extra o2. Those are the facts. What people did or didnt do/see is clearly up for debate. I respect the way he wanted to climb the peak but Davis Sharp was playing a deadly game with his life and he lost. Frankly, he couldnt have stacked the deck more against a successful summit.

[@Requiredfields2]

RolnOrangeClvrs No arguments here.....but if someone behaves recklessly does it mean he deserves to die? And if he deserves to die does that mean you and I are completely off the hook to help him? How would you feel about leaving that guy on the mountain while you checked off your bucket list? Would it be worth it, knowing there was even a slim chance you might have saved him? You'd be left with that for the rest of your life.

[@DallasH717]

Requiredfields2 Do you understand how hard it is to save somebody above the death zone? It isn't even worth trying because statistically speaking you are far more likely to die attempting a rescue than you are to actually save the person. David Sharp knew exactly how dangerous what he attempted was, and it is accepted among climbers that if you get stuck above 8000m you are beyond saving. Tell me, if you were climbing and had seen this man and you knew that if you attempted to rescue him you were more likely to die in the process than be successful, would you still attempt it? My guess is no.

[@JCO2002]

Why is the aspect ratio wrong?

[@noallegiances8676]

I know its horrible that they kept on going after two people fell to their deaths in front of them but it happens all the time in animal kingdom. look at the how wildebeests and zebras behave when one gets taken by the lions or crocks, fish when one of them gets taken, lions when one of them is killed, they mourn for a second and then continue to go about their business. We are no different but a only a few of us will break that norm and put our lives at risk for others who are unrelated to us.

[@LardGreystoke]

"I had now made ten first ascents on eight-thousanders, ranging over a period of fifteen years in the Himalaya. But, also, I had often given up - during the same period I had failed ten times on eight-thousanders." -Reinhold Messner. Why he's still alive.

[@Darkswordz]

Begin with 30 people. Come back with 19. Yeah.... no thanks.

[@TheTibetyak]

@Darkswordz - It's a win-win scenario. If you are one of the survivors, you get bragging rights for the rest of your life. If you die on the mountain, then you are celebrated as having "died doing what you loved". I 'm sure that's in a brochure somewhere.

[@andresbk93]

only 11 came back

[@hammerhiem75]

@@TheTibetyak No one came back with bragging rights on this expedition only recriminations. Almost everyone who survived did so with accusations of malpractice or cowardice. Wrongly for the most part but it was and still is a bitterly fought over blame game.

[@TheTibetyak]

@@hammerhiem75 Well stated, in particular, your words of "on this expedition". This one got the media attention and the public paradigm shifted. Most of the public who encounter a climber who attempted that level of ascent are simply awestruck and know little of the dirty details involved with expeditions.

[@hammerhiem75]

@@TheTibetyak 100% agree. a lot of things get swept under the carpet in successful expeditions, you only need read some of the post Everest season climbing blogs to find a vast array of near misses and totally unqualified climbers putting others lives at risk for 3 minutes on top of Everest with hypoxia. But governments are only ever interested in $$

[@IndPolCom]

Everest earns you bragging rights, K2 earns you respect.

[@arjumandvillagelife]

right

[@AlphaZuluKilo]

@Hartley Hare whatever the face, nothing in front of K2

[@FireWeezyMarshall]

@@AlphaZuluKilo be it Everest or K2 both are pretty much respectable. Btw Andrzej Bargiel, a ski mountaineer, skied down from the summit of K2 to the base camp without removing his skis. And the next year he tried to ski down Everest but couldn't do it because of safety issues.

[@AlphaZuluKilo]

@@FireWeezyMarshall On a climbing difficulty scale, Everest is a walk in the park. Skiing down is a total different ball game, one can't because of wider well known craveses on the Everest.

[@FireWeezyMarshall]

@@AlphaZuluKilo No mountaineer has ever called Everest a walk in the park. Go and see what the man who has summited it the most number of times has to say about it. All I am saying is both are respectable.

[@curtisvonepp4335]

To hell with climing to 29.000ft. I'm watching it on KZbin in my rocking chair .

[@lairdriver]

This mountain is more dangerous than Everest. Even with an amazing Parka on, you can still freeze to death because at that altitude your body is struggling for oxygen on anything that high. 30 out every 100 K2 climbers die

[@lionhunter4513]

Any proven statistics or any Proof of That Statement?

[@TC-ik9kn]

@@lionhunter4513 the Annapurna it's actually the deadliest one , K2 the hardest one to climb on a climbers perspective, the kill ratio is not far off, but seats more in the 20-25% of death's, Annapurna above 30%, ouch.. Everest under 5% , to get your mind thinking... Regards

[@kellensarien9039]

I think that number, 30/100, refers to the ratio of people who die over the number of people who summit. Many people who go there do not summit. So the ratio of deaths to climbers would be lower.

[@H__67]

1 in 4 people die lol like imagine going with 3 of your mates one of you ain’t coming back lol

[@kellensarien9039]

@@H__67 More room for the survivors in the back seat of the van as you drive back to Peshawar.

[@gokurules2246]

Go to top of K2 and make a snowman.

[@snowboarder7772]

Goku Rules with a snowboard in his arm

[@gerard4039]

LardGreystoke if you could make a snowmen I think you will have no more energy to come down , at least you will be the highest cadaver on earth :-/

[@brachygobius_xanthozonus]

I think it could be difficult because snow at this altitude is little bit different than snow we know from our cities or suburban places.

[@ezcomeezgo9215]

@@brachygobius_xanthozonus more sticky

[@realAamirShahzad]

🤦

[@Wolfdings]

11 casualties whilst acending K2.. and then there's me with a cake on a plate on top of my stomach watching a yt video about this tragedy. Staying healthy is absolutely important to me.

[@themessenger5868]

You'll live long and well with cake on your stomach, compared with a avid K2 climber. Stick with YT and enjoy cake for many more years to come dude !

[@Wolfdings]

@@themessenger5868 :D man next time I'll share my cake with you!

[@gbwildlifeuk8269]

Why bother with the plate?

[@justanobservation3423]

only 2 were ascending, the rest where descending (the hardest part).

[@jessicayoung1190]

@@justanobservation3423 Going up is optional , coming down is mandatory .

[@nsmith77ify]

"Like a frozen wave about to crash over you." Put so well.

[@goognamgoognw6637]

i found that trivial and it does not even work, seraks are still ice, no glaciers.

[@bloopnation]

and it did.

[@markmnorcal]

Oxymoron

[@maxhult830]

@@bloopnation I was just about to type that, how do you beat me by 6 days on an 11 year old video? Darn it... ;)

[@thomasherzog2172]

well, you could bypass that dangerous section by climbing the rocks left on the trail - done only once in 1939

[@SamiKhan-dg6jq]

1 time acending K2 is equal to 10 time climbing Everest

[@SamiKhan-dg6jq]

i am not undermining bruh,these are facts and reality which have been told by the Eddie Bauer who conqured K2 without oxygen.

[@rextuller3498]

@StackItFromTheJays no it’s equal to 50x everest

[@rextuller3498]

@StackItFromTheJays no, it isnt, more like 500x!!!!!! :DDDDDD

[@seventhuser904]

People forget that Everest is not easy to climb, its the Sherpas who makes it easy to climb Everest.

[@SamiKhan-dg6jq]

@@seventhuser904 absolutely

[@jerseymusicman3332]

I think watching other people do it is enough for me.

[@arjumandvillagelife]

lol :D

[@williamhallthorsson5774]

Smart

[@NeverRubARhubarb]

That's what I say to my Ma when she asks why I haven't had a girlfriend for 12 years.

[@ankurshah23]

It's beautiful outside my window this morning. I woke up today and that's an achievement.

[@AlexCoombes123]

Feel yah

[@Drewb18c1]

There ya go - that's a winning attitude

[@spacecat86]

Do you have narcolepsy or something? Makes it hard to wake up? Otherwise waking up is as easy as taking a shit....your body just does it so I wouldn’t call it an achievement.

[@FondelMikeRotch]

Rough life

[@gard7662]

@@spacecat86 very serious! 😐

[@frostbitefilmsproductions6943]

2008 was the worst disaster on K2 , it reminds me the words of the first man who came to climb the mountain but mountain defeat him , he said it is a "Savage Mountain"

[@Yuuphonixx]

Those words were from George Bell. He wasn't the first man to climb K2, but he is the one who called it the Savage Mountain. Check out Ghosts of K2 as it talks about the 1938, 1939, and 1953 American Karakoram Expeditions.

[@nadagabri5783]

@@Yuuphonixx book or documentary ?

[@Yuuphonixx]

@@nadagabri5783 Documentary. You can find it here on KZbin. There are also books on it. Brotherhood of the Rope, and Five Miles High are also books on the same expeditions.

[@nadagabri5783]

@@Yuuphonixx thank you so much appreciated reply

[@Yuuphonixx]

@@nadagabri5783 no problem!

[@blair00725]

Dying is easy, it is living that is the challenge. - Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

[@AuntieKnowsKitchen]

I’ll conquer Everest via KZbin

[@miankhaliqurrehman9597]

Ali Sadpara has vanished a week ago ... no trace of him sofar.

[@ujjwalmukherjee4384]

When you do the summit at 5 pm, even on Everest its a disaster awaiting you down and on K2 - you are almost signing on your death warrant. Not very wise thing to do when one can make the attempt again next day or next time.

[@user-bx7nw1ve6y]

Life is full of decisions. Frankly, anyone deciding to summit that late in the day deserves everything that happens to them beyond that point. Dumb. Plain and simple.

[@anthonyehrenzweig7697]

Thats right. There were a group of climbers who turned back just because everybody had left too late for the summit. You are supposed to leave camp at night not at 10/11 am in the morning. Those who turned back all survived.

[@BlingBlingTheBSOFTHEISS]

It’s like oxygen deprivation has already claimed them if they decide to go on and you’re submitting at 5 o’clock. Never mind 8 o’clock at night. If you’re not making your summit and turning around in the morning and then hurrying down you will not make it. One in four people still die on that mountain in 2021, even in July, even without an avalanche.

[@ujjwalmukherjee4384]

@@BlingBlingTheBSOFTHEISS Absolutely!

[@thelasthourgetready]

You may not get the attempt the next day. Its all about decisions. Many could go back down and try again in a few years. It's the disappointment of not doing it and having to prepare all over again why many just go for it and die.

[@mikegarippo7815]

No sympathy for anyone who dies while mountain-climbing; it's an asinine pursuit. It's also needlessly reckless.

[@mikegarippo7815]

@Fau Q You are correct.

[@altair458]

“Facing down death”, no. Flirting with disaster, yes. Fools go where angels fear to tread.

[@bluesilkdesigns]

It's chilling how at 1:59 it says that 2 people slipped and died and then he keeps talking about them moving on

[@alexsanne1231]

also that they celeberate when they reach the top

[@varunqumar1]

So, what should they have done after all the hard work of years to get there and putting their own lives to risk to achieve that milestone and so near to the top ? Pls give your viewpoints 🙏

[@bluesilkdesigns]

@@varunqumar1 no, I don't mean they should've quit. I just always feel a certain way about these human endurance stories. Because no matter what happens (others dying) we have to keep going. I feel the same way when I see POV footage of Everest and they look over at dead bodies while they climb.

[@artlover282]

@@varunqumar1 They should stop and re-assess what they are doing. Obviously something has gone wrong. Planned or controlled mountaineering. Fine. But seeing it go wrong and not thinking "maybe we should go back and do this differently". is fucking dumb. There should of been a moment of "we are not ready for this" when someone fucking dies. What's the point in using your life to achieve great feats if you don't even value the life you have in the first place?

[@billfred9411]

@@artlover282 The money they spent to do the trip is already invested. If you left to try it another day you would possibly have to save up another $35,000-$45,000 so some people put themselves in danger just so the money isn't wasted.

[@tkell31]

Basically they started 2-3 hours late becuiase of equipment issues and that cost at least eight of the eleven, but probably all eleven, their lives. Some US climbers didnt even bother trying because of the late start.

[@Gmoney00718]

Said that in the book?

[@stanhankins3175]

Being completely exhausted and oxygen deprivation taking hold of you. Add to that being freezing cold. No way could I make it.

[@gregparrott]

It takes years of serious, increasingly high altitude training to get to their level. Before attempting a 6000+ meter Himalayan peak, most people first climb Denali as a practice run. But even then, some people are inherently vulnerable to cerebral and/or pulmonary edema. A paramedic friend of mine failed at attempt to save the life of a young woman who DIED of altitude sickness at just 12,000 feet in the Sierra.

[@bruzote]

@@gregparrott - I remember reading of a guy who succumbed to ALS after being evac'd from Summit County down to a pressure chamber in Denver. (I only know of the one at Peterson AFB, but I believe his was in Denver.) Once that self-destructive process starts, it can kill you even with treatment.

[@gregparrott]

bruzote For cerebral edema, the next step is to drill holes in the head to relieve the pressure. I don't know if there is a 'next step' for pulmonary edema. Scuba divers use (high) pressure chambers. But in any case I've heard about climbers, they just brought them down to sea level pressure. For Everest, they have a pressurized air tube - but it's pressure is only 1 atmosphere (while the summit's pressure is a third of that)

[@goognamgoognw6637]

@@bruzote when i was a kid, we went to ski in medium high altitude by bus for the day while i lived at lower altitude. I remember sometimes feeling not well but always after the midday lunch everything would fall into place.

[@sionyevans]

This is the REAL challenge for mountaineers is my lasting impression of documentation on K2...RESPECT !!!!

[@betsybarnicle8016]

Who in their right mind would think they could climb in the dark?! Turn-around time isn't an option.

[@janetgood6332]

It happens more often than you think, many climbers will start out at 2 in the morning, to have more time to get up and back. If the ropes had been there, at least most of them would have made it back.

[@TEYRIS01]

You always climb in the dark. Most of the summit (even easy one in the alps), you wake up at 2-3 am at the refuge. at 8-9 am you are at the summit, and you are back at noon. Because with the summer sun, snow and ice is melting the afternoon, even at 4000m+, and it is really hard to walk and also very unsafe (avalanche, falling rocks ...).

[@MrCollewet]

Very comon to climb in the dark, and actually it has some pros, snow is harder because its colder, and this means its less likely for an avalanche to occur

[@betsybarnicle8016]

@@MrCollewet You're right. I've since learned that much of the climbing is predawn.

[@yo2stix]

I mountaineered 8 peaks over 14,000’ in California. It gets painful after 12/13k feet. No way past 20k.

[@AlphaZuluKilo]

16000 is the K2 base camp.

[@frostbitefilmsproductions6943]

3 best climbers missing on k2 , 1 dead , total 5 fatalities. feb 2021

[@Maarten8867]

Death will win in the end anyway...

[@mohdztv2794]

Please .NO IT MAY NOT

[@siremitreppots]

Why not get 1500 Sherpa's to just install a Mag Lev Cable System on this Bad Boy and we can turn it into a giant ride to the top at 400mph ???? Whos with me ????

[@MrDoItNice]

The problem with that is the steepness of the mountain, to counter that we pile another few billion sherpas up to make a ramp, we then put the Maglev system on that.

[@siremitreppots]

I was stumped about the steepness factor. I am still a little embarrassed I didn't consider this in my original post. When the Maglev is up and running the Sherpa's will become obsolete anyways. Good thinking Oran.

[@mariumrajah]

good thinking

[@zenjon7892]

You would probably get the bends....

[@siremitreppots]

Zen Jon No you wouldn't.

[@PInk77W1]

“The most dangerous thing in the world is to be alive.” GK Chesterton

[@urcutejeans-]

great quote. enough said

[@tbone8644]

The most dangerous thing in the world is having more money than you know what to do with

[@NeverRubARhubarb]

The most dangerous thing in the world is to be Alexei Navalny.

[@PInk77W1]

@@NeverRubARhubarb that too

[@cry_now_laugh_later]

The most dangerous thing in the world is believing this quote is anything other than stupid

[@roberthuot7887]

It takes 2 minutes to get to my recliner. And the only time death stares me in the face is when wifey comes home from work.

[@maxxxxxxy]

Ok boomer

[@DEVILFISH1122]

I’m with you.

[@DoggoWillink]

@@maxxxxxxy Sure thing boomer.

[@nifty1940]

hahaha, I love your comment.

[@risorangis2509]

the most difficult thing is to renounce .here mostly of them has decided to continue in front of their death

[@2012toby1]

you can smell rotting flesh in places? I'm sorry flesh don't rot in freaking 7000 meters, they freeze, for ever.

[@cleoweidlich7746]

Zhuozi Sun He meant to say he smelled rotting flesh while at the Gilkey Memorial by K2 BC. I never did on my visits to the memorial, but some people claim they have...

[@dmbeaster]

+louisfriendhastaste Not on the memorial but in a cave right next to it.

[@Bribosome]

the solar radiaition even upwards of 7500 meters can get so warm that flesh will rot. ive been in the alps in winter tanning in the sun. even at 26000 feet it gets hot when theres no wind.

[@larjkok1184]

We accept your apology and the fact you have no idea what you’re talking about.

[@dominiquedock]

not so, as it can be as warm as 30º C in sunny weather even at altitude.

[@lairdriver]

K2 is literally a graveyard

[@tirthankarsarkar5254]

Any 8 t meter in Himalayas , not only k2

[@bossisalwaysright5654]

@@tirthankarsarkar5254 but the casualties ratio are much higher on k2 then other 8 thousanders this is why the world call this a savage mountain

[@tirthankarsarkar5254]

@@bossisalwaysright5654 just reserch once with Kanchenjunga yalung Kang

[@montyi8]

Better not climb such a mountain

[@chrisvig123]

Everest is for Birthday party’s with wine and cheese 😯

[@LightSnowOvernight]

I went to K2 in 1989. It is so steep, you can actually walk to it and touch the side of the mountain

[@Robmar54]

Can anyone make any sense of this statement ?

[@LightSnowOvernight]

I can't think of another way of phrasing it. It is like a wall rising straight up. I have been to 10 of the 8,000 m peaks and none rises so steeply from the base

[@LightSnowOvernight]

I have been the Kangshung Face. It is indeed imposing

[@liljgoneman9765]

Rob Maurice Eloquent description of a "cliff".

[@louisfriendhastaste]

yes.........

[@pouriakalantari6537]

Today I am going to Pakistan. K2 is my last challenge

[@dazz9268]

Happy adventuring! 💪

[@alizain4385]

Stay safe and do let us know when u are back. Lots of prayers for u 👍🏻

[@goognamgoognw6637]

Be safe !

[@shakibishfaq8627]

Did you make it back safely?

[@johndutton4612]

did umake it

[@josephdale69]

They should have climbed Everest while Sherpas carried all of their stuff while sucking oxygen. Waited in the long Disney line to the top.

[@brandonsavitski]

I'm going back to K2 next year and bringing a jackhammer with me. I'm going to get rid of that serac once and for all.

[@richardkey4289]

Brandon Savitski a couple of hand grenades ought to loosen that serac

[@sdmfbastard]

itll eventually build back up

[@lairdriver]

@@richardkey4289 fuckin hand grenade wouldn't do this. That much ice could tank a nuke. It's way too thick. K2 gets constant seismec activity, that's your best bet. That a melting underneath ice that can cause larger parts to collapse.

[@pettit4513]

@@harismahmood9747 So ya feel the need to be racist but are too skittish to spell fuck lol

[@austin33785]

@@pettit4513 Thanks for the good laugh

[@COCOGROCOSHOW]

Mixture of stupidity and selfishness . Because of their hunger for adrenaline and adventure they cause pain to their families

[@M4xlos]

This guy seems a lot like someone who's writing his books for money and has no idea what he's talking about. "You can smell rotting flesh in places". Sure, pal, sure. You've probably never set foot on A mountain in your life.

[@ParagonB]

and climbers on ascent pass under the Serac before they tackle the bottleneck, not after,

[@willestus9120]

Im not a stranger to climbing. I am a stranger however to high altitude climbing and these documentaries are screened and snipped to be better marketable or are only presented in one point of view but if I were to just look at the video and assume the weather at base camp without preconceived notion I'm gonna say its windy af you can probably fart in your suit and never smell it. And it's an arid climate not prone to rotting flesh no matter the temp

[@kevinp665]

Mark Marsh dont be mad because he’s exposing some bs con artist. Lmao smell of flesh rotting... get the fuck out of here with that bs

[@kevinp665]

Mark Marsh nope. Temperatures never get that hot, not to mention the arid constant winds and cold temps. Maybe if he was the worlds greatest dog with a nose fit for a bloodhound. Do you seriously believe anything anyone tells you... fucking child.

[@ianburrows1700]

Kevin P Now now children stop it !

[@gt40f]

They should put the year of the disaster in the title, since there's been about three K2 disasters.

[@dorothykennett2606]

They did! 2008!

[@arjumandvillagelife]

2008

[@sayittomyfaceidareyou8629]

There are other beautiful places in the world and other achievements you can accomplish without having to go to the top of these mountains and risk your life and the lives of others that try to save you. Then you become a permanent landmark on these mountains used by others to possibly meet the same fate. No, no, nope not for me, I stay roasty toasty in my home and pass away from aging and have a proper burial. Making it to old age is an achievement and all the beautiful people and places that are safe to go to is enough for me. U

[@Glitch-nr9ct]

I face down death every night when my wife yells “dinners ready”.

[@AyishaOfficial]

The most horrible moment though 🤐🤫😀

[@jerseymusicman3332]

Her cooking is that bad?

[@IndPolCom]

. Get out

[@drtanveerahmed4585]

So better to go to K2 summit.Have adventure.

[@sharroon7574]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@brentmeistergeneral8174]

Zero sympathy. Stay home and look after your kids instead of chasing a pathetic dream of personal fulfilment.

[@levanahyll5884]

I just came from watching spelunking videos. I was like, "what's the complete opposite of this?" and here I am. Now on to diving both water and air.

[@mikemcculloch1519]

I just put down the book NO Way Down. It was exciting. I was surprised to read so many times that climbers "forgot" to bring rope on such a dangerous mountain as K2. One climber forgot to bring some of the rope clips or something. There were probably some there that counted on bumming what they needed from other climbers. I see that often in different settings.

[@StevenBanks123]

Why do people do it? Here is my negative, disrespectful take: For (some) people, the mountain says “Go on, I dare you.” This goads them. It’s in their own head; the mountain says nothing. The mountain is a pile of rock. Some regard these folks as heroes, as achievers. I regard them as people who climbed a pile of rock on a dare. They did not do it to save someone, or discover a new navigational route. What they do is hard, but there is no real achievement beyond surviving a real danger for fantasy points in an an imaginary game.

[@inobi30]

Well said. Manufacturing adversity for the sake of feeling something

[@juniper1286]

I’m just wondering, do you also think there’s no real achievement running a marathon within a certain time, or winning football matches?

[@StevenBanks123]

@@juniper1286 apples and oranges; you do not wafer your life on the pitch or course.

[@sammysouth8372]

Dear Lord I thank you for not afflicting me with the need for these types of ego trips.

[@telestix6606]

you don't know what you are missing, doesn't have to be this big but there is no time you are more alive than when you are on the mountain

[@incidentalist]

it's more than an "ego trip" - it's usually a very personal thing, we just see it more cause the internet

[@thelasthourgetready]

Lol

[@monkey1234512345]

​​@@incidentalistit is an ego trip plus trashing the mountains. Fack you

[@christinebailey9935]

The main thing I see repeated with all the mountaineering videos is the feeling of accomplishment when they summit. I realize oxygen deprivation can affect thought processes. Don’t these people realize the climb down feels like twice the difficulty and distance because of your physical condition?

[@rogerpattube]

You tell em Christine. Go girl.

[@herbert9241]

Plan for every contingency at ground level and stick to the plan. What these people did is madness - letting the effects of oxygen starvation overrule all their preparation.

[@jerrodp9867]

You don't "let" the effects of oxygen starvation overrule anything. You aren't thinking clearly and you make bad decisions. They didn't make the best choices "because" of oxygen starvation.

[@herbert9241]

@@jerrodp9867 - The way I put it is better. Your attempt at semantic correction eats itself from the tail up. 'They didn't make the best choices "because" of oxygen starvation' reads grammatically as though they made the best choices regardless of oxygen starvation. Don't get me wrong, I can make sense of your addled syntax but your flimsy point stands on ignoring my opening sentence. You'd have been better off challenging me on ignoring the serac collapse factor.

[@rafailbaldal6062]

Idiot their oxygen ran out , nothing they could do dumbass

[@LKeet6]

Their plan was immediately out the window when the first group didn't leave early enough to put the ropes out. That's why the decent happened in darkness. Then they were extremely unlucky that an ice fall took their ropes out.

[@bastogne315]

As you ascend you pass the bodies of fallen climbers, their eyes stare blankly at you, their torn and windblown suits expose dry and dessicated flesh. It is here many sumiteers will stop, say a short prayer over the corpse and then tear off a frozen finger or nouget of flesh, chew intently for a minute and then, their appetite satiated continue on their long, perilous, upward journey.

[@TushaIraq89]

Adolf Galand This made my day!!! 😂😂

[@bastogne315]

@@TushaIraq89 You are welcome pretty lady.

[@egret2813]

Bro with a sense of humour like that, you should have your own TV show!! 😂

[@brandonsavitski]

I always went straight for the assholes of the dead bodies. Eating the asshole is a delicacy.

[@mahnoor5930]

😂😂😂 wow

[@johnhutchins7704]

"You can smell rotting flesh in places". I really can't believe that.

[@aart5541]

Right? Wouldn't it either have rotten away already or frozen?

[@edbroaotearoa1198]

Just realised this was a advertisement for his book

[@varunqumar1]

Oh, Great realisation !!! What next ?

[@edbroaotearoa1198]

Interpreter please

[@varunqumar1]

@@edbroaotearoa1198 won't get it. Try on your own 😂😂

[@edbroaotearoa1198]

@@varunqumar1 Very confusing, have a nice day

[@varunqumar1]

@@edbroaotearoa1198 nice day to you too. Looks like a little misunderstanding...🙏

[@adriandelfabbro8875]

I’d go just for the smell of rotting flesh.

[@milkydromida2512]

So far, this book is incredible. I've never read anything quite like it. Forget the Hollywood movies about events such as these; this actually happened.

[@samanthaday8708]

So did the Everest events that the film was based on look up 1996 or Everest I think that what they was recreating in the film

[@tancl8322]

Have read the book, it's truly a fantastic piece of account.

[@devinnore]

the sad truth of humanity, we can bear through something treacherous, bask in the glory of our selfish victory while we forget about the ones who died for the same cause even at that same moment. Then we brag about our feats and lie to ourselves about feeling sorry for the people we never even knew so that it all seems worth it in the end.

[@niemanickurwa]

Slightly disturbing that after 2 people fell to their death they carry on and celebrate when they summit. Friends like these...

[@quovadis7119]

So if they give up, go down, and weep, it'll help the dead climbers??

[@goognamgoognw6637]

@@quovadis7119 If so, then you just prooved there is no point in mourning deaths or funerals. Were would we be without your great insight.

[@AdurxIsd]

@@goognamgoognw6637 well, there really is no point. the dead don´t give a shit anymore and your life goes on wether you´re mourning or not.

[@IngridLoy]

@@quovadis7119 live is worth nothing fo certain persons only the top counts, costs are dead friends you cares and weeping is for children end women only yes?

[@ze2004]

you idiot they celebrated at the same time when that happened... They didnt know at the moment of being on the edge...

[@AnyoneCanSee]

I like to blindfold myself and run across a freeway. Why? "It's facing down death!" So his book is filled with prosaic trite platitudes. Thanks for the heads up Penguin.

[@area51r]

lol

[@vladsnape6408]

Playing chicken with freeway traffic is way cheaper than climbing K2.

[@PaulSmith-pr7pv]

Perfectly put

[@well_i_liked_it]

Nice video, to the point and clearly explained.

[@sushimamba4281]

Well, thats on my bucket list of things not to do...

[@tightropetomg]

Bowley's book completely dismissed the rescue efforts by Ger McDonnell despite there being eyewitness reports of him having gotten the Koreans moving again. Read Pat Falvey/Pemba Gajale's book if you want a more complete discussion of what went on.

[@cyruskhan3462]

We lost Pakistani hero Ali Sadpara this month.

[@someshsaharan5813]

Pakistan mei har insaan hero kyu hai? India se har baar pitte ho aur sab HeRo. Smh.

[@Rich.H68]

How the hell do these people celebrate when their colleagues have died just hours before.

[@saund102]

it was a Serbian and a Pakistani

[@melb.1906]

Impiety

[@BlingBlingTheBSOFTHEISS]

Even now one in four people will die trying to Summit K2 in 2021 With oxygen

[@dennisn1672]

The only thing you achieve dying on a mountain is hurting everyone who cared about you. Some achievement.

[@halfwithazard4112]

you’re seeing it in a very selfish light... those people did it for themselves because thats what they set their mind to, and to not follow your dream is to not live at all. we all die one day. i for one would like to die doing what i dream to do no matter anyone else’s thoughts. if i follow myself and not others i know i’ll die happy, and that matters to me more than petty grieving. personally if someone close died at a young age, and i then found out it was cause they were doing something dangerous, i wouldn’t be mad or upset. i’d have respect for them and a sense of euphoria and admiration would wash over me

[@missustoad1]

Who was the first fool who decided this would be cool to climb (amid all the equally scary mountains).

[@doncampbell9295]

yes, I must say that an audio track would be awesome but that video was incredible. thankyou for doing that.

[@whiteavalanche8347]

Never waste an opportunity to profit off of tragedy, eh? Ego is a hell of a drug.

[@TheIslandstyle11]

Interviewer: Why do ppl do it? It's beautiful, it's an achievement.. ME: yea risking your life just for beauty and achievement.. that's DUMB.

[@TonyWinston57]

I'll stick with my local brewery,it takes five minutes to get home.LOLL

[@catlikepizzagaming8280]

The willingness of humans to deny themselves either a chance or if they have children already another chance to spread their genes Never ceases to amaze me

[@incidentalist]

They are living to the fullest, it's called a passion..... people have died for things they love for millenia

[@craftylemon2460]

Why do you want to spread your genes? Really think about it and answer please.

[@catlikepizzagaming8280]

Craftylemon what are dribbling on about?

[@craftylemon2460]

​@@catlikepizzagaming8280 You said that you are amazed about the willingness of people denying themselfs a chance to spread their genes. Your comment implies that it would be a bad thing so since i don't know the answer to my own question i asked you. If you are a person who wants to spread your genes, why?

[@catlikepizzagaming8280]

Craftylemon I lost you at themselfs, I think you will find the word is themselves You do realise that having children spreads your genes, right?

[@JTQ-81]

I think the best book I've read about this tragedy is One Mountain Thousand Summits by Freddie Wilkinson. K2 makes Everest look like a leisurely stroll in the park.

[@MoodyKhan87]

K2 is undoubtly a KILLER MOUNTAIN!!!!

[@thelasthourgetready]

No its called the savage mountain the killer mountain is called nanga parbat

[@jimcarlassare7509]

"play stupid games win stupid prizes"

[@curiouscarpenter3152]

"Why do they do it?"... 100% pure EGO.

[@danawhite1627]

Most arrived around 5pm automatic death

[@ericdebord]

Bring back the dead and ask them "Was it worth it ?" Every single one of them will say "NO" It wasn't worth it, nothing like this is worth drying over.

[@MinerCazfadz]

How could you ever claim to know what "the dead" think or feel

[@d3athreaper100]

Fun fact you can't smell death there all the bodies are basically mummified which essentially turns them to leather/plastic

[@ValleyMermaid]

An achievement that serves what purpose? I’m not criticizing... I genuinely don’t get it andvwould like to understand. It seems to be polluting the mountain with dead bodies and garbage left behind that can’t be cleaned up or retrieved, and what is accomplished in the end? It serves what purpose? It seems to be just a self serving ego thing.

[@dekippiesip]

The purpose is to be able to brag about it after the climb.

[@ValleyMermaid]

Payal Thakur, so it’s for a “feeling”? To have a FEELING, is worth all those lives and pollution, that leaves the locals to have to live with. Wow.

[@ValleyMermaid]

Payal Thakur I’m talking about it being polluted with dead bodies as much as hiker’s garbage. It sounds very selfish. Obviously every time we dive in a car, there is a certain measure of risk and with many other things daily, but I don’t think it’s an accurate comparison to the risk of climbing into an altitude that starts to kill you. I say selfish, mostly in regard to those who leave behind a spouse and children💔...... all for a feeling.

[@calebtolento190]

Just FYI, pollution is the presence of something that is harmful to the environment. Dead bodies actually play a role in the carbon cycle through decomposition, aiding the environment. In fact, the way we bury the dead through embalming and cremation processes releases toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and phenol into the air and soil. Not trying to be a dick but if you're concerned about the environment, I don't think you should be worried about some dead bodies on a mountain.

[@Maverickf22flyer]

Hmm...! "Why do people do it?". Well, first of all because they get excited about this idea (as everyone has this wish somewhere in their mind to reach the beautiful tops), but a very deadly reason why they continue to it even after they understand how close to certain and unforgiving death they are is the huge amounts of money that they've spent for this and don't want to lose them for nothing (such as giving up along the way) so they rather accept to continue to their deaths. For short, psychologically generally, in their minds the people put things in balance such that they'd rather accept death than the failure and frustration of all their paid effort (money) for something that they won't achieve while seeing the others reach their goal. It's this combination of competition (or fear of being a loser), some amount of greed (as they don't know their limits) and the very difficult to shake thoughts about the money involved which push apparently balanced people to not care so much about death anymore..., so the death itself picks them up very easy! The fact that we as humans don't want to accept the truth which is often very plain clear in our eyes, is the greatest of all problems...! This is what drives us to death. From my opinion (I also dream about climbing), in order for these kind of expeditions (including those on Everest) to be almost virtually death free, some thorough engineering projects should take place on these mountains first (of course, for that it's mandatory to close the normal climbing expeditions until the project is finished) in order to prepare the road ahead and assure highly safe shelters and systems in case of avalanches, people falls and lack of oxygen as well as a safer chosen path along the summit, and with my simple mind I can think of some of the following: If we can't have this as a safe sport and even if it won't look like a sport anymore as most of the people would then be able to do this and the pride of some will have to suffer (not such a tragedy from my perspective), at least much fewer deaths will occur: Safety features/systems in cases of avalanches: -High tech safety lines to be installed by true and experienced structures engineers. No more use of old fashion textile ropes which are a gamble in some places and are consumables. A well built pair of safety carbon fiber (or even steel lines if the costs are incredibly great) lines on which everyone would be firmly hooked. Lines which should be fixed on avalanche resistant vertical beams or poles that would automatically extend (like a telescope) upwards in cases of earth quakes and/or avalanches. Even if everyone would get stranded high into the air, at least no one would be covered by an ice fall or avalanche until they will be freed from the lifted lines. -In case that an avalanche surprises a camp. The shelters should be some well placed structures (depending on the terrain's geometry) having a low profile shape (something that can't be thrown off by the avalanche) such as a flying saucer with a long (enough meters to stick out of the avalanche) vertical symmetrical airfoil shaped (to have very reduced drag from the avalanche wave) escape shaft through which the shelter occupants can get in and out. The shelter itself should be firmly fixed to a well chosen rock or steady ground (drill fixed into it). The shelters would indeed be covered by avalanches by many meters, but being hermetically enclosed and mechanically strong, they would not be deformed by an avalanche's force or snow/ice weight above them. -A mesh of long life sensors should be planted here and there on well chosen places of the mountain which could sound the alarm on oncoming avalanches. In case of falls: -If someone loses grip and falls and even if for whatever reason both of his hooks on the high-tech safety lines (which should keep him from a free fall) or possibly a sector of the safety line itself would break, the one in free fall should still have a chance to escape death. A suit that would inflate when commanded (with highly pressurized capsules used on life vests) n order to cushion out hard hits allover the body (and even partially cover the man's face) and at the same time extend some spring loaded flappers which would dig into snow (even if not stopping the slide, at least reduce it's speed). To deny or greatly reduce the risk of hypoxia: -The engineers should build a relatively low diameter but mechanically strong air or oxygen pressurized hose that would be attached to the self-extendable vertical beams/poles (the ones that would extend upwards in case of an avalanche which already carry the safety lines) along the climb path all the way from a pressurizing source (of air or oxygen) somewhere possible at the bottom of the mountain all the way to the summit point. This way, at any moment someone is in a need of higher density air (pressurized) or oxygen may connect his mask from time to time directly to random hose connection points along the path or simply re-fill his own bottle and carry on. -The use of chemically obtained oxygen (emergency oxygen generators such as those found on passenger aircraft) in dire situations. Their only risk is that these generators heat up some 200+ degrees Celsius when providing oxygen. Outside it's too cold, while these can create burns, but if well encapsulated and designed, a small part of the heating process can be used to heat up the suits extremities (hands/legs). I don't know if these may be possible, these are my ad-hoc ideas to save lives, yet even if these very expensive projects would need great funding from somewhere, after something like this would be finished, the one who initially invested in such a project would be able to recover his money by many times anyway. I believe that the state/country should be able to invest in this, therefore a hugely higher amount of clients there will be as the risks of certain deaths are greatly reduced and probably the price of an expedition itself would be lower over time as only the maintenance of the safety systems would cost regular money. I have very little knowledge about economics and finances, yet I believe it would cost less over time. The only bad thing is that sherpas wouldn't be needed anymore so they're probably be out of duty as everything would be built by the engineers to stay and would only require maintenance now and then.

[@lucille_2438]

That's very interesting! But I still think the sherpas would be of use as well. I like your ideas

[@Butane-lj6tr]

You see two people dying and you keep on going. I Do not get it.

[@telestix6606]

It's hard to explain and everyone reasons to keep going are different however a big part of it is the $60,000 you spent on the expedition and couple that with "they must have guide who can look after them" it passes the responsibility. I am not saying it's right but the truly big mountains have lost the comradery you still get on lower mountains where mutual aid is the norm

[@Butane-lj6tr]

@@telestix6606 so i prefer to stay on a low mountain then. Better for my concience.

[@dekippiesip]

@@Butane-lj6tr you also couldn't save them anyways. Trying to will very likely result in your own death.

[@funvilla8047]

they are stupid, not brave.

[@kevincross4302]

Look forward to reading...loved Krakauer's 'Into Thin Air' and Boukreev's 'The Climb'

[@kathyborthwick6738LakotaEmoji]

I have read both- cultural differences explain a lot!

[@hni7458]

Don't compare K2 to Everest, apples and pears. Yes it's more difficult. Why: Because of the impossible weather and the avalanches and the serac and all that completely unpredictable shit. Read 'Buried in the sky'; no matter how good you are at climbing, when the avalanche strikes you are dead, dead. You will be able to find equal - or indeed more - difficulty at E going alpine style depending on route. The K2 events '08 arguably took heroes' lives, like Der McDonnell's, nothing he could have done about that - except thinking of himself in the first place, which he indeed, and, yes, reportedly didn't. Please take such mindset into consideration before you flick off the climber's ethics - they aren't like us.

[@dazz9268]

Were it not for these people, these ADVENTURERS, we couch surfers wouldn't get these amazing stories/ video and pictures. We literally wouldn't know what anything across the world looks like if not for people like this.