K2: The most coveted summit in mountaineering
Do you know which is the most coveted peak for all kinds of mountain lovers? You'll find it between Pakistan and the Chinese region of Kashmir, and it's none other than K2. K2, with summit coordinates of 35° 52' 52.86'' N, 76° 30' 48.43'' ECoord.: 35° 52' 52.86'' N, 76° 30' 48.43'' E, and a maximum height of 8,611 meters, is one of the greatest mountains in the world, surpassed only by Everest. Among the 14 eight-thousanders (if you want to know which are the 14 "eight-thousanders" on the planet, click here), it is undoubtedly the most coveted and difficult peak of all.
Specifically, this mountain is located in one of the parts of the Karakoram mountain range, an area that, as we mentioned, forms part of the border between Pakistan and China, specifically in the Kashmir region, an area clearly in dispute and conflict over its territorial allocation.
This mountain, whose usual ascent route is located on the southeast ridge, specifically in the Pakistani area of Abruzzo, was recorded in 1856 by a team of surveyors led by a British man, but it was not until 1902 that it can be said that for the first time an ascent to the summit was attempted in a serious way, since previously there had been pseudo-attempts to ascend which ended in failure.
In reality, this attempt to reach the summit in 1902 also ended in failure after repeated attempts to attack the peak. The Duke of Abruzzo also suffered a similar failure in 1909 in his attempt to ascend K2, and subsequent failures followed time and again for those attempting to reach one of the highest peaks in the world.
It was in 1954, specifically on the last day of July, that K2 was summited for the first time. This feat was accomplished by an Italian team led by Ardito Desio. Several years later, until 1973, K2 was summited for the second time.
Repeated ascents to the summit have been taking place since that distant 1973, the same ones have already occurred by all its edges, and there are two ascents beyond the first ones that perhaps deserve special relevance: the first female ascent, which occurred in 1986 by the Polish Wanda Rutkiewicz, and also the ascent made by the oldest person, specifically that achievement is held by Carlos Soria who in 2004 and being 65 years old, reached the summit of K2.
