Mighty K-2 Exacts a High Price

Tragically, three South Koreans, two Nepalis, two Pakistani porters, and French, Serbian, Norwegian and Irish climbers, 11 in all, have died on K-2 in northern Pakistan. In the prime of youth, they have paid the ultimate price for their passion to match their strength against the second highest mountain in the world, which is even more unforgiving than Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world. Previously, one of the worst single-day death tolls was on Everest on 11 May 1996, when eight people died in summit attempts.

In the deadliest day in K2's history, the avalanche occurred when a chunk from an ice pillar snapped away on a feature called the Bottleneck. Several climbers plunged to their deaths; others froze in the death zone when the retreat was blocked.

On the brighter side, the BBC reports that Pakistani helicopters have rescued two Dutch climbers from K2. Rescue climbers have reached an Italian mountaineer and are helping him to an advance camp high on the mountain slopes, Reuters said.

In all, about 25 climbers reached the summit on Friday but nine died on descent after an avalanche swept away their ropes. Earlier, while climbing up, two climbers fell to their deaths.

Four rescue climbers reached remaining survivor Italian mountaineer Marco Confortola after attempts to reach him by helicopter failed in bad weather. Reportedly, the rescuers were guiding Mr Confortola to the cold comfort of the advanced base camp at 6,000 metres (19000 ft.) The head of an Italian mountaineering group who spoke to Mr Confortola by satellite phone reported his feet were frostbitten but be could walk.

"Up there it was hell," Ansa news agency quoted Mr Confortola telling his brother Luigi. "During the descent, beyond 8,000 metres (26,000 feet), due to the altitude and the exhaustion I even fell asleep in the snow and when I woke up I could not figure out where I was".