K-2 Expedition

K2 (also known as Savage Mountain, Mountaineer’s Mountain, Mount Godwin-Austen, Balti: Chogori and Sarikoli: Mount Qogir) is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest. With a peak elevation of 8,611 m (28,251 feet), K2 is part of the Karakoram Range, and is located on the border between Baltistan, in the Gilgit–Baltistan region of Pakistan.

K2 lies in the north western Karakoram Range,  And word “Karakoram” in Turkish means “Black Rubble”. In 1856 Capt. Montgomerie surveyed a number of peaks in the Baltoro region of the Karakoram from a distance of about 200km. He noted a cluster of high peaks and named them with the prefix “K” for Karakoram K1, K2 and K3.  And thus he named k2.

Again in 1861 the area was further surveyed by Col. Godwin Austin and recognized this rocky pyramid as K2 as the highest and measured it to be 8619m and then 8611m but the present official height of K2 stands as 8616m as per the scientific measures made from Concordia in 1987. Its local name is Chogori, which means Great Mountain or “King of Mountains”.

The route to K2 goes through the famous Shigar Valley and Baltoro Glacier region of Baltistan. There are several high peaks, which are situated in this world’s largest temperate zone glacier. Only the highest or more prominent ones have been named or climbed. An incredible nineteen of these peaks in the Baltoro region tower over 7600m while four of them are 8000ers. K2, the second highest mountain in the world towers majestically above Concordia with the sweeping Godwin Austin Glacier offering an ice highway towards it.

It was first climbed by Italians in 1954. The route to K2 goes through the Baltoro region of Baltistan. There are several high peaks which rise from the world’s largest temperate zone glacier. Only the highest or more prominent peaks have been named or climbed. An incredible nineteen of these peaks tower over 7600m while four of them are 8000ers.