At an impressive elevation of 8,611 meters, Mount K2, often referred to as the ‘King of Mountains,’ proudly stands as the second-highest peak globally, after Mount Everest at 8,849 meters. It is in the Karakoram range of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan, and partially in the China-administered Trans-Karakoram Tract. K2 is called ‘Savage Mountain’ because it is one of the hardest mountains in the world to climb. But with enough practice and appropriate gear, you can successfully climb the K2.
Though Mount Everest is the highest mountain, K2 is still the deadliest to climb out of all the mountains. Because of its location and weather, every one of the four people who climbed the K2 ended up unsuccessful. Still, it is one of the most popular destinations in the tourism world. The struggle and the risky hike are worth the scenery that you will witness from the top of the mountain!
To climb the King of Mountains, K2, there are a few things to know first. The routes you can choose, depending on the nearest route, the weather, the difficulties you might face during your ascent, and the extremely high altitude.
Let’s give you a clear guide to the mighty K2 mountain!
Abruzzi Spur is one of the routes to K2, which 75% of the climbers use. The Spur is the Standard route of ascent. It starts at an altitude of 5,400 meters and is located near the Advanced Base Camp. Though the route is easier to cover, it still requires exceptional mountaineering skills.
Other than Abruzzi Spur, you can climb to the top of the Mountain of mountains through the North Ridge. The rarely used route is on the Chinese side of the mountain. And it is much more difficult than the Abruzzi Spur. The North Ridge is hard to climb because of its difficult access from the Shaksgam River. Notoriously, fatalities occur on this route.
Some other infrequently used routes include the Northeast Ridge, the West Ridge, the Southwest Pillar, also known as the Magic Line; South Face, also known as the Polish Line or the Central Rib; Northwest Face, Northwest Ridge, South-southeast Spur, and the West Face. These routes are rarely used because 75% of the mountaineers use the Abruzzi Spur. They are entirely made up of rock crevasses and snow-covered couloirs. Hence, it’s better to go for the Abruzzi Spur route as it is the safest of all the known routes.
Having complete knowledge about the base camps near the K2 Mountain is essential for having a victorious trip to the top of the mountain. Typically, there are 4 base camps that you can encounter while climbing K2: the Urdukas base camp, the Goro II base camp, the Concordia base camp, and the K2 base camp. The base camps cost from 2,890 USD to 3,190 USD. K2 base camp is the most popular out of all of them.
The K2 base camp is the nearest to the mountain, and its trek starts from Askole village (90 km). The Concordia base camp is a frequently used campsite, aside from the K2 base camp. It is 12 km away from K2. Concordia is one of the base camps where you can witness 4 majestic peaks: K2, Board Peak, Gasherbrum I, and Gasherbrum II. From personal experience, I would suggest you opt for the Concordia base camp. The breathtaking scenery there is much better than the other base camps can provide.
Other than the base camps, there are 5 different camps at different elevations of K2. With the advanced base camp (5303.52m), Camp 1 (6065.52m), Camp 2 (6699.5), Camp 3 (7254.24m), and Camp 4 (7711.44). These campsites are there to help the mountaineers acclimatize and have a safe journey to the top.
Knowing the routes and the base camps will help you a ton during this long and tiring journey. There are some essentials that you will need to climb K2 successfully. Undoubtedly, being a trained climber is integral to climbing the second-highest but the deadliest mountain ever. But other than that, there are some factors that you need to focus on too.
Having appropriate gear such as crampons, ice axes, ropes, harnesses, a helmet, a reliable backpack to carry all your equipment, a GPS, a flashlight, food, and compact snacks. You will also need warm and insulating clothes like fleece jackets, windproof outer layers, and thick socks. Carrying all the necessary items with you will make your trip significantly easier.
Your expedition to the top of K2 Mountain can take approximately 45 to 52 days. Taking all this time and risk to climb Savage Mountain, you will feel rewarded in the end because the view that you will witness is going to be beyond anything you have ever seen. The much smaller snow-covered mountains surrounding K2 and the greenery visible from meters away are surely a remarkable sight to behold.
By being aware of everything mentioned, you can climb the King of the Mountains, K2. You can only go for K2 mountain climbing if you have previous experience and professional training as a mountaineer. Even though K2 possesses some of the most breathtakingly entrancing scenery, it is still one of the hardest mountains to climb.
So, by apprehending the facts, being prepared for the worst, and constant training for the final climb, you can triumphantly climb the second-highest mountain in this world.