Only one person in 20 who summits Everest summits K2. K2 is often referred to as the Siren of the Himalayas. K2 is also one of the most dangerous mountains in the world – the fatality rate is 25%, whereas Everest is 6.5%.
In addition to the lack of Sherpas, support, fixed ropes and routes on K2, the more unpredictable weather and avalanches, the technicality and steepness of the climb, as well as the logistics of the climb and trek, make K2 more difficult than Everest.
With 8611 meters, it is the second-highest peak in the world, second only to Everest at 8 848 meters. In 2008, 11 climbers died on K2 in one of the biggest tragedies in mountaineering history.
What exactly makes K2 so dangerous? Let’s compare Everest to K2 since it is the most popular of the 8000-meter mountains.
Table of Contents
1. Different rules for different countries
To begin with, K2 is located in a challenging location. In Nepal, where visas are readily available and flights are relatively cheap, Mount Everest is located.
Since you approach Everest Base Camp on dirt roads that are easy to hike, you don’t get exhausted. To top it all off, there are Sherpas to carry your equipment and tea houses to stay in. Overall, the experience is relatively straightforward.
In contrast, the approach to K2 takes place in Pakistan, which is a notoriously difficult country to access. Visas are hard to obtain and it is not generally considered a tourist destination.
K2 is approached via a glacier. It’s not just a glacier – it’s a highly technical trek that includes glacial ice, snow, and rock that is extremely technical and potentially dangerous.
It is necessary to dig deep for grit and stamina even before you get to the mountain. A serious injury can occur before reaching the base camp.
The last thing you’ll find is Sherpas and teahouses. All your gear needs to be carried with you and tents need to be pitched on the way, making the trip much more challenging.
2. Differences in route and climbing
The routes have been effectively laid out due to the frequent climbing of Everest. Moreover, there are many zigzags, making it easier to climb.
Moreover, steep climbs aren’t something you encounter every day. Only a few obstacles are extremely difficult, such as the Hillary Step and Khumbu Icefall. The climb of Everest is not technically difficult.
Routes on K2 are not well laid out, because few people feel up to the challenge of this foreboding mountain. Because the mountain is shaped like a triangle, you will face a steep climb from day one, whichever route you take.
On K2, there are many really difficult obstacles along the way, so every day is a technical climb. This climb is more technical as well, combining alpine, rock, and ice climbing the whole way up.
House’s Chimney and Black Pyramid are examples of hard rock climbs in the middle of an alpine climb. At a certain point, you will face the Motivator – crossing below a vast hanging glacier at a high altitude, where you are already oxygen-starved.
3. Remoteness increases uncertainty
No matter where you are, rescue expeditions above 6000m are difficult, but it helps to have settlements nearby.
Two small towns are located within a day or two of the route, which adds to the peace of mind. K2 is a truly isolated mountain. There will be a long delay before anyone can reach safety if you get into trouble there.
4. Popularity differences
This point is related to the two previous points. Everest’s popularity makes it very easy to find companies with paid guides who will take you up the mountain. Because of this, the most popular routes are equipped with fixed ropes, making things easier for climbers.
The clients of paid-for tours are often called “short-roped” because they are attached to a Sherpa by a short rope so that they can reach the summit quickly and easily.
K2, on the other hand, is less popular due to its remoteness and difficulty. No fixed ropes are used, and there are no short-roped clients. Members of the team must contribute to the success of the team and must be experienced and skilled mountaineers.
According to someone famous, you climb Everest in order to tell people stories at parties. If you want to be one of the best mountaineers, you must climb K2. Even though we disagree with the statement that this is always true, we do understand the reasoning behind it.
5. There are more avalanches on K2.
We know the weather in the mountains can be unpredictable. Though some mountains are more unpredictable than others.
K2 is located farther north than Everest, making for highly unpredictable and incredibly foul weather. The weather can change at any time, so you can’t count on a break in the clouds to give you the window you need to reach the summit and return safely.There are also more avalanches on K2 than on Everest.
Because of this, a successful summit on K2 is as much about luck as it is about skill. Look at the list of fatalities on K2 and you will see some very accomplished mountaineers among them, and that is frightening to think about.
The Himalayan siren
Every year, despite its deadly reputation, new expeditions attempt the summit, responding to the siren call of K2. What are you waiting for?
Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs):
Why is K2 the most dangerous mountain to climb?
To know, why K2 is the most dangerous mountain to climb, you need to check out the video below
Which is harder Everest or K2?
Despite being just two football fields shorter than Everest, K2, which spans the Pakistan-China border, is considered one of the world’s most difficult and dangerous mountains to climb, earning the nickname “Savage Mountain.” and unlike Mount Everest, you cannot simply walk to the top.
Can you see dead bodies on Everest?
The normal Everest routes have quite a few dead bodies along them. The Death Zone, also called Everest’s Graveyard, is an area above 8,000 meters. On her latest summit in 2018, Lhakpa Sherpa saw seven dead bodies – including one whose hair was still blowing in the wind.
What mountain has never been climbed?
At 7,570m, Gangkhar Puensum is widely considered the highest unclimbed mountain in the world. It is located in Bhutan on the border with China and various groups have attempted to climb the mountain with one team reaching a subsidiary peak in the late 1990’s, however, the main peak has not been reached.
How do cliff climbers sleep?
The aspect of sleeping on a portaledge, however, has always appealed to us when it comes to big wall climbing. Hanging tarps are what climbers use to sleep on when they have to spend an overnight on a wall. They’re somewhat like hammocks, but way, way more robust.
