Buried in the Sky by Peter Zuckerman and Amanda Padoan is the story of the mountaineers and the Serpa heroes who risked, and in some cases gave, their lives to help their clients during the tragic 2008 summit attempts.
This account is told from the viewpoint of the climbing Sherpas and high altitude porters who make a living taking mountaineer clients to the top of K2, the most dangerous of the high altitude peaks in the world. On one day in 2008, eleven people lost their lives on the slopes of K2. This well researched book took the authors around the world for face-to-face interviews with those who lived through and survived the tragedy. It's a gripping tale that won't let you stop reading until the story is complete.
I read mine on Kindle. With the case's built in LED light it makes night reading so easy up at the cabin. It is also available in print and Audible versions at Amazon and other online vendors.
K2 is rich in lore and history, with many books and films to choose from:
Films:
K2: The Ultimate High (1991) Avid climbers test themselves to reach the summit.
K2: Siren of the Himalayas (2012) Follows climbers on a 2009 trek.
The Summit (2012) The story of the world's most dangerous mountain.
K2 and the Invisible Footmen (2016) The story of porters who make the climbs possible.
Books:
K2: Life and Death (2009) by Ed Viesturs and David Roberts
No Way Down (2010) by Graham Bowley
Surviving K2 (2012) by Wilco van Rooijen
K2: Triumph and Tragedy (2013) by Jim Curran
The Summit: How Triumph Turned to Tragedy (2014) by Pat Falvey and Pemba Gyalje Sherpa
The Ghosts of K2: The Race for the Summit (2016) by Mick Conefrey
Do you have any other suggestions? -- Margy
the Sherpas are amazingly courageous people from anything I've read about them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the film & book suggestions.
I saw a documentary about the Sherpas and porters and it's hard to believe they can carry such horrendous loads up through the ice and snow. - Margy
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