K2 mountain, Godwin Austin

First ever photograph taken of K2 in 1902 by Jules Jacot-Guillarmod. In 1902, an international team of six embarked on an ambitious expedition to the Karakoram. Their goal – the first ascent of K2 (8,611m). During their six-month expedition they achieved a high point of 6,525m.

K2 the snow covered and glaciers around this might mountain is standing from the base 15,000 feet (4,570 metres) glacier is named Baltoro Glacier or some time Godwin Austin glacier. K2 was first discovered in 1856 by Col. T.G. Montgomerie during a Survey of India, and given the name K2. 19th-century English geographer name Mount Godwin Austen is for the peak’s first surveyor.

The first attempt to reach the summit was made by an Anglo-Swiss expedition in 1902 that ascended to 18,600 feet (5,670 metres) on the peak’s northeastern crest. Other unsuccessful attempts included an Italian expedition in 1909, led by Luigi Amedeo, duke d’Abruzzi, via the southeastern ridge (later called the Abruzzi Ridge) that reached approximately 20,000 feet (6,100 metres). In 1938 an American expedition led by Charles Houston via the Abruzzi Ridge reached about 26,000 feet (7,925 metres); in 1939 another American-led expedition following the same route reached about 27,500 feet (8,380 metres); and in 1953 another expedition led by Houston reached 25,900 feet (7,900 metres) on the Abruzzi Ridge. Finally, in 1954, an Italian expedition consisting of five scientists (including the geologist Ardito Desio as leader), a doctor, a photographer, and 12 others, including a Pakistani, managed to conquer the Abruzzi Ridge despite the severe weather conditions. The summit was reached at 6 PM on July 31, 1954, by Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli. In the course of the ascent, Mario Puchoz, one of the guides, died of pneumonia.