The Summit: How Triumph Turned To Tragedy On K2’s Deadl… (2024)

It read like an exploded version of the 'Summit' documentary, it's a detailed and impartial account of the tragedy from essentially the people involved in it.

Best written book about the 2008 K3 disaster. Engaging , detailed ,haunting - just what a book on the subject ought to be.

Exhaustive telling of the 2008 K2 tragedy, written from eyewitness reports and interviews with survivors. It's definitely disaster p*rn, but does highlight the extremes people will go to in order to reach the summit of these great mountains, and the subsequent consequences of succumbing to 'summit fever'. A documentary by the same name has also been made and the interviews for the film have been used for this book. Having these first hand accounts helps give weight to the veracity of the events portrayed. Well written and interesting read for anyone who has a fascination with the world of high altitude climbing.

A well written account of the events on K2 in the summer of 2008. I found it slightly better than No Way Down: Life and Death on K2 by Graham Bowley but not quite as fascinating as Buried in the Sky: The Extraordinary Story of the Sherpa Climbers on K2's Deadliest Day by Peter Zuckerman and Amanda Padoan. Still, all three books are good.

Of the three books this is probably the one which gives the most detailed account on the summit climb, but without resorting to the almost melodramatic style found in Bowley's book.

Compared to the other books Dutch climber Wilco van Rooijen is portrayed in a more sympathetic light, perhaps a bit rose colored at times, which may be due to the fact that one of the co-authors of this book was a member in Wilco's team. Swedish climber Fredrik Sträng still comes off as a complete asshole.

W pewnien piękny, słoneczny dzień sierpnia 2008 roku, na K2 wyrusza ponad dwadzieścia osób. Osiemnaście z nich wchodzi na szczyt, jedenaście ginie w ciągu 48 godzin.

Lektura jest rekonstrukcją katastrofalnego w skutkach ciągu wydarzeń opowiedzianą z perspektywy dwóch, pozostałych przy życiu naocznych świadków biorących udział w wyprawie. Historia wydaje się z początku dość sucha ale kiedy zaczyna robić się coraz bardziej dramatycznie, zaczyna nabierać "kolorów" i w sumie sama nie wiem w którym momencie przestałam rejestrować, co się wokół mnie dzieje.

Już dawno nie czytałam tak tragicznie przerażającej relacji z wysokich gór. Rzeczywiście mnie pochłonęła ale też i trochę zaskoczyła podsumowując na końcu pytanie, dlaczego ciągnie nas do miejsc, gdzie taniec między człowiekiem a naturą, między życiem a śmiercią jest najbardziej namiętny i niebezpieczny.

Well written account of the tragedy and successes on K2 in 2008.

I've read many accounts of the 2008 expedition, as well as the 1986 expedition, which shared many similarities. This book was my favorite among many as a reference point to the 2008 expedition.

Some people involved made quite an impression on me. First, Pemba Gyalje. I have nothing but respect and admiration for him due to his heroic efforts. Hoselito Bite was an opportunistic leach with a somewhat likeable personality.

Wilco van Rooijen: ugh! I can see part of what Ger liked about him as far as Wilco speaking out. However, I found him selfish and exhibiting behaviors that Ed Hillary despised. His camp cook came down with acute appendicitis, and Ger wanted to ask everybody at BC to pitch in for a helicopter evac. Wilco said no. The cook had to walk one week to reach hospital. Then, on his ascent Wilco refused to let a man in his tent due to deadly winds because Wilco felt it would impact his own summit bid.

Ger McDonnell: the kind of man I would have been proud to have known. The life of any party and a heart of gold! He died trying to help three men hanging from ropes.

High altitude Sherpa: most of them are up there to earn money for there families. Some love climbing. But, I think they are highly undervalued. They are almost treated like slaves. Ordered to do things that expedition climbers either can't do or are afraid to do. Personally, I think every consultant expedition should be owned by Sherpa.

The Norwegian team: The only team on summit day that was truly capable and prepared to deal with the problem of an avalanche cutting the traverse rope which most climbers relied on to get up and down a couloir that is a 100m tall ice wall at 80-90°. Not only could they down climb it using crampons and ice axes, but they brought along rope for emergencies. Others like Pemba and Wilco also had these climbing skills, but none brought emergency rope.

I highly recommend this book as well as Nick and Pat's documentary: The Summit. Favorite people: Pemba and Ger!

I love this kind of book so it was with great anticipation that I began reading it. I was not disappointed. Ghost written from the perspective of a Sherpa who was on the K-2 disaster in 2008 that saw a multitude of climbers summit the world's deadliest mountain in one day only to have nearly half of them die on the way down. A GREAT read for anyone who loves this kind of book.

Account of Doomed Expeditions

This was a fascinating account of one of the deadliest days in mountaineering, when a number of climbers lost their lives on what is one the deadliest mountains in the world K2. Second only to Everest and much more difficult to climb, this mountain carries the aptly named "Killer Mountain" with good reason. Located in a more difficult region, it attracts far fewer climbers than Everest due to its difficulty. This is the page turning, thrilling, heartbreaking and sad story of a number of expeditions that wound up at the mountain in 2008 and ended in one of the deadliest days, where 11 people died. A mixture of bad weather, bad luck and a good deal of overconfidence and lack of skills on several climbers affected the whole group. This book accompanies a film of the same name. You are with the expedition as things unfold. The accounts were told by several survivors and family members and is a factual account of what happened, especially since a good deal of misinformation and blame surfaced after the tragedy. An excellent account of the adventurers and what it is like to climb high altitude mountains. I'm sorry there was no audio book version. There are a number of photographs that show just how dangerous and frightening this mountain is.

This book is a compilation of information from interviews that were used in the documentary "The Summit" and even more information from Pemba Sherpa himself who led multiple amazing rescue missions from camp 4.

Mountaineering and K2 is something I'm never interested in pursuing myself but it endlessly fascinates me with the logistical challenges and the danger. I read this book after watching the documentary about the same accident and while a lot of the same interview footage is quoted here, it's excellently packaged together to get a complete picture of what happened on that fateful day. The main point of view being from Pemba was exactly what I was hoping as he had some of the most interesting situations being on the trail breaking party and also performing multiple rescues. I'd definitely recommend this read.

Small nitpick i had is how much the abruzzi and/or Cesen routes are mentioned while not a single opinion on why each group chose either side are mentioned during the base camp chapters.

Pat Falvey with Sherpa Pemba Gyalje present a gripping and visual account of the August 2008 tragedy experienced by a conglomeration of international mountaineers during their ascent and descent of the world's second highest peak, K2. The authors insert the reader inside the expedition with vivid descriptions of the personalities of the mountaineers, their Sherpa guides and the splendor and challenges of the 8,849 meter (29,032 feet) K2. The account is riveting. Wrenching episodes of human death are interwoven with instances of heroism and incredible individual perseverance. Perhaps the most compelling reason to read this book is because it provides insights into the indomitable spirits of the men and women who are devoted to such an extremely dangerous, difficult, harrowing and demanding venture. As you will learn, many in the aftermath of the tragedy, especially those who experienced great personal and physical loss remain devoted to climbing and other extreme challenges, such as crossing Antartica.

Im głębiej zagłębiałam się w reportaż Falveya, tym więcej faktów mi się przypominało. I niespodziewanie mózg podsuwa myśl - przecież ja tę historię znam! Jedyne logiczne wyjaśnienie: w 2008 roku w liceum musiałam tę sprawę śledzić.

Z jednej strony doceniam fakt, że Falvey zdecydował się zebrać w całość wszystkie fakty i odtworzyć wydarzenia, które doprowadziły do tragedii tamtego sezonu na K2. Z drugiej, autor podpierał się głównie relacją Szerpy Pemby Gyalje i istniejącymi materiałów z blogów oraz wywiadów przeprowadzonych na potrzeby filmu dokumentalnego "The Summit". Wydaje mi się, że film ma wartość nadrzędną, ale musiałabym się zapoznać dokładniej z materiałem w nim zawartym. Pod względem stylu - raczej nie należy oczekiwać Kapuścińskiego, Krall, lub, jeżeli chodzi o reportaże górskie, lekkości Bernadette McDonald.

another mountaineering disaster book, this time focusing on K2. I really liked how sherpa pemba had a strong and frequent voice throughout this, as sherpas are often overlooked on expeditions, especially when things go wrong and they go above and beyond to help.
like dark summit, this gave a really interesting insight into the commercialisation of modern mountaineering, and save for a few individuals, I found the characters on K2 much less sympathetic than those on everest - but at the end of the day, it's horrible and heartbreaking what happened up there, and whilst it makes for an fascinating read I can't imagine what the families of those who lost their lives went through. again, like dark summit, I thought this book tried to be very fair in it's appraisal of everyone, and there's no doubt it must bring some comfort to those wanting answers.

A exhaustive, exhausting account of what happened at the beginning of August in 2008 when 11 climbers died on Mt. K2. I picked this up because it's a mountaineering book with significant input from a Sherpa climber, Pemba Gyalje Sherpa. Despite having an illustrious mountaineering culture as a people since the early 1900s, not that many books centre their experiences. Hmm, I wonder why. Lol jk, I know why.

Many quotes from survivors are sprinkled in throughout about what I can only imagine was an experience of the closest thing to hell. Reading the book places you in that position of powerlessness which must be felt at over 8000m against deathly cold, hypoxia and altitude sickness. You just watch helplessly as others succumb and wonder if you're next.

A compelling story that deserved a better fate than this book

Even the most dramatic events can be rendered flat and listless in their retelling. Unfortunately, Pat Falvey's book bears out this contention. Reading at times more like the outline for the documentary film based on the tragic occurrences on K2 in 2008, the account was further marred by numerous typos and grammatical errors. Don't be approach this book looking for pace and dramatic tension - you'll be disappointed.

Historia zmagań z górą K2 to przykład, gdzie tragedie wspinaczy wyskogórskich dotykają przypadkowych ludzi. To najniebezpieczniejsza góra świata. Zginąć może utytowany wspinacz z dużym doświadczeniem i umiejętnościami - przypadkiem. Wspinaczka wysokogórska to ruletka. Sport dający wspaniałe przeżycia nie tylko estetyczne, ale wysoce ryzykowny. Żal mi kobiety, która traci swojego męża w trakcie zdobywania góry i jeszcze na to patrzy i jest przy tym obecna. Tyle rzeczy mieli razem jeszcze zrobić a tu musi wrócić do pustego namiotu.

Listened to a podcast and had to read the book

I listened to the "Against the Odds" podcast and decided to read the reference literature. Wow, this paints a much clearer picture of this edition and the why behind a lot of the decisions. It starts out slow, but really gives the reader a better understanding of the entire story.

Too analytical and granular for me im afraid. Could not follow all of the people that the author mentioned in the book and had trouble keeping up with the storyline. The author wanted to give a full account of this tragedy and he did so, to be fair to him. But I just found it too much to follow/retain. Others might like it more.

Well put~together account drawn from interviews largely conducted by Nick Ryan, author of the 2012 documentary of the same name. Gripping narrative, even-handed in its opinions.

A number of typos and under-edited portions with clumsy sentences, but doesn’t spoil the whole.

A very well written book of a sobering and harrowing and disastrous event

Sobering reality check for many of us mere mortals who have never attempted to go beyond the safety net
Thank you

I've read a couple books now on K2 and this disaster and there's a really good documentary (also called "The Summit") on it, so this book filled in some holes in what can be a confusing narrative because everyone's memories are fuzzy.

PS It was totally the South Koreans' fault.

Why do they do it?

Tells the reader the details of man's need to conquer the highest peaks and how do easily the elements can take their tool in extreme conditions!

A Must Read

An excellent account of just how situations can change in a matter of minutes. Triumph to Tragedy. A real page Turner. Highly recommended.

One of my favorites! I have read it many many times. It leaves me in tears every time!

This is my favourite books (at par with into the thin air) when it comes to the mountaineering disaster theme.

A little dry

I don't love sensationalism. I just found the writing itself dry. Very moving story regardless. Is recommend it just for the eyewitness accounts.

3.5- just flabbergasting the death.

Even though I've never done mountain climbing, this was a book I couldn't stop reading. It had lots of good tragedy and it was really interesting.

3.5 stars-3 for the audiobook, 4 for the written version (especially appreciated the high-quality photos at the end of the book(

A great account of the disaster

A lot of people died and it was tragic. But it just didn't capture like John Krakauer's Into Thin Air.