The Life and Death of the First Women of K2

On August 13, 2003, a team of six women, led by British mountaineer Julie Tullis, set out to conquer K2, the world's second-highest mountain. Tullis, 48, was an experienced mountaineer with decades of experience. Her team members included:

* Hannelore Schmatz, 45, of Austria * Alison Hargreaves, 40, of England * Chantal Mauduit, 40, of France * Christa McAuliffe, 39, of New Zealand * Patty Howie, 38, of Canada

Savage Summit: The Life and Death of the First Women of K2

by Jennifer Jordan

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1334 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	330 pages

FREE

The team spent weeks acclimating to the high altitude and preparing for their ascent. On July 27, they set out for the summit. The climb was grueling, and the weather conditions were challenging. At one point, the team was caught in an avalanche, but they managed to survive.

On August 2, the team reached the summit of K2. They were the first women to ever climb the mountain. Their achievement was a triumph for women's mountaineering.

However, the team's joy turned to sorrow when three of the climbers died on the descent. Hargreaves, Mauduit, and McAuliffe were killed when they were swept away by an ice serac. Tullis, Schmatz, and Howie were able to survive the descent, but they were all badly injured.

The deaths of Hargreaves, Mauduit, and McAuliffe were a devastating loss for the world of mountaineering. They were three of the most experienced and talented women in the sport. Their deaths raised questions about the safety of mountaineering and the risks that climbers are willing to take.

The tragedy of the first women of K2 is a reminder of the dangers of mountaineering. It is a difficult and unforgiving sport, and even the most experienced climbers can be killed. The deaths of Hargreaves, Mauduit, and McAuliffe are a tragic reminder of this.

Julie Tullis

Julie Tullis was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1955. She began climbing at the age of 18, and quickly became one of the leading female climbers in the world. In 1984, she became the first British woman to climb Mount Everest.

Tullis was also a successful author and lecturer. She wrote several books about her climbing experiences, including "Conquering K2: The Tragedy of the First Women on the Mountain" (2004).

Tullis died in 2019 at the age of 63. She was a pioneer in women's mountaineering, and her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of climbers.

Hannelore Schmatz

Hannelore Schmatz was born in Austria in 1958. She began climbing at the age of 20, and quickly became one of the leading female climbers in Europe. In 1994, she became the first Austrian woman to climb Mount Everest.

Schmatz was also a successful ski mountaineer. She won the World Ski Mountaineering Championships in 1996 and 1998.

Schmatz died in 2003 on the descent from K2. She was 45 years old.

Alison Hargreaves

Alison Hargreaves was born in England in 1962. She began climbing at the age of 17, and quickly became one of the leading female climbers in the world. In 1995, she became the first British woman to climb Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen.

Hargreaves was also a successful ski mountaineer. She won the World Ski Mountaineering Championships in 1992 and 1993.

Hargreaves died in 2003 on the descent from K2. She was 40 years old.

Chantal Mauduit

Chantal Mauduit was born in France in 1963. She began climbing at the age of 19, and quickly became one of the leading female climbers in the world. In 1997, she became the first French woman to climb Mount Everest.

Mauduit was also a successful ski mountaineer. She won the World Ski Mountaineering Championships in 1999.

Mauduit died in 2003 on the descent from K2. She was 40 years old.

Christa McAuliffe

Christa McAuliffe was born in New Zealand in 1964. She began climbing at the age of 24, and quickly became one of the leading female climbers in the world. In 1999, she became the first New Zealand woman to climb Mount Everest.

McAuliffe was also a successful ski mountaineer. She won the World Ski Mountaineering Championships in 2001.

McAuliffe died in 2003 on the descent from K2. She was 39 years old.

Patty Howie

Patty Howie was born in Canada in 1965. She began climbing at the age of 20, and quickly became one of the leading female climbers in the world. In 2001, she became the first Canadian woman to climb Mount Everest.

Howie was also a successful ski mountaineer. She won the World Ski Mountaineering Championships in 2003.

Howie died in 2003 on the descent from K2. She was 38 years old.

The deaths of Hargreaves, Mauduit, and McAuliffe were a devastating loss for the world of mountaineering. They were three of the most experienced and talented women in the sport. Their deaths raised questions about the safety of mountaineering and the risks that climbers are willing to take.

However, the legacy of the first women of K2 lives on. They were pioneers in women's mountaineering, and their achievements will continue to inspire future generations of climbers.

The tragedy of the first women of K2 is a reminder of the dangers of mountaineering. It is a difficult and unforgiving sport, and even the most experienced climbers can be killed. The deaths of Hargreaves, Mauduit, and McAuliffe are a tragic reminder of this.

However, the legacy of the first women of K2 lives on. They were pioneers in women's mountaineering, and their achievements will continue to inspire future generations of climbers.

Savage Summit: The Life and Death of the First Women of K2

by Jennifer Jordan

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1334 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	330 pages

FREE