WHAT MAKES K2 SO DIFFICULT

The difficulties on K2 begin with the approach to base camp. It is a gruelling hike of a week through rugged terrain that sees big dumps of snow and cold winds in winter, as well as a walk up the Baltoro Glacier.

In comparison, the approach to base camps at Everest and Annapurna are relatively easy, with villages and tea houses dotting the route.

K2 is located further north than the other 8,000ers in Nepal and is subject to constant bad weather and strong jet streams, some of the strongest winds in the atmosphere.

Camp 4 on K2 is pitched at around 8,000 metres, which means a vertical gain of 600 metres on the summit push that features technical climbing on hard ice in sub-zero temperatures.

Historic moments on the mountain

1954: The Italians make the first ascent of K2 after Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli reach the summit.

1977: The second ascent of K2 is made by a Japanese team that also features the first local climber, a Pakistani named Ashraf Aman.

1986: Wanda Rutkiewicz of Poland becomes the first woman to climb K2. Two other women, Julie Tullis of England and Liliane Barrard, also make it to the top, but die on the descent alongside 11 other climbers who succumbed that season. This remains the worst toll on K2 in a single season.

2008: Eleven climbers are killed on the mountain over two days.

2011: Gerlinde Kalternbrunner of Austria becomes the first woman to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000ers without supplementary oxygen after making it to the summit of K2.

2018: Andrzej Bargiel of Poland becomes the first person to ski down the mountain in July, during the regular season.