Tragedy in the 'death zone'

Published Date: 04 August 2008 NINE climbers were feared dead on K2 in Pakistan last night, after the worst day for mountaineering on the world's second-highest peak. Expedition leaders warned the death toll could rise, after reports of an ice avalanche striking people on their descent from the 28,250ft summit. Confirmed dead included three South Koreans, two Nepalese, along with Serbian, Norwegian, Dutch and French climbers. Previously, the deadliest day in the history of K2 was on 13 August, 1995, when six people fell or disappeared during a storm, including Alison Hargreaves, from Spean Bridge near Fort William, whose body was never recovered. She became the first woman to scale Everest unsupported by oxygen or Sherpas. But commentators claimed that, far from being an action heroine, Hargreaves had been irresponsible... [read full story]