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Ghosts of K2

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About this listen

At 28,251 feet, K2 might be almost 800 feet shorter than Everest, but it’s a far harder climb. It will kill you on the way up and the way down.

Mick Conefrey guides us through the early story of the legendary mountain and the extraordinary attempts that led up to its first ascent in 1954 - these are tales of riveting drama and unimaginable tragedy.

Starting with the ill-fated attempts of the drug-addicted occultist Aleister Crowley and the wealthy Italian Duke of Abruzzi, the book then focusses on the three dramatic expeditions of 1939, 1953 and 1954.

The thread joining them together is the American Charlie Houston - a brilliant but tortured expedition leader who dreamed of being the first man to make it all the way to the top.

Based on exclusive interviews with surviving team members and their families and access to diaries and letters that have been archived around the world, this is a narrative that evokes the true atmosphere of the 'Savage Mountain' and explores the complicated legacy of the first ascent.

Wrought with tension and populated by tragic heroes and eccentric dreamers, Ghosts of K2 is a masterpiece of mountaineering literature.

©2015 Mick Conefrey (P)2015 Audible, Ltd Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Climbing & Mountaineering Ecosystems & Habitats Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science
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A really immersive education of climbers history with K2 throughout the 20th century. Having only really been intrigued to learn about Crowley and Epsteins attempts as I already knew the other stores, I was surprised when I found myself utterly absorbed by the authors in depth knowledge and research on these stories.

You will not want for information before during and after these epic adventures and may I also say that the narrator is absolutely superb. Eloquent well paced and interested in what he is reading.

Highly recommend this one.

Brilliant K2 History

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loved it, narreated well and very informative
was not sure how in beginning if I would like it but yes I did.

all new subject to me

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Very good piece that holds the attention - the stories and ghosts of K2 really do hold a fascinating narrative.
The author delivers great insight and understanding and leaves a level and balanced view.
Very good listen.

Interesting insight to a phenomenal mountain

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For a historic narrative if a big mountain this is worth a listen. I found myself wanting to look at maps at times to work out where different ridges - highly enjoyable.

Loved it

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The author did a stirling job presenting this work. The historical context presented in the earlier chapters give a sense of how remote the mountain was it's discovery prompting the start of a flurry of attempts to conquer the mountain by various teams of mountaineers and adventurers from different nations.

Well researched accounts

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