The mountain's formidable presence was first revealed to the world in 1856 by Colonel TG Montgomerie of the Survey of India. It owes its numerical name K2 to Montgomerie's mistaken assumption that the peak was "only" the second highest in the Karakoram range. In the annals of mountaineering history, the first daring attempt to scale K2 was in 1902. Unfortunately, it was unsuccessful. However, in 1954, an Italian expedition, braving the elements, saw the triumph of Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli, who reached the summit via the Abruzzi Ridge on July 31.

Yet K2 remains an enigma, shrouded in perilous storms that prevent many from reaching the summit. Only the most hardened climbers dare to scale one of the world's most difficult mountains.