Product Description

Here is narrative nonfiction at its most gripping. Journalist Jennifer Jordan chronicled the individual stories of the five courageous women who have climbed K2, the most fearsome mountain in the world. Climbers call K2 "The Savage Mountain." It is not quite as tall as Everest, but it is far more dangerous, located at the border of China and Pakistan, in the deadly Karakoram range, which has the harshest climbing conditions and weather of any place in the world. Ninety women have climbed Everest, but only five female climbers have ever reached the summit of K2 alive. Three of these women died on the way back down the mountain, and the other two have died since their climb. Because, these five women, who defeated the most ferocious of all mountains, have lost their own voices, "Savage Summit" told their tragic and compelling stories. The terror and triumph of K2 was revealed through the stories of the few women who have succeeded in climbing it. The women in these stories are forced to deal with harsh conditions from the mountain, and from the men climbing around them, often being treated unfairly or discriminated against in their struggle to get to the summit. "Savage Summit" also attempted to answer tough questions: do female climbers rely too much on their male climbing partners? Are women prepared for the physiological and emotional rigors of K2? Are female climbers, because of the publicity and sponsorship opportunities afforded them, climbing the mountain without the proper training, endangering their own lives and the lives of those who climb with them? And, if women are as capable of men of climbing this most deadly peak, who will be next to attempt the long trek to the summit?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26776 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

About the Author
Jennifer Jordan has lived at the base of K2 twice while writing and producing a National Geographic documentary called "The Women of K2." She is a writer, producer, and news anchor, having anchored NPR's "All Things Considered"

Customer Reviews

Well worth a read
K2 is one of the most dangerous places on Earth, everything here can kill you from the climate to the environment and possibly the most insidious killer of all, the altitude. Unlike Everest which has become little more than a difficult guided tour, K2 has no tourist climbers, no Walter Mitty types, it's a technical and logistical nightmare that attracts the cream of the mountaineering elite which quintessentially is thought to be male.

Jennifer Jordan sets the record straight with a collection of biographies on the first five women to summit K2. Tragically none of these woman survive today, three having died on K2 during the descent and the other two losing their lives on other climbs. Incidentally there is only one woman alive today who can claim to have set foot on the worlds second highest mountain.

Wanda Rutkiewicz ( 1943-1992 ) was an extraordinary polish climber who summited K2 in 1986 but tragically fell to her death on the slopes of Kangchenjunga. Liliane Barrard ( 1948-1986 ) and Julie Tullis ( 1939-1986 ) both perished on the descent after a superhuman effort and a successful summit bid. The controversial and troubled French climber Chantal Mauduit ( 1964-1998 ) summited in 1992 but her luck finally ran out on Dhaulagiri when an avalanche killed her and a Sherpa. Possibly the most emotive story is that of Alison Hargreaves ( 1962-1995 ) she died during her descent of K2 leaving behind two young children. Alison had stood up to the criticisms of a male dominated sport and even put many of her denigrators to shame on the slopes.

All of these women were treated with contempt, were verbally and even sexually assaulted. Each one wanted to climb and be treated with equality, and each one went about achieving that in their own way.These women had to conquer attitude as well as altitude and sometimes it was difficult to ascertain which was more difficult. I enjoyed this book it's written in an engaging manner and the meticulous research is evident throughout, It's a welcome change from the macho " I stared death in the face " type books that abound in this particular genre and the stereotype of the typical climber is well and truly blown off the mountain. If you enjoy adventure stories but are bored with the relentless machismo, then this book might prove to be a refreshing change.