Charles Houston
American Explorer of K2
Below are general images pertaining to K2
To see images of Houston's K2 Expeditions, click HERE
To see images of Houston's Pre-K2 Expeditions, click HERE
K2 from Space (circled in red)
K2
K2 (left) and Broad Peak (right)
The Summit of K2, Taken by the Duke of the Abruzzi in 1909
Broad Peak (left) and K2 (center) from Gasherbrum I
K2 Location Map
Close-Up Map of K2
The Abruzzi Ridge
Key Parts of K2's Abruzzi Ridge
The Route Up the Abruzzi Ridge. While this is Technically the Route of the 1954 French Expedition, with the Exception of the Camp Locations, it is the Same Route as that Taken by Charlie Houston's 1938 and 1954 Expeditions. The Locations of Houston's Camps Differ Somewhat From those Shown in this Figure.
The Black Pyramid
Lieutenant T. G. Montgomerie of Britain's Great Trigonometric Survey was the First European to Note K2. This is His Notation in His Log Book of His Sighting. It's Difficult to Read, But You Can Make Out K2 on the Left and K1 (i.e., Masherbrum) on the Right. Montgomerie Drew K2 Smaller Because It was Farther Away from His Vantage Point.
Modern Climber (bottom center) Beginning the Ascent of the Abruzzi Ridge from the Godwin Austen Glacier
Modern-Day Climbers Ascending House's Chimney on K2 (photo taken by Gregorio Ariz Martinez); On Charlie Houston's Expeditions, They Had No Ladder
Photo of House's Chimney on K2 (photo taken by Willi Bauer)
Modern-Day Climber Ascending the North-East Ridge of K2
Modern-Day Climber Ascending the "Black Pyramid"
Modern-Day Climber Ascending the "Bottleneck"
Location of the Bottleneck Sérac
Modern-Day Climber (lower left) Just Below the Bottleneck Sérac
Modern-Day Climber Along the Traverse of K2 (Just Above the Bottleneck)
Later Climber, Rick Ridgeway, Approaching the Summit of K2
Reinhold Messner Reaching the Summit of K2
Reinhold Messner on the Summit of K2