In what year was K2 first summited?

K2 was first summited in 1954, when Italians Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli reached the top on July 31.

The successful expedition was led by geologist Ardito Desio and followed the steep southeastern route now known as the Abruzzi Spur. K2 rises to 8,611 metres, making it the world's second-highest mountain after Mount Everest.

The ascent came after several failed attempts, and severe storms repeatedly threatened the expedition. The climb also became controversial because of disputes involving Walter Bonatti, Pakistani porter Amir Mehdi, oxygen supplies, and the accuracy of the expedition's original official account. Later investigations confirmed the summit success while revising parts of the story.

K2 is often called the Savage Mountain because of its technical difficulty, extreme weather, and high fatality risk. Unlike Everest, it has no easy route to the summit.