Pakistan marks K-2 conquest anniversary

It’s not quite as high as Mount Everest, but it’s been about three times as dangerous to conquer. And on Monday, an Italian marked the 50th anniversary of his grandfather’s first successful climb of K-2 by summiting the mountain.

Italians Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni first scaled K-2, the world’s second-highest mountain, on July 31, 1954. Compagnoni’s grandson, Michele, reached the summit along with four other climbers. Four other people from a Spanish team – including Edurne Pasaban, the sixth woman ever – also summited Monday, according to Naiknam Karim of Adventure Tours Pakistan.

They were the first climbers to reach the top of K-2 in three years.

Pakistan kicked off its three-week celebration of the K-2 Golden Jubilee earlier this month with an opening ceremony in Islamabad. Lacedelli, now 78, trekked back to K-2 base camp for a ceremony and banquet, but has since headed back to Italy.