Houston, Charles; Bates, Robert — K2 The Savage Mountain

Collins London 152, b/w photos, 4 maps. . HB. Vg in slightly worn d/w (price-clipped; in removable protective sleeve).. First UK edition (first published 1954, McGraw-Hill, New York). A classic mountaineering account of the 1953 American expedition to K2, the world's second-highest and most dangerous peak. Written by expedition leaders Charles Houston and Robert Bates, the book chronicles the team's courageous attempt on the mountain and the dramatic struggle for survival that followed when severe weather, altitude, and illness forced a retreat. Celebrated for its vivid storytelling, honesty, and portrayal of teamwork under extreme conditions, it remains one of the finest and most influential books in mountaineering literature..