Four climbers are missing on K2. Mountain climbing is a dangerous sport.

[Wonk]

http://www.everestnews.com/K22006/k2014062006.htm

[acmejack]

1. Especially on K2, you can't get down if you do get up!

snip>
One of the factors that makes K2 so challenging is the sustained technical difficulty. It is sustained often described as a cone of ice and limestone, and has slopes of 45 degree angles or more. Climbers typically fix up to 2,500 meters of rope on the south side routes, and up to 5,000 meters of rope on the north ridge route. Because high-altitude porters are rarely employed, all of the work of carrying and setting the ropes and high camps must be done by the climbers themselves.

On Everest, there are typically 2 four or five day weather "windows" during the spring climbing season. Although K2 is almost impossible to climb without being caught in life-threatening weather, the best months to climb are June, July and August. The sudden storms are caused in part because the peak is so much higher than the mountains around it -- it juts up into the upper layers of the atmosphere and like a rock in a river can create eddies in the jet stream, with good weather on one side of the mountain, and life-threatening conditions on the other.

There are fourteen "8,000ers" – fourteen mountains above 8,000 meters high that of course represent the 14 highest points on planet Earth. The following list of statistics was provided in February, 2001 by Xavier Eguskitza, the renowned Basque chronicler of Himalayan climbing. Although K2 is listed 3rd in the rank of danger, this is factoring in the total number of deaths.

Mr. Eguskitza points out, "If we consider the number of deaths coming down from the summit, K2 is by far the most dangerous, about 3 times more so than Annapurna. The problem on K2 is that if you reach the top, your chances of returning are significantly reduced."

http://www.k2climb.net/expguide/surviving.htm

[acmejack]

2. Can you imagine carrying 5000 meters of rope?

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. They don't carry it in one go.

Here's a rope suggested for use as a fixed rope - 67g per metre, so if you carried, say, 200m, it would be 13.4kg.

[Wonk]

3. Getting down again is easily half the challenge.

[Wonk]

5. Update: Some climbers returned to basecamp alive, 4 Russians still missing

Listed as still missing here:
http://www.everestnews.com/K22006/k2015062006.htm

Listed as confirmed dead here:
http://www.mounteverest.net/news.php?id=14102

(snip)

Early this morning, Banjo’s home crew reported that four climbers were confirmed dead as a result of Sunday's avalanche on K2. The Irishman, together with Polish Jacek and seven Russians were on their summit attempt when the avalanche struck.

“Banjo, Jacek and the remaining three Russian climbers have arrived in Base Camp after an emotional and exhausting descent from Camp 3,” said Banjo’s home team. “Sadly it has been confirmed by the leader of the Russian team and their Liaison Officer that the missing 4 Russian climbers died as a result of the avalanche on Sunday.”

“Further information from Banjo is that at least one of the climbers was on the summit which was about 50 feet away from him when the avalanche struck.”

(snip)

The avalanche hit K2's upper slope on Sunday, August 13. If the climbers are not found, this would be the second largest single-day tragedy on K2.