Bottleneck (K2)

Rare card · No. 45364

The Bottleneck is a location along the southeast ridge of K2, the second-highest mountain in the world, on the west side of the mountain. The Bottleneck is a narrow couloir overhung by seracs from the ice field east of the summit. The couloir is located only 400 m (1,300 ft) below the summit, and climbers have to traverse about 100 m (330 ft) while exposed to the seracs to pass it. Due to the height of 8,200 m (26,900 ft), and the steepness of 50 to 60 degrees, this stretch is the most dangerous part of the route. According to AdventureStats, 13 out of the last 14 fatalities on K2 have occurred at or near the Bottleneck. Despite the danger, the Bottleneck is still technically the easiest and fastest route to the summit. Most climbers choose to use it to minimize time required to spend above 8,000 m (26,000 ft) (the "death zone"). The standard Abruzzi Spur route along the southeast ridge attains the summit via the Bottleneck, as do other routes that join at the ridge, including the Cesen...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Rolf Zemp, CC BY-SA 3.0