Buried in the Sky: The Extraordinary Story of the Sherpa Climbers on K2's Deadliest Day (37 page)

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Authors: Peter Zuckerman,Amanda Padoan

BOOK: Buried in the Sky: The Extraordinary Story of the Sherpa Climbers on K2's Deadliest Day

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By 9:58 the next morning, at least five men had died. Marco Confortola and Ger McDonnell remained with three distressed climbers, trying to free them from a tangle of fixed lines. The detail shows Marco leaning over Jumik Bhote’s head as Ger kneels beside him. Above them lie two members of the Korean team, hopelessly entangled. (
credit Pemba Gyalje Sherpa
)

Marco Confortola (center), the last survivor to return to Base Camp, had feet consumed with frostbite. Chhiring (right) helped treat him in a tent converted to a field hospital. (
credit Roberto Manni
)

The survivors mourned the dead by incising their names on metal dinner plates and placing them around a cairn known as the Gilkey Memorial. This plate, for Jehan Baig and Karim Meherban, notes that the men were HAPs—high-altitude porters—from Pakistan. (
credit Hoselito Bite
)

Some of the injured survivors were airlifted to Skardu’s Combined Military Hospital, where the mortuary overlooks the children’s park and helipad. (
credit Amanda Padoan
)

Dawa Sangmu, the widow of high-altitude porter Jumik Bhote, holds Jen Jen, the son Jumik never met. Behind them, rolled inside a duffel, is the Kolon Sport sleeping bag that Jumik used on K2. (
credit Amanda Padoan
)

Nazib, the mother of high-altitude porter Jehan Baig, holds a photo of her deceased son and his family. Without his wages and mourning their loss, Jehan’s family in Shimshal struggled to make ends meet. (
credit Amanda Padoan
)

Karim Meherban’s father, Shadi, and four-year-old son, Rahmin, in Shimshal. Rahmin still believes his father will return from K2. (
credit Amanda Padoan
)

Selected Awards and Honors

Chosen as a “Perfect Thing” by the editors of
Outside

Official selection of the American Alpine Club Book Club

Winner of the National Outdoor Book Award

Winner of the Banff Mountain Book Award

Winner of the NCTE George Orwell Award

Winner of the American Society of Journalists and Authors Outstanding Book Award

More praise for

Buried in the Sky

“Will surely stand as one of the most distinguished works within [the] genre. . . . This is reportage of the highest quality.”

—Jim Perrin, citation for winning the Banff Mountain Festival Book Award in Mountaineering History

“A significant departure for mountaineer literature. . . . Impeccably researched . . . finally humanizes the unsung heroes of the mountaineering world and their hopes and dreams for a better life.”

—citation for winning the National Outdoor Book Award

“It’s a testament to the thrills in this book that I scoured the notes, eager to learn how the authors wrote their account. . . . The authors’ commendable documentary about the people who carry the gear is overtaken by the chilling adventure story of one terrible day on the mountain.”

—
Smithsonian

“Exhaustive reporting and elegant delivery [give] the book its rich texture.”

—Grayson Schaffer,
Outside

“A work of obsessive reporting. [Zuckerman and Padoan] weave a narrative that is hair-raising and moving, but also precise.”

—Matthew Power,
Men’s Journal

“Zuckerman and Padoan distinguish themselves by the depth of their research, especially into the lives and culture of the Nepali and Pakistani climbers and high-altitude workers.”

—Kate Tuttle,
Boston Globe

“Zuckerman and Padoan offer glimpses into the climbing culture that are as rare as the thin air the climbers breathe. . . . A provocative perspective on one of the world’s most expensive and deadly athletic adventures.”

—
Kirkus Reviews

“A judiciously crafted chronicle of the devastating series of incidents that left 11 dead, this narrative is well organized and chilling.”

—Ingrid Levin,
Library Journal

“
Buried in the Sky
is by turns enlightening, fascinating, gripping, and heartbreaking, well-written in the best tradition of mountaineering narratives.”

—Laura Hadley,
Daily Herald

“An absorbing book that goes beyond the typical mountaineering tale. . . . This book is mesmerizing.”

—Sharon Haddock,
Deseret News

“The Sherpas climb off the page and carry a narrative that is as fast and as gripping as their superhuman ascents.”

—Michael Kodas, author of
High Crimes: The Fate of Everest in an Age of Greed

“Fast-paced and well-researched . . . a must-read for anyone fascinated by the people and politics of high-altitude mountaineering.”

—Catherine Hollis,
Bookpage

“This compelling story brought back from K2’s slopes is a worthy tale about a little-known aspect of these high-stakes climbs.”

—Colleen Kelly,
Minneapolis Star Tribune

“A revelatory look at Sherpa history and culture . . . highly recommended.”

—David Pitt,
Booklist

“Unraveling the story through interviews in multiple languages across several countries has given the writers the depth and compassion to write a truly gripping account.”

—Milbry C. Polk,
Explorer’s Journal

“
Buried in the Sky
’s biggest surprise and ultimate triumph: By the end, the reader cares more about the inner life of Chhiring Sherpa than his adventures on top of one of the world’s most dangerous mountains.”

—Alex Tomchak Scott,
Williamette Week

“A harrowing tale of adventure and survival.”

—Jeffrey St. Clair,
Counterpunch

“I admired
Buried in the Sky
and enjoyed it, too. Because the authors did their homework and wrote their story well, and most of all, because credit is given at long last to those who deserve it most.”

—Peter Matthiessen, author of
The Snow Leopard

“
Buried in the Sky
reveals the heroic deeds of the Sherpa. . . . [It] brings to light how immensely strong, loyal, and talented the Sherpa climbers are. Finally credit is given, where credit is due.”

—Ed Viesturs, best-selling author of
No Shortcuts to the Top
and
K2: Life and Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain

“An informative and inspirational book. . . . I couldn’t put it down.”

—Jamling Tenzing Norgay, son of Tenzing Norgay and author of
Touching My Father’s Soul

“A compelling account of the men who have literally shouldered the rest of the world’s mountaineers up K2.”

—Norman Ollestad, author of
Crazy for the Storm

“Through phenomenal research, Zuckerman and Padoan have dug deeper than anyone else into one of the most mysterious tragedies in mountaineering history. Thanks to their efforts, the heroism and humanity of the Sherpa climbers who saved lives shine through the chaos and grief of that awful day on K2.”

—David Roberts, coauthor of
K2: Life and Death on the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain

First published as a Norton paperback 2013

For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book,
write to Permissions, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.,

500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110

For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact
W. W. Norton Special Sales at [email protected] or 800-233-4830

Book design by Ellen Cipriano

Maps by Adrian Kitzinger

Production manager: Anna Oler

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Zuckerman, Peter.

Buried in the sky : the extraordinary story of the Sherpa climbers on K2’s deadliest day /
Peter Zuckerman and Amanda Padoan. — 1st ed.

p. cm.