Synopsis
In the summer of 2008 the Norit K2 Expedition, led by Wilco van Rooijen, climbed the 8611 metre high K2 in Pakistan, without supplementary oxygen. The descent witnessed one of the worst tragedies in recent climbing history. On average one in four of those who summit dies on the killer mountain. In 2008, while the world held its breath, from CNN, Al-Jazeera, Sky News to Dutch TV News, no less than 11 climbers succumbed. For three days Wilco van Rooijen was reported missing; and the outside world had all but given up hope of ever seeing him alive again. But at the end of his strength, he successfully returned from the death zone. The Dutch Norit K2 Expedition ultimately paid a high price. What exactly happened on that first day of August 2008? Could the drama have been avoided? Through a gripping and raw style of writing Wilco van Rooijen has told a compelling and revealing story. Surviving K2 is an epic. Wilco van Rooijen (1967) is one of few professional Dutch adventurers. He has climbed the highest summits, from the Alps to the Himalayas. And was the first to reach the three poles on his own efforts; the geographic North and South poles and the highest; Mount Everest, without supplementary oxygen!
About the Author
Wilco van Rooijen Born : 25 November 1967 In : de Meern (near Utrecht), the Netherlands Education : Higher secondary education, two years Electrical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology Occupation : Professional adventurer whose motto is Business is your Adventure, Adventure is my Business © Decoration : Knight of the Order of Orange Nassau Other : Ambassador for Right To Play and Respect the Mountains Publications : Book and DVD Puur presteren Book and DVD Naar nieuwe hoogte Wilco van Rooijen mountaineering experience 1985 First independent alpine climbs in the Alps. 1986/87 Mountaineering courses in rock and ice, from beginners to advanced. 1988/89 Certified mountaineering instructor, A and B training courses. 1990/92 Multiple winter and north face climbs including the Grandes Jorasses North Face, Matterhorn North Face and Droite North Face. 1992/93 Trans-Africa Overland Expedition 4x4: Utrecht-Cape Town (35,000km), and ascent of Mount Kenya via the Diamond couloir . 1993 Spring : ascent of the Diamond couloir of Mount Kenya in Africa Summer : ascent of the Eiger North Face in Switzerland 1994 Alpine climb of Lobuche Peak (6000m) in Nepal. 1995 Ascent of K2 (8611m): Seven up K2 Expedition Wilco van Rooijen is severely injured by falling rocks, and forced to retreat. 1996 Namibia Camel Adventure expedition (in search of the Himba people). 1997 Nomad North Pole Expedition. First Dutchmen to reach the geographic North Pole after a 70-day journey of 1100km. 1998 Ascent of Shishapangma s (8046m) central summit in Tibet without supplementary oxygen. 1999 Dutch Peru Expedition. Various extreme ascents to 7000m. 1999 Training in Finland in preparation for the Antarctica 2000 expedition. 2000 Training on Greenland s ice cap in preparation for Antarctica. 2000 The Embrun Triathlon (reputed the world s hardest) in the South of France, followed by the Holland Almere Triathlon. 2000 Origin South Pole Expedition. Wilco and Marc Cornelissen are the first Dutch to reach the South Pole after also having reached the North Pole. A mammoth return journey over a distance of 2300km. 2002 Eneco Everest expedition. A unique two-man effort by Hans van der Meulen and Wilco van Rooijen, without sherpas and without supplementary oxygen. Hans summits. Wilco does not summit due to bad weather and storm. 2004 Friesche Vlag Breaker Everest 2004 expedition. Wilco initiates a new expedition and takes on the challenge with four climbers. On 20 May 2004 Wilco and Sherpa Dawa Gel summit Mount Everest without supplementary oxygen. 2004 Wilco is appointed Knight of the Order of Orange Nassau. 2005 Wilco climbs Mera Peak (6476m) in Nepal with his company NaarNieuweHoogte Expedition Travel . 2006 International double header BP-K2 expedition. An expedition with the goal of climbing two mountains over 8000 metres as part of one international team. 2007 As part of the 7 summits in 2007 Wilco climbs: Aconcagua (6962m), the highest mountain in South America Mount Kilimanjaro (5895m), the highest mountain in Africa Mount Elbrus (5642m), the highest mountain in Europe Mount McKinley (6194m), the highest mountain in North America 2008 Norit K2 expedition. A new attempt under Wilco s leadership of the Norit K2 eight-man team to climb the killer mountain . The ascent is successful. Four climbers make it to the summit without supplementary oxygen. But during the descent the team is struck by disaster.
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