8/14/2019 Opmaak Cover K2-Engels

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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 rst 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 (41) is one of few professional Dutch adventurers. He has climbed the

highest summits, from the Alps to the Himalayas. And was the rst to reach the three poles

on his own efforts; the geographic North and South poles and the highest; Mount Everest,

without supplementary oxygen!ISBN 978-9089270467

9 789089 270467

1998 Ascent of Shishapangmas (8046m) central summitin Tibet without supplementary oxygen.

1999 Dutch Peru Expedition. Various extreme ascents to7000m.

1999 Training in Finland in preparation for the Antarctica2000 expedition.

2000 Training on Greenlands ice cap in preparation forAntarctica.

2000 The Embrun Triathlon (reputed the worlds hardest)in the South of France, followed by the HollandAlmere Triathlon.

2000 Origin South Pole Expedition. Wilco and Marc Cor-nelissen are the rst Dutch to reach the South Poleafter also having reached the North Pole. A mammothreturn journey over a distance of 2300km.

2002 Eneco Everest expedition. A unique t wo-man effortby Hans van der Meulen and Wilco van Rooijen,without sherpas and without supplementary oxygen.

Hans summits. Wilco does not summit due to badweather and storm.

2004 Friesche Vlag Breaker Everest 2004 expedition.Wilco initiates a new expedition and takes on thechallenge with four climbers. On 20 May 2004Wilco and Sherpa Dawa Gel summit Mount Everestwithout supplementary oxygen.

2004 Wilco is appointed Knight of the Order of OrangeNassau.

2005 Wilco climbs Mera Peak (6476m) in Nepal with hiscompany NaarNieuweHoogte Expedition Travel.

2006 International double header BP-K2 expedition. Anexpedition with the goal of climbing two mountainsover 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 Wilcos

leadership of the Norit K2 eight-man team to climbthe killer mountain. The ascent is successful. Fourclimbers make it to the summit without supple-mentary oxygen. But during the descent the team isstruck by disaster.

For a complete overview of Van Rooijens mountain, pole anddesert expeditions visit website www.expeditienet.nl