Sunday, August 01, 2004
Rose, I think you are on the right track, although I would hazard a guess that luck is not a dominant factor in summitting K2.
Realistically, women have had a chance to summit K2 for only the past 20 years or so(remember the stink created when Lou Whittaker's wife, or was it Jim's?, wanted a shot?). Nearly all the K2 expeditions have been invitation only, which would probably mean a lower proportion of women climbers on K2.
The relatively low number of overall attempts, coupled with a low success rate (of all climbers) should be considered. I don't have the stats to attempt this, but it might be interesting to examine the success rate of the women who have had the chance to climb K2 and how it compares to the men.
And don't forget Stacy Allison, the first American woman to summit Everest. She led a K2 expedition in 1993 where I believe two team members summitted. She relegated herself to an organizational and support role on that climb.
Women will make up 25% of our team in Peru (one out of four) ;-) And it may be one out of three if a bone spur on my foot doesn't behave itself.
Realistically, women have had a chance to summit K2 for only the past 20 years or so(remember the stink created when Lou Whittaker's wife, or was it Jim's?, wanted a shot?). Nearly all the K2 expeditions have been invitation only, which would probably mean a lower proportion of women climbers on K2.
The relatively low number of overall attempts, coupled with a low success rate (of all climbers) should be considered. I don't have the stats to attempt this, but it might be interesting to examine the success rate of the women who have had the chance to climb K2 and how it compares to the men.
And don't forget Stacy Allison, the first American woman to summit Everest. She led a K2 expedition in 1993 where I believe two team members summitted. She relegated herself to an organizational and support role on that climb.
Women will make up 25% of our team in Peru (one out of four) ;-) And it may be one out of three if a bone spur on my foot doesn't behave itself.
