Achille Compagnoni, 1954 K2 First Ascent Team Member, Dies At 94

May 13, 2009

K2climb.net is reporting that famed K2 first ascenter Achille Compagnoni has died at a hospital in northern Italy at the age of 94. Compagnoni was one of two Italians that were finally able to conquer what many consider the ‘world’s toughest peak’ to climb. The big ascent finally came in 1954 after a series of failed attempts on the second highest peak in the world. Achille Compagnoni achieved the summit with fellow Italian teammate Lino Lacedelli.

There was controversy about this first ascent. Years later news would break that another member of the Italian team may have gotten the jump on Compagnoni and Lacedelli and raced to the summit ahead of the famous duo.

You can read the full account of the famed 1954 K2 first ascent by going to k2climb.net. It is definitely an intriguing story and one that is still in question today.

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