Final Report from K2 – On Turning Back from “the Mountain of Mountains.”
We are back down from our summit attempt.
Last night I was sitting in front of my tent looking up at the mountain that stamped its effect on my life.
Base camp is not exactly where we want to be, but I am satisfied that we gave it our best shot. Even more important, we tried with everything we had.
I often speak of failure as a big part of my life. Nothing I do is a sure thing, otherwise I would not be doing it; not knowing if, or if not, is the most exciting aspect of my life, In fact I have built my life on the chance of failure, because then, each time you do something, you have to do your best!
Maybe one day I must halt trying, then and only then will I cease failing but I will also terminate the chance of success.
How can man fall asleep if so many unsure dreams elude him?
— Mike
adventure, Expedition, K2, K2Calling, mountain, mountaineering, summit
Louis Du Plessis
Saluut Great Man!
Hasan Shafi Mian
at least you made an effort, and a good one too… better luck next time.
Estee Coetsee
Sometimes we win, sometimes we learn.
Stay safe*
Minhaj Qazi
Hi Mike, Greetings from Pakistan which was following you on your Dream to summit K2, Believe us that its in Best for You and Your Crew by Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth. Your Life and the Charm you carried along needed for some another important prospect in Future.. Best of Luck.
Syed Imran Anwar
Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.
– Mary Tyler Moore
Good Luck Mike . . . . hope to see you soon on top of K2.
Love from Pakistan
Subodh H Chhabria
KNOWING YOU, MIKE, THE GUY WHO JOURNEYED 12,000 MILES AROUND THE ARCTIC CIRCLE IN TEMPERATURES OF -75DEGREE CENTIGRADE, YOU WILL GO FOR IT AGAIN AND CONQUER IT! LIKE THEY IN THOSE PARTS, INSHALLAH (GOD WILLING)!!
Ali Muawiya
Bto est wishes to you and your crew from Pakistan 🙂
Engr Osam Khan
i alwys say we can just do attemp and the result is not in our hands so we should not worry about what is not in our hand but we should do what we can and you did your best all the best for your future mike hope to see you some day in real you went from west to east for some adventure me from east to west for another 🙂
Seher Ashfaq Asghar
You are amazing! What determination and persistence. You're a role model for our coming generations Mike. Thank you and all the best from a Pakistani American fan living in France 🙂
Usman Afzal
Don't worry. Some things always happened in right time .may be this time is not good for k2 summit. Better luck next time.Allah help u
Manzoor Ali
Better luck next time.
Gert Becker
Wyse woorde van ń Wyse Man.
Respect!!
Andy Van Der Velde
Next time I want to come with you!
Asim Sattar
Mike, lets say it gives you another chance to come back to Pakistan sometime soon. You seem like s person who will definitely like to give it a second shot.
Gwen Buchan
Well you looked as if you did some amazing stuff to get within a whisper of the summit of K2. I think it is hugely impressive, Actually, not getting to summit is a matter of good judgement and wisdom I think.
Malik M. Ali Shahid
We call it most courageous failure story which took place this year over K2. Still winner is there who gone through attempt
Mian Humas
i knew a man who can help you climb it , even in the worst weather conditions
Haseeb Uddin Gilani
well you have to try to get what you desire for. Better luck next time.
Lysiane Bruchez
Bravo d'avoir su renoncer et d' être vivants…
Louis Rousseau
Hello Mr. Horn
My name is Louis Rousseau, I’m a climber from Canada
Congratulation for your effort on K2 this year. You give your best I’m sure.
I saw your last video post on your Facebook (2015-07-29) about your 2015 K2 expedition. At 00:26 sec we can see the head of the dead person/climber. The ground seems flat, I guess it was between BC and ABC.
It is a real disgrace from you, your climbing partner and your media team. Can you just imagine the reaction of a friend, a wife, an husband, a mother, a father, a sister, a brother, a son or a daughter to see this sequence if they actuality lost someone on K2? In a matter of fact, I lost some friends on K2 myself.
Imagine if it was the head of your own child lying right there on the snow. People taking picture and filming. Did you lost some part of your sensibility with all your popularity and media exposure?
I’ve been climbing for almost 25 years now and my first high altitude expedition was when you did your six-month solo traverse of the South American continent in 1997 about 18 years ago. During all those years, I lost friends in the mountains; I saw families crying for the loss of their own child. I also saw the bodies of climbers and even parts of them. When possible, I put them away so other climbers could not take pictures of them. With a short prayer, it was the best I could do to show respect. What you did was the complete opposite approach and behaviour.
With such a media exposure potential and fame it was one of the worst thing I can imagine a guy like you could do.
As I write this, there have been more than 1,000 shares of your video and more than 2200 like.
You said: « I often speak of failure as a big part of my life » Well this awful choice in the name of sensationalism was another real failure and I hope you will learn for it without giving me a reply like : «it is the reality K2 that we wanted to show.» No, nothing can justify showing the corpse of a climber. It is purely disrespectful and a disgrace to mountaineering.
So Mr. Horn, this is what you have to learn: when a climber finds the body of a person who was really unfortunate while climbing. You think about the person, the family and you show respect by not taking pictures or filming.
That's it.
Muhammad Hammad
It doesn’t matter if mountain didn’t allow you to summit.. But surely you summited the hearts of millions of your fans… we followed you throughout your journey… it was tremendous effort, and great success…. loved every moment of your effort.. Words just can never
explain the feelings and inspiration you gave with ur effort…stay blessed. Stay strong… May ALLAH protect you and ur whole team..
Majid Mukarram
Failure is the first step to success.
Tricia Roth
Mr Horn- I am appalled by the inclusion of the footage showing the remains of a dead climber. It shows a complete lack of sensitivity to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives on the mountain. Your video is highly edited and slick- why did someone choose to include that footage? Shame on you.
Huma Zain
you are briliiant climber , because hiking is not easy for every one. Your lessons and all experiences about K@ is a great source of help for people who want to make summit. Thanks for guidence. all best for future.
Waqar Ahmad
Great attempt , I love your journey and you updated us daily was amazing. Best of Luck Next Time
Faisal Khan
I am happy you are safe. Mountains are killer
Raza Shah
You were not there to die but you went to live high and if there is a clear risk one should not attempt. Respect your courage and support you for future. Always welcome to Pakistan.
Syed Mohsin Ali
beautiful scenes
Kerstin Salen
Hi Mike just want you to know that i am now following you on your blog.Thanks for having us onboard in Mallorca and so happy you arrived back safely.Take care Kerstin Salen
Bruno Cabuy
Dan la réussite ou le renoncement vous restez un exemple a suivre continuez à nous faire rêver. …
Sameer Ahmed
When r u coming back to usa?