Kathmandu, Jan. 20 -- When George Bell, an American mountaineer, came down from Mount K2 in August 1953, having nearly fallen to death during his failed ascent, he told reporters, "It's a savage mountain that tries to kill you."

Since then the 8,611-metre (28,251 feet) mountain, the world's second highest peak, has been known as The Savage Mountain and is widely regarded as the toughest, and most dangerous, to climb.

And Bell was narrating his summer expedition experience.

It was only next year in 1954 that the mountain, that straddles Pakistan and China, was first conquered by Italy's Achille Compagnoni.

True to its killer sobriquet, 86 have lost their lives on the mountain and 367 had summited it before this winter.

While all other...