The mountain was first surveyed by a European team in 1856.
Team member Thomas Montgomerie called the mountain K2.
The other mountains were originally named K1, K3, K4, and K5, but were later changed to use local names.
In 1892, Martin Conway led a British expedition that made it to the Baltoro Glacier.

The first real attempt to climb K2 was in 1902 by an Anglo-Swiss expedition.
It took fourteen days for them to reach the foot of the mountain.
After five attempts the team only made it to 6,525 metres (21,407 ft).

The next expedition was in 1909.
It was led by the Italian Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi.
This team made it only to an elevation of 6,250 metres (20,510 ft) on the South East Spur of the mountain.
After looking for and not finding other routes, the Duke said that K2 would never be climbed.

The next attempt was not made until 1938.
At that time, American Charles Houston took an expedition to the mountain.
They decided that the Abruzzi Spur was the best route and made it to a height of around 8,000 metres (26,000 ft).

In 1939, an American expedition led by Fritz Wiessner came within 200 metres (660 ft) of the summit.
It ended in disaster when four members died on the mountain.

Charles Houston tried again in 1953.
The try was a failure due to a storm which trapped the team for 10 days at 7,800 metres (25,590 ft).
One climber died in the expedition.
Many others nearly died in a mass fall but were saved by Pete Schoening.
The mountain was first surveyed by a European team in 1856. Team member Thomas Montgomerie called the mountain K2. The other mountains were originally named K1, K3, K4, and K5, but were later changed to use local names. In 1892, Martin Conway led a British expedition that made it to the Baltoro Glacier.
The first real attempt to climb K2 was in 1902 by an Anglo-Swiss expedition. It took fourteen days for them to reach the foot of the mountain. After five attempts the team only made it to 6,525 metres (21,407 ft).
The next expedition was in 1909. It was led by the Italian Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi. This team made it only to an elevation of 6,250 metres (20,510 ft) on the South East Spur of the mountain. After looking for and not finding other routes, the Duke said that K2 would never be climbed.
The next attempt was not made until 1938. At that time, American Charles Houston took an expedition to the mountain. They decided that the Abruzzi Spur was the best route and made it to a height of around 8,000 metres (26,000 ft).
In 1939, an American expedition led by Fritz Wiessner came within 200 metres (660 ft) of the summit. It ended in disaster when four members died on the mountain.
Charles Houston tried again in 1953. The try was a failure due to a storm which trapped the team for 10 days at 7,800 metres (25,590 ft). One climber died in the expedition. Many others nearly died in a mass fall but were saved by Pete Schoening.
K2