I've seen The Summit as well as read Buried in the Sky, which are interesting to compare because they're both about the same event. Both were good, but I thought the book did a better job with the story, and it has a different focus.
The central characters in the book are Chhiring Dorje and Pasang Lama, and there are several chapters about their experiences prior to K2. One of the key passages in the book tells how Chhiring tied Pasang to his harness and used his axe to lower them both through a long dangerous section, after an avalanche destroyed the ropes and Pasang lost his axe. In the movie they're are both very minor characters, and the incident where Chhiring lowered them both isn't even mentioned.
The book also underscored the cultural and language difficulties the groups faced. For example, the Pakastani and Sherpa climbers on the advance team that was supposed to set the ropes did not share any common language. Due to misunderstandings they didn't bring enough rope, and then set rope in easier sections that didn't need it, eventually running out before reaching the top. This caused major delays, which was the main reason everyone else reached the summit so late and had to descend in the dark.
Both the movie and the book did a good job of eliminating any desire I might have had to climb K2 or any similar mountain. :-) But they're interesting to learn about.
Thanks, I'll check out The Last Step as well.
