And only the sixteenth American. His expedition team members became nos. 17 & 18. The first ascent of K2 was in 1954 (Italian expedition, pre-Messner). It wasn't successfully climbed again for another
23 years (by the Japanese), which says everything about this mountain worth saying. The 3rd successful ascent was by the American team led by Jim Whittaker the following year, 1978. There were 4 Americans in that summit group, so in the 36 intervening years only 11 other Americans have stood on the summit of K2.
That's just a pause-and-wow stat. And at 58. Kudos. Lots'a kudos.
