2 American Climbers, French Couple Die While Scaling K2
Two American and two French mountaineers have died while climbing K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, Pakistani officials said today.
The deaths occurred during separate expeditions on the 28,250-foot peak, the officials said.
John Smolich, leader of the American expedition, and one of his fellow climbers were killed in an avalanche June 21, the officials said. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the expedition was halted after the deaths.
Ken Wanderer of Portland, Ore., who accompanied Smolich and his group to the base camp and then returned to the United States, told the Associated Press in Portland that Smolich was 35 years old and from Portland. Wanderer said the second man killed was Alan Pennington, also of Portland.
The officials also reported that two French climbers--Maurice Barrard and his wife--were killed while climbing K2 in June.
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