Achille Compagnoni, first ascensionist of K2, passes away at 94 y.o.

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

A lot of these early Himalaya - Karakoran climbers live to an old age.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/sports/othersports/15compagnoni.html

 

[AOC-1]

Compagnoni's first ascent was marred by the 40 years of lies he told about Walter Bonatti's actions on the climb. RIP - but he was not one of the great ones.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/obituaries/controversy-dogged-k2-conquest-20090531-brlb.html

 

[Dr. Dasypodidae]

Compagnoni's first ascent was marred by the 40 years of lies he told about Walter Bonatti's actions on the climb. RIP - but he was not one of the great ones.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/obituaries/controversy-dogged-k2-conquest-20090531-brlb.html

Thanks for posting this follow up. Indeed, this controversy, amongst a couple of others such his epic retreat from the Central Pillar of Freney, I believe, led Bonatti to pursue many of his extreme mountaineering accomplishments as a soloist. Walter Bonatti truly was a great one. His first two books, On the Heights and The Great Days, are classics.