K2 mountaineering: 40 years since historic Polish achievements and tragedies

Forty years ago, Polish mountaineers achieved significant milestones on K2, including Wanda Rutkiewicz becoming the first woman in the world and the first Polish person to reach the summit. Jerzy Kukuczka and Tadeusz Piotrowski also established a new route on the south face, while others successfully navigated the Magic Line.

However, the 1986 season, often referred to as the ‘black summer’, was marked by extreme tragedy. Out of a record number of expeditions attempting the summit, 12 mountaineers and one high-altitude porter lost their lives. Notable fatalities included Tadeusz Piotrowski, Wojciech Wróż, and Dobrosława Miodowicz-Wolf.