[1] Scott Fischer was climbing Broad Peak at the time, and suggested that a contributing factor was combination of brutal cold and 160-kilometre-per-hour-plus (100 mph) winds.

[2] It lies in the Karakoram range, often considered to be the most deadly mountain on Earth due to its steepness as compared to other eight-thousanders.

[7] The American team consisting of Rob Slater, Scott Johnston, Jack Roberts and many others had came to Pakistan in late may with the goal of summiting K2.

Later that day, having joined with a Spanish team of mountaineers above Camp 4, New Zealander Peter Hillary, son of Everest pioneer Sir Edmund Hillary, decided to turn back, noting that the weather that had been fine for the previous four days appeared to be changing.

[11] Canadian Jeff Lakes, who had turned back below the summit earlier, managed to reach one of the lower camps but died from the effects of exposure.