Mountaineer says 18 dead , including those who tried to rescue them . 17 climbers had made summit at K2 -- Nepal 's second - highest mountain . Too many people were climbing together `` at a very slow speed '' and should have begun their descent sooner , he said . The fall destroyed their fixed ropes and support ropes .
Mountaineer says 18 dead , including those who tried to rescue them . 17 climbers had made summit at K2 -- Nepal 's second - highest mountain . The fall destroyed their fixed ropes and support ropes .