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Legend of American climbing Fritz Wiessner does not turn around as he and his Sherpa approach the summit of K2 in 1939. Americans claim first ascent of K2 and first ascent of an 8000m peak in Himalayas, all without oxygen tanks..

What do you think effect would be on popular image of Alpinism and mountaineering in US. Could country potentially become as crazy about climbing as Austria, Italy or France?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Wiessner

In OTL Sherpa was concerned about god of the mountain being angry, Wiessner respected that and turned around with intention of making another attempt later. However because of stupidity and mismanagement of the rest of the expedition whole thing ended in disaster with multiple deaths.

Either Sherpa think gods favour them, or Wiessner just tells him to hangon and goes to the top solo(would be against ethics of the time but hey..).
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