Female mountain climbers face more obstacles than men when climbing the Himalayan mountain K2, but they choose to do so anyway for the thrill it provides, according to Jennifer Jordan, a journalist for the Cable News Network (CNN) and filmmaker.
At a discussion of Jordan’s new book and documentary, ‘Women of K2,’ at the Cambridge Forum yesterday, Jordan said one in four women who have attempted to reach the summit of K2 die in the process. Only two women have reached it and survived the journey back.
Jordan attributed these tragic statistics to women’s physiology.
‘Though women may not like to admit it, men are simply stronger,’ she said.
Men also may be able to sustain higher altitudes than women. Jordan speculated that ‘since blood is such a precious commodity,’ the menstrual cycle of women might drain their bodies as they climb higher altitudes with lesser oxygen.
One common argument used to argue women’s potential superiority in mountain climbing is that they have a higher percentage body fat, so they will have more energy reserves when they reach oxygen-poor altitudes. Jordan refuted this argument.
‘Climbers lose between 15 to 30 pounds during an expedition,’ she said. ‘Since fat burns faster than muscle, women lose their energy sources sooner and faster than men do.’
In addition to physical obstacles, women have emotional and psychological issues leaving them more vulnerable to death, according to Jordan. Since there are so few female climbers, ‘some women might bite more mountain than they can chew,’ she said.
Women climbers may push themselves beyond their abilities to prove that women are as equally capable in this dangerous sport as men are, Jordan said, citing men’s ‘ability to compartmentalize’ as a factor in males’ success.
‘While I was at the base camp, I couldn’t shut out things happening back at home, whereas men can,’ she said. ‘They don’t like email or being interrupted.’
Jordan said women typically ignore the frightening statistics of climbing because of their overwhelming desire to overcome an ‘incredible challenge,’ and the otherworldly atmosphere at such a high altitude.
‘At the summit, there’s crystalline air, a purity of the world,’ she said.
Jordan also discussed the challenges she faced in documenting the life-defining moments of the female climbers, including her experience at the base of K2.
‘Standing at the base of K2, you feel its power. It’s something visceral, something you feel in your stomach.’
Jordan said despite the fact she is not a climber, she can convey the epiphany a climber experiences.
‘I will try to translate personal epiphanies that I have had throughout life to the epiphanies the climbers experienced when they reached the summit.’
She cited the moments when she crossed finish lines as a marathon runner and tri-athlete as examples of her personal epiphanies.
According to Jordan, her documentary and book incorporates many emotional issues.
‘It has love and hate. Sex and celibacy. Friends and enemies. And of course, life and death,’ she said.
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