THREE adventurers launched an ambitious bid to reach the summit of one of the world’s most notorious mountains.

Due to the extreme difficulty of the ascent and the fact that one in every four climbers dies while attempting to reach the top it comes as no surprise that K2 is known as the Savage Mountain.

The summit of the world’s second highest peak was long considered unattainable because of its height and almost unbroken slopes of rock and ice.

But for Paul Etheridge, from Ulverston, Peter Brittelton, a fell runner from Kirkby Stephen, and Paul Noble, of Windermere, it was a gruelling challenge they were determined to face.

Mr Brittleton, 51, who is a member of Kendal Cycle Club, made it more difficult by attempting the ascent without oxygen.

“I’ve climbed Everest without oxygen, so I wanted to do this in the most natural way possible,” he said. “You’ve got to have a challenge in life and this was mine.”

Setting off mid-June their attempt was going to be Mr Brittleton’s and Mr Etheridge’s second try at tackling the mountain.

Despite reaching camp one and two in good time there was trouble ahead for the team when they got stuck at camp four, at 7,900m, for several days.

“I had to dig my tent out from the snow at 3am it was that bad,” continued Mr Brittleton.

“We spent three days there with very little food and water and I completely lost my appetite.

“The time we were there for was the longest any British team has ever spent at camp four.”

Frustratingly the expedition had to be called off a few hours after they set off when at 4am a huge crevasse opened up.

With heavy hearts the team had to turn back to camp.

Before admitting defeat however, the climbers managed to ascend to 8,104m, which is the highest any British team has reached in 2019.

This challenge was done in memory of friend and fellow climber Serge Dessaureault who died on his descent from K2 after having reached the summit last July.