Jon Otto, this American mountaineering expert, has become a legend in China’s amateur mountaineering scene.
　　Yesterday, the legendary son-in-law of Sichuan revealed in an exclusive interview: “I plan to tackle the most difficult mountain to climb in the world—the K2 (commonly known as K2 in professional circles), located on the border between China and Pakistan and the second highest peak in the world.” Statistics show that the fatality rate among climbers attempting K2 is as high as 7:1, while the death rate for those climbing Mount Everest is 29:1.
　　American mountaineer is a son-in-law of Sichuan
　　Last weekend, the “2013 First Linqian Rock Climbing Competition,” organized by the Sichuan Mountaineering and Outdoor Sports Association and hosted by Chengdu Linqian Outdoor Sports Co., Ltd., was held at Houma Rock in Heming Mountain, Dayi, Chengdu.
　　The person responsible for organizing the event and providing on-site guidance was Jon Otto, the legendary Chinese mountaineer living in Chengdu. In China’s amateur mountaineering community, Jon Otto and fellow climber Ma Yihua hold very high status. During their collaboration, they pioneered a new chapter in technical mountaineering (completing climbs independently). A large number of climbers they trained are now active on the front lines of amateur mountaineering.
　　During his time in Chengdu, Jon Otto has climbed almost all of Sichuan’s major peaks. In an interview with Huaxi Metropolitan Daily yesterday, he said: “I’ve always hoped to complete a climb of K2. If feasible, I plan to do it next year. But climbing requires very meticulous preparation, especially for a peak like K2—there can be no oversights.”
　　K2, also known as K2. The “K” stands for Karakoram, and the “2” indicates it was the second peak in the Karakoram range to be surveyed. With an elevation of 8,611 meters, it is the world’s second highest peak, located in the central section of the Karakoram Range. There’s a saying in climbing circles: only men attempt to climb K2, because for peaks like Everest, even non-climbers can sometimes be “dragged” up by Sherpas.
　　Mountain maniac, and family man
　　Born in 1970 in the United States, Jon Otto grew up in New York, the busiest metropolis. He started learning rock climbing at age 15, and his Chinese teacher inexplicably gave him the Chinese name 曾山.
　　In 1990, he went to Peking University to study Chinese and joined the Peking University Mountaineering Club (Shanying Society), beginning his mountaineering journey in China.
　　At age 25, while working with his mother on the Living Water Park project in Chengdu, Jon Otto met a Sichuan girl, Xiao Zhang, and became a son-in-law of Sichuan in 2001. Sichuan’s rich mountainous landscapes, coupled with his status as a son-in-law, led Jon Otto to naturally relocate to Chengdu and embrace the city’s “slow life.”
　　“Boss, how much is a jin of tomatoes?” “2.5 yuan? That’s expensive, will you sell them for 2 yuan?” “No? Then I’ll buy from another vendor.”
　　“How can this quiet-looking foreigner speak such fluent Chinese?” Amidst the vegetable vendor’s bewilderment, Jon Otto continued wandering through the market. For the same tomatoes, he would constantly compare prices from different vendors.
　　In front of mountains, Jon Otto is wild—he often serves as the “lead climber” on the cliffs of lesser-known peaks. But in front of his family, he’s an excellent homebody. When his daughter was one year old, he would often carry her on his back for runs. Sometimes, he’d run to the mountaintop, then put the child down, and the two would happily enjoy lunch together. While his wife was pursuing her Ph.D. at Stanford, Jon Otto lived the life of a homebody for over two years.
　　At the end of last year, Jon Otto started a mountaineering training business in Chengdu. He hopes to cultivate more enthusiasts of technical mountaineering in China, allowing everyone to enjoy the thrill of travel through climbing.
　　K2 (Mount Qogir / K2)
　　“Qogir” means “majestic and towering” in Tajik. With an elevation of 8,611 meters, Mount Qogir is the main peak of the Karakoram Range and the world’s second highest peak. Known internationally as K2, it is located on the border between China and Pakistan. Mount Qogir is recognized by the international mountaineering community as one of the more challenging peaks to climb.