Chris Shaw (Boulder, CO) and Billy Pierson (Seattle, WA) summitted K2 on July 30th around noon. They were accompanied by Andrew Collins MD (London, UK) and possibly Andy Evans (Alberta, Canada - NOT CONFIRMED, UNVERIFIED). They were members of Gary Pfisterer's USA - International K2 Abruzzi ridge expedition. Also summitting from this expedition was Ivan Vallejo (Quito, Ecuador) on July 31st.

Shaw and Pierson were the first Americans to summit K2 since Carlos Buhler (Bozeman, MT) summited K2 via the North Ridge on August 14, 1996. The last American to summit K2 on the Abruzzi ridge was Rob Slater on August 13, 1995, who perished on the descent. Shaw and Pierson become the 13th and 14th Americans to summit K2, which now has over 180 summitters. By comparison, Everest had 1052 summits by 2000.

K2 Summitters in 2000:

June 26, 2000
Ryong Kang
Jung-Hyun Yun
Woo-Pyounh Joo
Jung-Hun Park (South Korea) — Park climbed without oxygen and now has summitted seven 8,000 meter peaks.

June 29, 2000
All used oxygen
Soon-Ook Yoo (South Korea)
Chi-Won Yun (South Korea)
Byung-Chan Kim (South Korea)
Jung-Hyun Lee (South Korea)

July 29, 2000
6:00 PM
Nasuh Mahruki (Istanbul, Turkey: Pfisterer USA expedition)
Waldemar Niclevicz (Brazil O'Boticario expedition)
Marco Camandona (Brazil O'Boticario expedition)
Abele Blanc (Brazil O'Boticario expedition)

July 30, 2000
Chris Shaw (Boulder, CO)
Billy Pierson (Seattle, WA)
Andrew Collins MD (London, UK)
possibly Andy Evans (Alberta, Canada - NOT CONFIRMED).
All above four members of Gary Pfisterer's USA - Int. K2 Abruzzi SE ridge expedition.

July 31, 2000
06:45 AM
Um Hong Gil (South Korea Kolon Sport Expedition) — Um has now climbed twelve 8,000 meter peaks.

July 31, 2000 (later)
09:30 - 10:00 AM
Yoo Han Kyu (South Korea Kolon Sport Exp)
Mo Sang Hyun (South Korea Kolon Sport Exp)
Yong Wang Hang (South Korea Kolon Sport Exp)
Jangbu Semp Sherpa (from Nepal - South Korean Exp)
Ivan Vallejo (Quito, Ecuador from Pfisterer's USA K2 expedition)

— Greg Mortenson, MountainZone.com correspondent