Expedition Doctor and Climber
South Pasadena, CA
Age: 46

Trying to reach the summit of K2 could give Ziel, 46, of South Pasadena, California, his fourth 8,000-meter summit. An endocrinologist at Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center in Los Angeles, Ziel grew up in Glendale, California, and began climbing in high school at places such as Taqhuitz and Suicide Rock. After graduating from Occidental College, he attended Cal Tech and then got his medical degree from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, in 1981. His wife, Tomi, also is a general surgeon, and the couple has four children, ages 8 to 18 months. He says he is grateful for the support of his wife and children, and his employer, in allowing him to pursue his climbing dreams.

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For K2, he also has enlisted the patronage of two California politicians, Republican Congressman James Rogan, a former House impeachment manager, and Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer, who have written letters asking foreign officials to help the expedition. Ziel has climbed in Alaska and the Pamirs, including ascents of Communism and Lenin peaks. Much of his climbing has been with Jeff Alzner. Ziel organized and led their 1987 attempt on Ama Dablam's North Ridge, reaching 21,000 feet, a day short because of a big storm. In 1995, they reached the summit of Broad Peak. Ziel succeeded on Cho Oyu in 1997, and last year he and Alzner got to the summit of Manaslu. "Jeff fell in love with K2," he says matter-of-factly. "I'd like to get No. 4."