Gasherbrum II reaches a height of 8035 m. It is part of the Gasherbrum group in the Karakorum. The name Gasherbrum means 'Shining wall'.

History of the exploration of Gasherbrum II
1934: An international expedition headed by the Swiss G.O.Dyhrenfurth studies possible ways to the top of the Gasherbrum II and gets to 6250 m on the south flank.
1956: Gasherbrum II was first climbed on July 8, 1956 by Fritz Moravec, Josef Larch and Hans Willenpart of an Austrian expedition. They started from a bivouac at 7700 m via the east spur to the summit.
1975: Second ascent by a French group, 19 years after the first ascent. The same year, three other expeditions reach the summit, among others a Polish women team headed by W.Rutkiewicz.
1979: A Chilean and a German expedition succeeded in the 6th and 7th ascent.
1982: Reinhold Messner reaches the top with two Pakistanis, Nazir Sabir and Sher Khan.
1984: During the legendary double ascent of two 8000m peaks, R. Messner and H. Kammerlander get to the summit of the Gasherbrum II and afterwards of the Hidden Peak.

Counting and registration is more complicated during the following years. Per year, only 2 to 3 permits are given.