EXTREME PHOTOS..." national geo. "( cont... )

Climbing K2, Karakoram Range

Photograph by Tommy Heinrich, National Geographic

Standing on the front points of her crampons, Austrian mountaineer Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner climbs the steep rock-and-snow pitches up to Camp II on K2, the world's second tallest mountain, located in the Karakoram Range between Pakistan and China. As part of extensive training before expeditions, she refines her balance by walking on a rope stretched between two apple trees.

Deepwater Soloing Poda Island, Thailand

Photograph by David Clifford

"Deepwater soloing provides the perfect combination of adventure and serenity," says Jessa Younker of climbing the stalactites hanging from a giant limestone cliff on Poda Island, Thailand. "Without a rope or harness to distract, I can purely focus on how to make the next move on the natural features." With this style of rock climbing, a fall is followed by a splash: "Sometimes my hand would slip off the wet rock and send me free falling through the air. Then I would be engulfed in the warmth of the Andaman Sea, swimming towards the surface, watching the sun dance across the gentle waves."