Dr. Houston and Robert Bates are strongly associated with the history of K2 since they were both on the pioneering 1938 and 1953 K2 expeditions. Dr. Houston was also one of the first people to view the Khumbu side of Mt Everest when he joined a small party including H.W. Tilman that explored the region in 1950.
He was also a member of the 1938 Nanda Devi expedition with Tilman and Noel Odell. Houston was perfectly positioned for the first summit attempt on Nanda Devi but he became ill from food poisoning. In Alaska he made the first ascent of Mt Foraker in 1934. Dr. Houston was a world authority on high altitude medicine having pioneered many studies in the field and written seminal papers and several books on the subject.
Robert Bates made ascents world wide including some early climbs in Alaska, such as climbs with Bradford Washburn of Mt Crillon, Mt Lucania, and Denali (Mt McKinley). In 1985 at age 74 he made the first ascent of Ulugh Muztagh 6985m in China.
