Nepalese climbers create history by reaching K2's summit in winter

Dozens of mountaineers have been competing over the past few weeks to summit world's second highest mountain

ISLAMABAD:

A team of Nepalese climbers on Saturday made history after becoming the first to summit Pakistan's K2 in winter, according to a trekking company leading one of the expeditions.

Dozens of mountaineers have been competing over the past few weeks to summit the world's second highest mountain, the last peak above 8,000 metres to be topped in wintertime.

The brutally beautiful view from K2 Summit from earlier today. At 8611 m above sea level. (mountainmadnesspakistan ig) pic.twitter.com/VM3HQSweQ0

— Nims (@ngtweets1969) January 16, 2021

 

"WE DID IT" tweeted Seven Summit Treks.

"The Karakorum's 'Savage Mountain' been summited in most dangerous season: winter. Nepalese climbers finally reached the summit of Mt K2 this afternoon at 17:00 local time."

16 Jan 2021🇳🇵🏔🇵🇰
WE DID IT, BELIVE ME WE DID IT- JOURNEY TO THE SUMMIT NEVER DONE BEFORE
🦾The Karakorum's 'Savage Mountain' been summited in most dangerous season:WINTER
Nepalese Climbers finally reached the summit of Mt. K2 (Chhogori 8611m), this afternoon at 17:00 local time. pic.twitter.com/O530X3WgKh

— Seven Summit Treks 🇳🇵 (@sst8848) January 16, 2021

 

Since the maiden attempt in 1987-1988, just a handful of winter expeditions have been attempted on the storied 8,611-metre (28,250-feet) mountain in the Karakoram range along the Chinese border.

None had got higher than 7,650 metres until Saturday when the good conditions allowed the climbers to push ahead.

Nepalis summit #K2 today at 3:00PM first time in winter in the history.
Its good for tourism in Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/BdKM9ORiWW

— Sher Ghazi (@SherGhazi) January 16, 2021

 

Read more: Pakistan Army rescues ailing Polish climber from K2

This winter an unprecedented four teams totalling around 60 climbers converged on the mountain, more than all the previous expeditions put together.

The 10 Nepalese climbers had earlier been spread across the different teams, but formed a new group in order to claim the feat in Nepal's name.

Congrats #Nepal #Nepali Climbers set new world record by reaching the King of North, Mt. #K2 (Chhogori 8611m) in Winter.
The first winter ascent of the 2nd highest peak in the world.#K2winter2021 pic.twitter.com/mhPtV8wNrg

— Farzana Shah (@Jana_Shah) January 16, 2021

 

Known as the "savage mountain", winds on the peak can blow at more than 200 kilometres per hour (125 miles per hour) and temperatures drop to minus 60 degrees Celsius (minus 76 Fahrenheit).

 

Nepali Sherpas have broken the previous record during winters of climbing as high as 26,000 feet while attempting to scale K2.

Nepali Sherpas have broken the previous record during winters of climbing as high as 26,000 feet while attempting to scale K2. Never before has the K2 base camp been so crowded by climbers from Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Bulgaria and a dozen countries during the winters. The maximum height achieved by teams in winters in the past was 25,320 feet. The 8,611 metre-high K2 is the only peak that has never been conquered in the winter, and has become one of the biggest challenges for veteran climbers. #VisitPakistan #TourismPakistan #K2 #MountainTourism

Posted by Imran Khan on Saturday, January 16, 2021