Japanese climbers scale Tirich Mir

Two Japanese mountaineers have achieved a remarkable feat by scaling Tirich Mir, the highest peak of the Hindukush mountain range in Chitral, Pakistan, after a gap of seven years since its last successful climb in 2016.

According to Mohammad Saad, the spokesperson for the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Authority, the peak was last conquered by two French engineers in 2016, and no other mountaineers could reach its summit since then. The two Japanese climbers, 44-year-old Kazuya Hiraide and 38-year-old Henro Nakajima, had attempted to climb Tirich Mir in 2019 but were unsuccessful.

This year, the resilient duo managed to conquer the peak and received a warm welcome from the local community and the tourism authority for their remarkable achievement. They were awarded honorary shields in recognition of their feat.

Tirich Mir was initially scaled in 1950 by a Norwegian expedition led by Arne Naess, a renowned Norwegian philosopher, along with expedition members P. Kvernberg and H. Berg.

The Japanese climbers began their journey towards the peak from Shagrom, the last village of Tirich valley, reaching the base camp situated at an altitude of 5,200 meters. They navigated a new route above the base camp and left their mark for future mountaineers.

Impressively, the duo plans to conquer other peaks in Chitral of the Hindukush, including Noshaq and Asturnal. They have an impressive mountaineering track record, having previously summited Rakaposhi in 2019, Shaspar in 2017, Deran in 2013, and Spantec in 2004.

The Japanese mountaineers expressed gratitude to the people of Chitral and the K-P tourism authority for their warm welcome, hospitality, and unwavering support during their expedition. APP