ISLAMABAD: For the first time, a Pakistani woman has reached the summit of the Spanitik Peak in the Karakoram Range on Wednesday, the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) said.

Uzma Yousaf reached the top of the 7,027 metre mountain in the Gilgit-Baltistan region at 9:16am, said ACP spokesperson Karrar Haidri.

The mountain is popular for organised commercial expedition due to its relative ease of ascent and scarcity of objective dangers. Nonetheless, climbers who have attempted the climb and have reached the top describe Spanitik peak as one of the most technically difficult mountains which stand more than 7,000 metres.

According to one climber, the trekking stretch across razor sharp rocks is treacherous as the 40 degree steep climbing sections of the peak cannot be negotiated without fixing ropes and temperatures can plummet to 30 degrees below zero in the nights and strong winds are also very common on the mountain.

Mr Haidri said the mountain was as difficult to climb as any of those which stand over 8,000 metres tall.

“With this accomplishment, Uzma Yousaf is also the first Pakistani woman to summit any 7,000 metre peak in Pakistan,” he said.

The Spanitik Peak is also known as the ‘Golden Peak’ and was last climbed by a 12-member Pakistan-China Friendship expedition in July 2012 which was led by retired Col Abdul Jabbar Bhatti, who recently became the fourth Pakistani to reach the top of Mount Everest.

The ACP said new records have been made this summer with Vanessa O’Brien becoming the first American woman to reach the top of K2 and Spanish climber Oscar Cadiach completing his goal of climbing all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres when he reached the top of Broad Peak a week ago.

Two French climbers also descended on skis from the top of the 8,032 metre high Gasherbrum II.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2017