GILGIT: Fifty-five international climbers are trying to scale K2, the world’s second highest peak, in the current winter season.

They belong to 19 countries and are part of three teams.

The International SST Winter K2 Expedition Team is the biggest team, which comprises 23 climbers from 17 countries and 27 Sherpas from Nepal.

Led by Chhang Dawa Sherpa from Nepal, the team’s 23 members left Skardu for K2 base camp on Thursday.

In a social media post, Mr Chhang Dawa said the expedition began on Dec 21 and was slated to end in the third week of Feb.

“In a bid to prevent controversy, we have decided to start what is believed to be the winter on both astronomical and meteorological calendars. On the astronomical calendar, the winter season starts on Dec 21 but the meteorological calendar says the winter season starts on Dec 1,” he said.

He said his first team consisting of eight Sherpas had already reached the K2 base camp and it would prepare the base camp for the main group and clear the mountain route.

Another team comprising Mingma Gyalje and two Nepalese climbers established Camp 2 at K2, fixed the route and reached the House Chimney on Thursday.

Mr Gyalje said the team had fixed the line to Camp 2 and returned to the base camp for two days rest.

A team consisting of Snorri from Iceland and Mohammad Ali Sadpara and his son Sajid Sadpara from Pakistan also fixed ropes to 6,050 meters, came back to the base camp and planned to celebrate Christmas there. In a social media post, John Snorri wished Merry Christmas from the base camp.

American mountaineer Alan Arnette said K2 was damn hard to climb in the best of conditions. “Add in extreme cold, high winds, inadequate rest, weeks upon weeks in harsh, arctic-like conditions above 5,000-meters, a recipe develops that conspires against the best climbers and teams.”

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2020