GILGIT: Twenty-three climbers from Norway, Russia, the United States, Switzerland, France, Turkiye, Mexico, Nepal and Pakistan successfully summited the world’s ninth highest peak Nanga Parbat on Monday morning.

By reaching the top of the 8,126m peak in Alpine style, Sajid Ali Sadpara became the first Pakistani mountaineer to ascend seven of the 14 eight-thousanders without supplemental oxygen and porter support.

With this latest feat, Kristin Harila from Norway successfully summited nine eight-thousanders within the short span of 45 days, while Sophie Lavaud from Switzerland and Tunc Findik from Turkiye completed their target of scaling all eight-thousanders.

Twenty of the 23 climbers were part of Seven Summit Trek expedition team. According to Alpine Club of Pakistan secretary Karar Haidri, all of them successfully reached the top of 8,126m Nanga Parbat between 6:55am and 9:35am.

Sajid Sadpara ascends seventh 8,000er

Sajid Ali Sadpara, Yousuf Ali, Imtiaz Ali Sadpara from Pakistan were members of Seven Summit Trek expedition team, which also comprised Norwegian mountaineer Kristin Harila; Tenjen Sherpa aka Lama, Pasang Nurbu, Lakpa Temba, Nima Rinji, Dawa Sange, Dendi, Pasang Tenji, Nima Dorje, Ming Temba, Lakpa Temba from Nepal; Sophie Lavaud from Switzerland; Alina Pekova from Russia, Tunc Findik from Turkiye; Virid­iana Alvarez from Mexico; Francois Ami­lano and Ulysse Francois from France.

Also, three members of another expedition team — Gina Marie Rzucidlo from the US, and Dawa Pasdawa and Nawang Sherpa from Nepal — scaled the peak on Monday morning.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2023