GILGIT: The K2 mountain in Gilgit-Baltistan saw a flurry of activity on Thursday as around 90 foreign climbers scaled the world’s second-tallest peak with 180 awaiting to start their summit push.

A high-altitude porter from Shigar district, identified as Muhammad Hussain, also lost his life when a snow avalanche hit him during the summit push, according to Alpine Club of Pakistan Secretary Karrar Haideri.

According to Mignma G, the owner of Imagine Nepal expedition company, the exact number of climbers who reached the summit was still not known, however, he put the estimated number at 90.

Above two hundred foreign climbers, with Nepalese Sherpas being the majority, had arrived at the base camp to scale the peak.

The weather at K2 was not favourable this year, he told Dawn. “K2 received heavy snowfall and the weather is not predictable.”

Avalanche kills Pakistani porter during summit push

The climbers started their rotation and acclimatisation last week and awaited for the weather to clear to start the summit push. According to Mr Mingma, as the forecast showed clear weather between July 26 and 27, all expedition teams decided to push for a summit during the window and the climbers started fixing the ropes from camp 3 on Wednesday night.

The climbers also included Norway’s Kristin Harila and Nepal’s Tenjen Sherpa who have set the record for the fastest summit of all 14 peaks over 8,000m height. They have achieved the feat in 92 days.

Another record was also set by Nepal’s Nima Rinji Sherpa who became the youngest climber to scale K2 at the age of 17. Earlier, he has set the same record at Mt Everest, Lhotse and Nanga Parbat.

Mr Haideri from the Alpine Club of Pakistan said Shahbaz Khan, the younger brother of renowned mountaineer Sirbaz Khan from Hunza also summited K2.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2023