ISLAMABAD: The second highest peak in the world - K2 - is under attack by climbers from a dozen countries to be the first ones to summit it in the winter, said the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) on Sunday.

“Their equipment and all their climbing gear have already arrived in the base camp of K2 well ahead of schedule,” ACP Secretary Karrar Haidri told Dawn.

Most of the climbers are aiming for a no-O2 summit. The 8,611 metre-high K2 is the only peak that has never been conquered in the winter season, and has become one of the biggest challenges for veteran climbers. Summit options that are already scarce in the winter drop to nearly nothing if climbing without supplemental oxygen is not an option, he said, quoting the Seven Summits Trek, which is the organiser of the expedition.

According to the ACP, the international expedition included climbers from Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Bulgaria besides scores of Nepali Sherpas who will accompany the climbers and assist them with fixing ropes along the route. More climbers are expected to join the expedition, Mr Haidri added.

“The new member to have signed up for the challenge is Waldemar Kowalewski from Poland. He will return after a first winter attempt on K2 with Alex Txikon’s team back in 2018-19,” he said.

Over a year ago, Waldemar Kowalewski experienced the brutality of the mountain firsthand. Carrying loads to camp 1, he was struck by a falling chunk of ice that injured his neck. He had to be evacuated barely two weeks after arriving in the base camp.

In July, Kowalewski returned and summated K2 using bottled oxygen. Like most climbers, he is also determined to go without oxygen.

Mr Haidri said most climbers have experience of climbing in the Himalayas. Iceland’s John Snorri had already attempted the peak last winter.

The ACP official expressed the hope that they would climb the peak with Pakistani ace Ali Sadpara who has made the first winter ascent on Nanga Parbat.

Mr Haidri said the winter ascent on K2 is one of the toughest climbs where climbers have to brave extreme weather conditions such as hurricane strong winds and below 20 to 30 degrees Celsius temperatures and fatigue.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2020