PESHAWAR: A team of nine young mountaineers from Chitral has successfully scaled the Thalo Zom (6,050 metres) peak in the Hindu Raj range.

The team that goes by the name of Shabdaraz was led by Mueezuddin, the expedition leader, and comprised of Akmal Naveed, Mohammad Athar Azeem, Owais Ahmad, Mudassir Wali, Nasir Zaib, Sher Khan, Burhanuddin and Adil Zaman.

The team reached the summit at 9.20am on July 29, with all members returning safely and in good health.

The expedition was carried out in true alpine style — without fixed ropes, porters, or pre-established camps — demonstrating remarkable physical endurance, team coordination, and technical climbing expertise.

Feat sets precedent for future youth-led alpine expeditions

Thalo Zom was first summited in 1971 by an Austrian expedition. The Shabdaraz team ascended via the Italian Route, climbed by an Italian expedition in 2019. For descent, the team navigated a different, previously unused route, showcasing their adaptability and confidence in unexplored high-altitude terrain.

Mueezuddin is affiliated with an adventure sports initiative ‘Zom Connection’. In addition to leading the climb, he provided comprehensive technical training and mentorship to the entire team in preparation for the expedition.

His leadership was instrumental in navigating the team safely through complex glacier systems, steep rock faces, and mixed alpine terrain, playing a critical role in the overall success and safety of the mission.

Shabdaraz Thalo Zom Expedition 2025 was the first-ever local Chitrali youth-led expedition to summit any peak and lasted a total of 11 days.

The team spent three nights at the base camp: two during ascent and one night during the descent, whereas it spent a night at camp 1 at an altitude of 4,700 metres.

At camp 2, which was located at an altitude of 5,400 metres, the team spent two nights, one each during ascent and descent.

This expedition is a milestone for local mountaineering in Chitral and sets a precedent for future youth-led alpine expeditions in Pakistan’s high mountain regions. It also highlights the growing capabilities of community-based organisations like Shabdaraz to lead high-standard, self-sufficient climbing missions in the Hindu Raj and beyond, said Athar Azeem, one of the mountaineers.

He said the expedition cost up to Rs1.5 million and they received support in the form of gear from the Hindukush Snow Sports Club and the Zom Connection, a France-based mountaineering startup.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2025