All eyes on K2 as all-women teams embark on 70th jubilee ascent

GILGIT: All eyes are on K2 as two all-women teams have commenced their expedition to summit K2, the world’s second-highest peak, in celebration of the 70th anniversary of K2’s first historic ascent in 1954 by the Italian expedition led by Professor Ardito Desio.

“The K2-70 Women’s team has reached Concordia. It’s the 5th day of our trek! We had amazing weather! Everyone is doing great! Tomorrow we will be at the K2 base camp, InshaAllah,” announced Ace Mountaineer Samina Baig, who is leading the 8-member Italian-Pakistani team, on social media.

Sponsored by the Italian Alpine Club, the team consists of four Italians – Anna Torretta, Federica Mingolla, Silvia Loreggian, and Cristina Piolini – and four Pakistanis – Samina Baig, Amina Bano, Nadeema Sahar, and Samana Rahim.

According to the Italian Alpine Club, upon reaching the K2 base camp, the team will begin their ascent by setting up fixed ropes and camps along the Sperone degli Abruzzi route. They plan to spend at least two nights above 7,000 meters and a few nights in Camp 2 (6,650 meters) for acclimatization. Depending on weather conditions, the team aims to make their first summit attempt starting July 20th.

“Every kilometre we travel is magic. It feels like you’re in a painting; all the mountains around are majestic giants that enchant you. We are all doing well and happy,” said Federica Mingolla on social media.

The team will also dedicate 10 days to scientific research on the glaciers to understand the impacts of climate change and prepare for a future Ice Memory mission on the Godwin-Austen glacier. This research will cover an area of approximately 20 kilometres between 5,500 and 6,000 meters above sea level.

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The scientific leader of the team, Jacopo Gabrieli, stated in a video before departing from Skardu that the first stage will be at the K2 Base Camp, where the scientific material will be prepared. The research team will then move to Sella dei Venti, at an altitude of about 6,000 meters.

The team will conduct deep drilling to collect ice cores and detailed analysis of the snow coat to study its characteristics and verify if the ice memory is preserved despite the climate crisis. This study aims to determine if this site is suitable for future deep drilling to be included in the “Ice Memory” project.

Meanwhile, a second all-women, all-Pakistani team is also en route to the K2 base camp. The team, sponsored by the Pakistan Army, consists of Anum Uzair from Lahore, sisters Amina Hanif and Siddiqa Hanif from Ghanche, Bibi Afzoon and Sultana Nasab from Hunza, and Shama Baqir.  The Hanif sisters are granddaughters of the legendary mountaineer, the late Abdul Karim, fondly named Little Karim.

Ace Pakistani climber Sirbaz Khan, the first and only Pakistani to have climbed 11 of the world’s 14 highest peaks without supplementary oxygen, is leading the team in their 45-day expedition.

While talking to HUM News English, Shahbaz Khan, brother of Sirbaz Khan, who is coordinating with the media about the mission, said the team had left Skardu two days ago and will reach the base camp in 4 to 5 days.