Nepalese Sherpas shine as 46 climbers summit K2

GIGLIT: Nepalese climbers lead as at least 46 climbers summit the notoriously challenging Mount K2, standing at 8,611 meters and often called Mount Godwin Austen, on Sunday.

In total, out of the 46 summiteers, 24 were from Nepal, 7 from China, 4 from Japan, 4 from Pakistan, and 1 each from the United States, Thailand, Hong Kong, Portugal, Vietnam, Russia, and Austria.

Imtiaz Ali and Ashraf Ali from Sadpara village and Ali Durani from Hushey village, who were part of the Italian Alpine Club’s 70th-anniversary expedition, reached the summit, as confirmed by Alpine Club of Pakistan General Secretary Karrar Haideri. Imtiaz and Ashraf were part of first all-woman team lead by Ace climber Sirbaz Khan.

Imagine Nepal, Nepalese adventure tourism company, confirmed that its 18-member team, consisting of 8 international clients and 10 Nepalese Sherpas, successfully reached the summit of K2. The international climbers included Darren Rogers from the United States, Xiao Jing, Hu Jie, Ru Zhigang, Gao Li, Guan Kailun, Ren Fei from China, and Kitti Boonnitrod from Thailand. The Nepalese Sherpas were Mingma G, Nima Nuru Sherpa (A), Ngima Dorje Tamang, Nima Nuru Sherpa (B), Pasang Ngima Sherpa, Dipan Gurung, Lakpa Sona Sherpa, Phura Gelje Sherpa, Phinjo Dorje Sherpa, and Pemba Chhiri Sherpa.

Similarly, the Nepalese tour operator 8K Expeditions celebrated its 9-member team’s successful summit on the same day. The team comprised Tjhang Piao from Hong Kong, Chen Xue from China, Maria Do Ceu Da Conceicao from Portugal, and Nepalese climbers Migma Dorchi Sherpa, Ashok Lama, Dawa Ongju Sherpa, Pemba Tasi Sherpa, Dawa Dorchi Sherpa, and Pechhumbe Sherpa. Despite challenging and unpredictable weather conditions, the team seized a narrow summit window.

Mashabrum Expeditions Treks and Tours reported that 10 climbers from its two different teams reached the summit of K2. From the Madison K2 Expedition team, Siddhi Bahadur Tamang and Pemba Nuru Sherpa from Nepal summited, while the Glacier Himalaya K2 team saw successful ascents by Da Dendi Sherpa from Nepal, Ken Kobayashi, Masato Imai, and Yachiyo Suzuki from Japan, Chhiring Sherpa, Gurung Nanu Maya, and Sajjan Ghale from Nepal, and Inayat Ali from Baltistan. Muhammad Ali, the owner of Mashabrum Expeditions, confirmed that more summits are expected in the coming days.

Satori Adventures, a Nepalese mountaineering company, announced the successful summit of two climbers: Vietnam’s Ngô Hải Sơn and Nurbu Sherpa from Nepal, who reached the peak at 11:15 AM.
Seven Summit Treks confirmed the summit of Naoko Watanabe from Japan, Mingtemba Sherpa from Nepal, Valeriy Babanov from Russia, and Jorge Egocheaga Rodriguez from Austria.

Individual Achievements

Among the notable individual achievements, Maria Do Ceu Da Conceicao became the first Portuguese woman to summit K2, while Kitti Boonnitrod become the only climber from Thailand to achieve this feat. Mingma G celebrated his fifth summit of K2, and Japanese climber Naoko Watanabe became the only woman to have climbed K2 three times.

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Siddhi Bahadur Tamang marked his fifth summit of K2 since 2018. For Ashraf Ali, Imtiaz Ali, and Ali Durani, it was their third time summiting the mountain. Durani had previously reached the summit ten years ago during the 60th anniversary of his first climb.

Eight climbers summit G-I

Meanwhile, Seven Summit Treks confirmed the summit of Gasherbrum I (8,080m) by its 8-member team. “This morning, our team members and Sherpas successfully summited Gasherbrum I (8,080m),” SST announced in a social media post. The summiteers included Josette Valloton from Switzerland, Dorota Lidia Rasinska-Samocko from Poland, Marco Camandona and Dante Luboz from Italy (both without supplemental oxygen), Vadim Druelle from France (without supplemental oxygen), and Chhangba Sherpa, Pasang Dukpa Sherpa, and Pasang Tenje Sherpa from Nepal.