Season’s first: Pakistan-Nepal team scales Nanga Parbat

GILGIT: A team of four climbers from Pakistan and Nepal made history on Tuesday by reaching the summit of Nanga Parbat, also known as Killer Mountain, marking the first 8000-meter peak ascent of the season. The triumphant climb was confirmed by the Nepal-based mountaineering company Seven Summit Treks.

The accomplished climbers, including Lhakpa Temba Sherpa and Pemba Sherpa from Nepal, and Dilawar Sadpara and Fida Ali from Pakistan, reached the 8125-meter high summit at 17:45. “Our team tirelessly and incredibly reached the top of Nanga Parbat today while fixing the summit lines,” Seven Summit Treks announced in a social media post.

“We come with the successful ascent of Nanga Parbat, the first 8000er of the season in Pakistan,” the company added, highlighting the historic nature of the climb. Further updates from Seven Summit Treks revealed that other team members were at Camp 4 and preparing for their summit attempt the following day.

As the climbing season progresses, all eyes will be on the peaks of Gilgit-Baltistan, where adventurers from around the world will test their limits against some of the most formidable mountains on earth.

Also read: Father-daughter duo sets sights on Nanga Parbat amidst bureaucratic hurdles

The Gilgit-Baltistan region, known for its breathtaking mountain ranges, has seen a surge in mountaineering activity this season. According to the Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Department, over 1,700 permits have been issued to foreign tourists for climbing peaks in the area, with 175 of these permits specifically for K2, the second-highest mountain in the world at 8,611 meters.

Nanga Parbat, standing as the ninth-highest mountain globally, has a notorious reputation due to its steep faces and challenging weather conditions. The mountain’s fearsome reputation has earned it the moniker “Killer Mountain.” The first successful ascent of Nanga Parbat was achieved on July 3, 1953, by Austrian climber Hermann Buhl, who made the daring climb solo and without supplemental oxygen. Tragically, the mountain has claimed the lives of many climbers over the years. To date, over 80 climbers have perished while attempting to conquer its treacherous slopes.