[The team endured temperatures
dropping to 58 degrees below zero during its milestone ascent. “The impossible
is made possible!” the leader said.]
By Bhadra Sharma
“The impossible is made possible!”
the team leader Nirmal Purja wrote on Facebook. “History made for mankind. History made
for Nepal!”
Seven Summit Treks, an expedition
company organizing the effort, said the 10
climbers had gotten to the peak on Saturday afternoon, conquering what
it called “Savage Mountain” during the most dangerous climbing season.
Climbers say K2 is one of the
toughest mountains to ascend even in more forgiving spring weather.
“Standing atop Mount K2 in winter
is a historical and remarkable job,” said Ang Tshering Sherpa, a former
president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association. “Nepali climbers proved
their mountaineering skills. It’s a proud moment.”
K2 rises 28,251 feet, second only
to Mount Everest. Part of the Karakoram range in northern Pakistan, near China,
K2 was considered to be the last of the world’s 14 tallest mountains to be
climbed in winter.
It was tested this time by a team
led by Mr. Purja, 37, who has
set records before. In 2019, Mr. Purja reached the summit of each the
world’s 14 highest mountains in just over six months, a milestone for climbers.
Seven Summit Treks touted
Saturday’s ascent as a landmark achievement and a testament to teamwork, but it
also noted the risks still awaiting the climbers.
“It’s K2 and it’s winter, still
many uncertain things may occur, we never know,” the company wrote. “Hope
everyone descends to the base camp safely.”
The climbers, part of a larger
team, have endured temperatures of minus-58 degrees during a journey that began
in mid-December. They undertook the effort amid the coronavirus pandemic as
well: Only those who had tested negative for Covid-19 were allowed to land in
Pakistan and climb the mountain.
Climbers at the K2 base camp were
thrilled by the ascent while acknowledging the risk that remains. “Here it is
big excitement,” Lakpa Dendi Sherpa said in an interview from base camp. “We
are praying for their safe descent.”
Mingma Sherpa, the chairman of
Seven Summit Treks, said in an interview that the other climbers were waiting to
scale the mountain after the first team fixed its rope to the summit. “But it’s
not sure whether the weather permits them to climb.”
