Nepali team in 1st winter summit of K2, Spanish climber dies on mountain
Islamabad, Jan 16 (efe-epa).- A team of 10 Nepalese sherpas on Saturday made history with the first winter summit of K2, the second-highest mountain in the world.
The milestone was marred by news of the death, in a separate exhibition on K2, of Spanish climber Sergi Mingote.
The Himalayan peak, on the border of China and Pakistan, was the last of the world’s 14 highest mountains, all over 8,000 metres, never to be scaled in winter.
“We did it, believe me we did it. Journey to the summit never done before,” Seven Summits Treks said on Twitter.
“The Karakorum’s ‘Savage Mountain’ has been submitted in the most dangerous season: winter.”
The summit of K2 is 8,611 metres above sea level.
All from Nepal, the team of climbers who reached the summit on Saturday was comprised of Nirmal Purja, Mingma David Sherpa, Mingma Tenzing Sherpa, Geljen Sherpa, Pem Chiri Sherpa, Dawa Tempba Sherpa, Mingma G, Dawa Tenjin Sherpa, Kili Pemba Sherpa and Sona Sherpa.
The climbers began the final ascent to the summit on Friday night and reached the peak at 5 pm local time Saturday.
A dangerous descent with little remaining light was to follow.
The treacherous nature of the mountain was underlined by the death of Mingote, who fell during his descent during a separate trek to base camp, according to Karrar Haidri, spokesperson for the Alpine Club of Pakistan.
