Tag: mountain

  • Two missing Japanese climbers spotted in Pakistan’s north

    Two missing Japanese climbers spotted in Pakistan’s north

    Two missing Japanese climbers were spotted by helicopter on Thursday in Pakistan’s mountainous north, home to some of the world’s tallest peaks, but their condition remains unknown, a tour operator said.

    The Japanese climbers Ryuseki Hiraoka and Atsushi Taguchi were attempting to summit the 7,027-metre (23,054-foot) Spantik mountain in the Karakoram range before they went missing.

    “The rescuers saw the climbers and recognised them by their clothes, but they could not determine their condition,” Naiknam Karim, the CEO of Adventure Tours Pakistan (ATP) which organised the tour, told AFP.

    The two were spotted during a military helicopter search on Thursday that was called off due to poor weather conditions.

    “There has been no communication between the two Japanese climbers and officials at basecamp since they started their expedition,” Karim earlier said.

    “They were seen on June 10 (for the) last time at above 5,000 metres.”

    Another team of Japanese climbers raised the alarm on Tuesday after arriving at Camp 2, at around 5,650 metres, where Hiraoka and Taguchi were scheduled to be.

    The search is scheduled to resume on Friday.

    “An 8-member rescue team including five Japanese climbers will ascent on foot and search for them,” Karim Added.

    The pair had reached base camp on June 3 and were attempting the climb without the help of porters.

    Spantik, also known as the Golden Peak, is described as a “relatively accessible and straightforward peak” on the website of a separate tourist company, Adventure Tours.

    The country is home to five of the world’s 14 mountains higher than 8,000 metres — including K2, the world’s second highest.

    More than 8,900 foreigners visited the remote Gilgit-Baltistan region in 2023, according to official figures from the government, where the summer climbing season runs from early June to late August.

  • Mountaineers in pursuit of records accused by climbers of ignoring dying Pakistani sherpa on K2

    Mohammad Hassan, a 27-year-old Pakistani porter, lay severely injured just 1,300 feet from K2’s summit, a peak known for its unforgiving nature. Shockingly, as he battled for survival, fellow climbers allegedly chose to prioritize their ascent records over extending a helping hand. Drone footage captured at the grim scene reveals climbers navigating around Hassan on the precarious ledge, effectively leaving him to his fate.

    The incident has ignited controversy, centering on Norwegian climber Kristin Harila and her team, who were captured passing by the injured porter. Accusations have been leveled against them, claiming that their pursuit of a new world record took precedence over providing aid to Hassan. Adding to the outrage, reports said that a celebratory party followed shortly after the team achieved the record of conquering 14 of the world’s highest peaks in just over three months—despite the tragic loss of Hassan’s life, Daily Mail has reported.

    Kristin Harila has defended her actions, stating that she and her team attempted to assist Hassan. However, the treacherous conditions on K2 made any rescue attempts perilous.

    Austrian mountaineer Philip Flämig, who was climbing alongside Wilhelm Steindl, has drawn attention to footage captured by their drone. The footage allegedly depicts a grim sequence of climbers stepping over the stricken body of Mohammad Hassan rather than offering assistance.

    Flämig described the scene in Austria’s Standard newspaper, highlighting the heart-wrenching footage. He expressed dismay, pointing out that while one person tended to Hassan, others surged onward toward the summit. Flämig criticized the absence of an organized rescue operation despite the presence of Sherpas and guides who could have acted.

    Flämig denounced the incident as a “disgrace” and compared the stark contrast to practices in the Alps, highlighting the ongoing debate regarding the treatment of Sherpas in the Himalayas. He asserted that if Hassan were a Westerner, immediate rescue efforts would likely have been deployed. The tragedy, he lamented, highlighted the callous disregard for human life in favor of record-breaking pursuits.

    In response to these claims, Harila defended her actions and decisions, countering accusations of inaction. She refuted the notion that no effort was made to help Hassan, stating that her team attempted to lift him for over an hour. She also explained the hazardous conditions on the mountain, particularly on the treacherous part where Hassan fell.

    Drone footage of the incident revealed individuals climbing over Hassan as he lay helpless in the deep snow. The video offered a glimpse of the thin air at such high elevations, as climbers wore oxygen masks to combat the thin atmosphere.

    Despite differing accounts of the incident, the unsettling scene has prompted renewed debate about the ethics of mountaineering and the value of human life in extreme circumstances. Steindl, who had to retreat to base camp due to perilous conditions, expressed his disgust at fellow climbers’ inaction, stressing the importance of lending aid.

  • Shehroz Kashif summits 8000 meters Manaslu in Nepal

    Pakistani climber, Shehroz Kashif summited 8000 meters Manaslu in Nepal,  the world’s eighth highest peak on Saturday morning.

    Shahrooz Kashif climbed the 8163-meter-high Manaslu peak, the fourth peak of his career.

    Shehroz Kashif has climbed the third consecutive peak in the last five months at an altitude of over 8,000 meters — setting a record of summiting peaks in this young age.

    Shehroz’s father, Kashif Salman, told Geo News that his son is fully fit and he will reach the base camp in two days

    Punjab Sports Minister, Rai Taimur Bhatti, took to Twitter to congratulate Shehroz Kashif for his achievement and lauded him for his bravery at this age.

    Earlier, the 19-year-old mountaineer became the youngest Pakistani to summit Mount Everest.