KATHMANDU, JULY 22

The second highest mountain in the world today witnessed multiple world records as over 80 climbers from different teams reached the summit point of K2 (8611m) this morning.

According to expedition organisers, the world mountaineers began their summit push a few hours after five climbers from Himalayan Guides, Seven Summit Treks and 8K Expedition fixed the climbing route at 10:45 pm on Thursday. 'All climbers scaled the peak this morning as they found a clear weather window,' they said.

According to them, the route from Camp IV to the summit point was opened by Siddhi Bahadur Tamang, Dorji Gyaljen Sherpa, Rinji Sherpa, Pasdawa Sherpa and Chhiring Namgyal Sherpa.

Pemba Sherpa, Managing Director at 8K Expedition said that Pasdawa Sherpa, being a member of the rope fixing team, stood atop K2 and he became the fastest person to have climbed five highest mountains in the world. It took him 69 days to have achieved that feat. 'Pasdawa scaled Kangchenjunga (8586 m) on 14 May followed by Everest (8848.86 m), and Lhotse (8516 m) on 22 May, Makalu (8463 m) on 27 May, and K2 on 21 July,' he added. Pasdawa also climbed Annapurna I (8091 m) on 28 April followed by Dhaulagiri I (8167 m) on 08 May and Nanga Parbat (8126 m) on 1 July.

Meanwhile, Kristin Harila from Norway along with Dawa Onju Sherpa also completed their 8th 8000er scaling K2 this morning. Pasdawa, Kristin and Dawa Ongju are in a mission to complete all 14 peaks within six months aiming to break a world record set by Nirmal Purja aka Nimsdai. The trio have already set multiple records, according to Sherpa.

From 8K Expedition, Kristin A. Bennett, Frank Loke, Liliya Ianovskaia, Fida Ali, Pema Chhiring Sherpa, Pemba Tasi Sherpa, Dawa Dorchi Sherpa, Dawa Wongju Sherpa and Pemba Dorchee Sherpa also scaled K2.

According to Dolma Outdoor, Tseng Ko-Erh aka Grace Tseng, 29, has scaled the mountain without using supplementary oxygen this morning. She has become the youngest female in the world to do so,' Dawa Sherpa, Managing Director at Dolma Outdoor, said. Grace is the first Taiwanese national to stand atop K2, according to Sherpa. Grace was accompanied by Nepali climbers Nima Gyalzen Sherpa and Ningma Dorje Tamang, he added. The three climbers also scaled Nanga Parbat on July 1. Becoming the first Taiwanese to scale Nanga Parbat, Grace is also on a mission to complete all 14 peaks at the youngest age. 'She has completed her 9th 8000er by scaling K2 today,' he said.

Iswari Poudel, Managing Director at Himalayan Guides, said that at least 15 climbers from HG-Madison Mountaineering Expedition scaled K2 this morning. 'Terray Ellington Sylvester, Claudio 'Cacho' Javier Beiza, Nelly Attar, Krisli Melesk, Aang Phurba Sherpa, Siddhi Bahadur Tamang, Dorji Gyeljen Sherpa, Kamdorji Sherpa, Lhakpa Wongchu Sherpa, Rinji Sherpa, Lakpa Bhote, Temba Sherpa, Lakpa Shera and Inayat Ali scaled K2,' he said. According to him, climbers reported perfect climbing conditions, have descended safely to camp 4 and are continuing down to camp 2.

Mingma Sherpa, Chairman at Seven Summit Treks, shared that woman climber Afsane Hesamifard became the first Iranian woman on the summit of the 2nd highest mountain in the world. 'He Jing, a Chinese female climber who had climbed Everest and Lhotse without O2 support in 2022 spring, today scaled K2 without using supplemental oxygen,' he added.

From Seven Summit Treks, woman climber Monikia Witkowska, Nadhira Alharthy, Vladimir Kotlyar, Fura Tshering Sherpa, Mingtemba Sherpa, Pasang Sherpa and Ngima Tashi Sherpa also scaled K2 this morning. 'More climbers from SST are on their way to the summit point,' he added. Samina Baig, the first and only Pakistani woman Everest summiteers, has successfully scaled K2 and became the first Pakistani woman to have summited the second highest mountain in the world.

IFMAG guide Mingma Gyalje Sherpa who owns Imagine Nepal Treks and Mingma Dorchi Sherpa from Pioneer Adventure scaled Mt K2 for the fourth time. From Imagine Nepal Treks, Dawa Gyalje Sherpa, Tamting Sherpa, Pasang Namgel Sherpa, Lakpa Tamang, Angdu Sherpa, Dawa Sherpa, Tsering Sherpa, Pemba Tenzing Sherpa, Sonam Tashi Sherpa, Nima Dorjee Sherpa, Pemba Cheri Sherpa, Shah Simshali, Wang Zhong, Gao li, Aleksandr Yul Gromen, Gina Marie RZucidlo, Jennifer Lyn Drummond, Par Stefan Isgren, Jill Wheatley, Sashko Kedev, Rene Michael Bergsma, Naoki Ishikhawa scaled K2 this morning.

According to Pasang Sherpa, Chairman at Pioneer Adventure, Jon, Warren, Khai, Shuhei, Pemba Rita Sherpa, Lakpa Gyalzen Sherpa, Pasang Sherpa, Phurtenze Sherpa and Chhangwa Sherpa also scaled K2 this morning.

According to Lukas Furtenbach, at least 14 climbers including Roland Striemitzer, Mingma Dorchi Sherpa, Christian Wild, Kunga Sherpa, Ang Kaji Sherpa, Ingo Berner, Dawa Jangbu Lama, Dawa Dorchi Sherpa, Michael Lutz, Lakpa Nurbu Sherpa, Ngima Dorchi Sherpa, Moritz Werner, Ram Nurbu Sherpa and Ngima Dorchi Sherpa also scaled K2.