KATHMANDU, JULY 27
A record-holding woman climber among others today scaled the world's second highest peak in Pakistan.
Lhakpa Sherpa, popularly known as 'Everest Queen' along with a group of Nepali and foreign climbers scaled K2, according to Pemba Sherpa, Managing Director at 8K Expeditions. "Lhakpa made it to the summit at around 11:45 am local time," he added.
Mingma Gelu Sherpa, Managing Director at Seven Summit Adventure, said that his sister Lhakpa returned to K2 this season after she abandoned her K2 bid from above Camp III in 2010. "She has finally achieved her dream to summit K2," he said.
The 49-year-old mother of three broke her own world record by standing atop the roof of the world (Mt Everest) for the tenth time in 2022. Born in Makalu VDC of Sankhuwasabha, Lhakpa is the first and only woman to successfully scale Mt Everest 10 times in the world. No other woman in the world has scaled the peak so many times till date. Without having any formal training in mountain climbing, Lhakpa, who grew up with 11 siblings, first climbed Mt Everest from the Nepal side in 2000.
According to 8K Expeditions, more climbers including photojournalist Purnima Shrestha also stood atop K2. "Under the leadership of expedition leader Lakpa Sherpa, Purnima and other members of 8K Expeditions successfully scaled K2," said Pemba. Purnima has already climbed Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu. "We have more than 40 climbers who stood atop K2 this morning," he added.
According to Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, Managing Director at Imagine Nepal Treks, Zeng Huiwen, Zheng Lumin from China, John Lawrie from Australia, Sim Phei Sunn from Singapore, Shahbaz Khan from Pakistan, Kili Pemba Sherpa, Ngima Nuru Sherpa, Pasang Ngima Sherpa and Phur Galjen Sherpa from Imagine Nepal Treks scaled K2. "John Lawrie climbed K2 without using supplemental oxygen while Sim Phei Sunn became the first Singaporean woman to scale K2," he added.
Pasang Sherpa, Chairman at Pioneer Adventure, said that company director Mingma Dorchi Sherpa along with Korean climber Eichul Chung successfully scaled K2 at around 11:45 am local time.
From Seven Summit Treks, three fixing team members - Pasang Nurbu Sherpa, Mingtemba Sherpa and Ngima Dorchi Sherpa - Chhiring Namgel Sherpa, Mingma Tenjen Sherpa, Ang Dawa Sherpa, Muktu Lakpa Sherpa, Sarah Adbovais, Lakpa Thendu Sherpa, Josette Valloton, Fedor Kuprichenkov, Phurba Sherpa, Garbriel Tarso, Mikel Sherpa, Fura Tshering Sherpa, Flutura Ibrahimi, Tenjing Sherpa, Pasang Sherpa, Alina Pekova and Adrian Laza scaled K2, according to SST general manager Thaneswar Guragai.
