Nepalese make first winter ascent of K2

Culminating at 8,611 meters above sea level, K2 is the second highest peak in the world, after Everest.

AFP - AMELIE HERENSTEIN

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

It's historic, Nepalese mountaineers reached K2 this Saturday at 5 p.m. (local time) in Pakistan, where the summit of 8,611 meters above sea level is located, the highest in the world after Everest.

It is also the first time in history that such a high peak has been climbed in winter.

The team, made up of 10 climbers, an Anglo-Nepalese soldier and 9 sherpas left last Tuesday. 

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With our correspondent in Islamabad

Sonia Ghezali

It is together that the 10 climbers reached K2, in the Karakoram massif.

The ascent of the triangular peak is considered the hardest in the world.

Many passages are very difficult, but it is the extreme weather conditions that are the number 1 enemy of climbers.

The winds blow up to 200 km / h, they are so violent that they can make the ropes take off.

Temperatures drop to less than 60 degrees.

The K2 is rightly nicknamed "The mountain without pity".

Eighty-five people lost their lives there.

THE IMPOSSIBLE IS MADE POSSIBLE!

# K2winter - History made for mankind, History made for Nepal! 🇳🇵🙏🏼🙌🏼 # K2winter # K2winter2021https: //t.co/dGCLFBOxB7

- Nirmal Purja MBE (@nimsdai) January 16, 2021

Before that day, 378 people had reached its peak compared to more than 5,000 for Everest.

No mountaineer had ever reached K2 in winter.

The Nepalese team that succeeded this Saturday achieved a feat.

It has 9 sherpas and Nirmal Purja.

The 37-year-old Anglo-Nepalese mountaineer distinguished himself in 2018 by climbing the 14 peaks of 8,000 meters in just 6 months.

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