TRAVEL MAJESTIC PAKISTAN-K2: Where Earth Touches the Sky at the Roof of the World
In the heart of the world’s most majestic peaks, a titan of nature’s grandeur stands—K2, a name that echoes with reverence among adventurers and dreamers. As you set your gaze upon this towering giant, you’re not just witnessing a mountain; you’re witnessing a testament to the human spirit’s yearning to touch the heavens. K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth after Mount Everest, rises with an elegance that defies description, a symphony of ice and rock that leaves the soul humbled and the heart awestruck.
K2: The Savage Mountain
K2 is located in the Karakoram Range of Pakistan, and it has a peak elevation of 8,611 meters (28,251 feet).K2 is known as the “Savage Mountain” because it is one of the most difficult mountains to climb. The ascent is technically challenging, and the weather conditions are often harsh. There have been over 800 attempts to climb K2, and over 300 people have died on the mountain, approximately one person dies on the mountain for every four who reach the summit.K2 Documentary Netflix (Courtesy)
The first successful ascent of K2 was made in 1954 by a team of Italian climbers led by Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli. Since then, only a few hundred people have summited K2.
The Roof of the World
K2 isn’t just a mountain; it’s a realm where Earth reaches for the sky, a bridge between the terrestrial and the celestial. Rising to an awe-inspiring peak elevation of 8,611 meters (28,251 feet), K2 stands as a sentinel at the roof of the world. Its summit is a sacred space that beckons adventurers to test their limits, to challenge their very essence, and to embrace the emotions that come with being so close to the heavens.
A Dance with Majesty
As the sun’s first rays caress K2’s snow-covered slopes, a spectacle of light and shadow unfolds. The mountain’s icy facade comes alive, reflecting the hues of the sky and the dreams of those who dare to ascend. K2’s presence is more than a sight; it’s a dance with majesty itself, a journey into a world where the Earth’s beauty and power converge in a harmonious symphony.
Where Dreams Soar
K2 isn’t just a destination for mountaineers; it’s a destination for dreams. Every step taken towards its peak is a step towards conquering one’s own fears, doubts, and limitations. The mountain doesn’t merely challenge the physical; it challenges the very essence of what it means to be human. It’s a place where dreams soar, where the human spirit’s yearning for the extraordinary meets the Earth’s unyielding might.
A Symphony of Emotions
To stand before K2 is to stand before a mirror of one’s own emotions. The mountain’s icy slopes reflect the courage, the determination, and the vulnerability that lie within us all. It’s a place where emotions run high, where triumph and humility, awe and reverence, converge in a symphony that resonates in the depths of the soul.
The Call of Adventure
The journey to K2 isn’t just a physical journey; it’s a spiritual odyssey. As you set your course towards its slopes, pack not only your gear but also your heart’s longing for connection to the world’s wonders. K2’s call is a call to embrace the unknown, challenge the ordinary, and touch the skies with your dreams.
K2 is a popular destination for mountaineers, but it is important to be aware of the risks involved. The mountain is not for the faint of heart.
Things to know about K2:
- K2 is located in the Karakoram Range, which is one of the most challenging mountain ranges in the world.
- The weather conditions on K2 are often harsh, with high winds and extreme cold.
- The ascent of K2 is technically challenging and requires a high level of mountaineering expertise.
- There have been over 800 attempts to climb K2, and over 300 people have died on the mountain.
If you are planning to climb K2, it is important to be well-prepared and to have a good understanding of the risks involved. You should also be accompanied by an experienced guide.
First Pakistani woman to scale K2 says ‘absolute honour’ to hoist flag on Savage Mountain
Short Url
https://arab.news/cmxw5
Updated 03 August 2022
August 03, 202209:30 
- Samina Baig was among record number of 87 climbers who summited the world’s second-highest mountain on July 22
- The 32-year-old climber says Pakistan needs to work on tourism infrastructure to encourage more climbers to visit
SKARDU: When Pakistani mountaineer Samina Baig hoisted the country’s green and white flag atop K2 last month, she had two reasons to celebrate: that she was the first Pakistani woman to summit K2, and that more than 20 other women joined her in achieving the feat.
Located on the Pakistan-China border, the 8,611-meter-high K2 peak is the second highest on Earth and is popularly called the Savage Mountain because of its challenging terrain and treacherous weather, making it one of the most difficult mountains to climb in the world.
Until last year, fewer than 20 women had summited K2.“I still can’t believe that I have climbed the summit of Mount K2, being the first Pakistani woman,” Baig said in a recent interview with Arab News.
“I think it’s an honour for me to hoist Pakistan’s flag on the second highest mountain, Mount K2, which is in Pakistan. And being the first woman from my country, it’s an absolute honour.”
Baig was among a record number of 87 climbers from Asia, the Middle East and Western countries who on July 22 summited K2, according to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, which helps coordinate the climbs and respond in case of an emergency.
But to encourage even more climbers to come to Pakistan, Baig said the government needed to improve infrastructure.
“We have great potential in tourism. The only thing is we need to work on infrastructure,” she said. “Whether it’s winter sports or adventure tourism, we have all sorts of tourism in the country.”
Samina Baig poses for a group photograph at the top of K2, located in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan on July 22, 2022 (Mingma David Sherpa)
Baig has previously scaled the Seven Summits, which refers to the seven highest mountains on each continent, and this was her third attempt to summit K2.
She spoke about the challenges of climbing K2 and remembered three climbers, including famed Pakistani climber, Muhammad Ali Sadpara, who died on K2 last year after going missing, with the government launching a weeks-long extraordinary rescue mission that had involved the military and international mountaineers.
“It’s is a very, very challenging mountain,” said Baig, who won the Pride of Performance award for her successful ascent of Everest in 2013. “Number one, weather, and then the terrain on the mountain is very, very dangerous, very difficult, and then the rockfall and avalanches.”
“And this year it was totally different conditions on the mountain. There was not a lot of snow on the mountain so the chances of rocks falling were very, very high…it’s not an easy mountain at all.”
What’s next for Baig?
“There are many mountains [of] 6000, 7000-meter peaks, which are totally untouched or unclimbed, so maybe I will go for that, but for now, I am just celebrating what I have achieved.”
Baig was also thrilled to see more women taking an interest in mountaineering.
“This year, more than 20 women summited K2, which is amazing and shows women are taking more interest in adventure sports, which were normally considered male-dominated sports,” Baig said. “I am so happy to see all these wonderful women from different countries summiting big mountains.”
Climbers, after summiting K2, descending from the top of K2, located in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan on July 22, 2022. (Mingma David Sherpa)
Among these 20 climbers was Lebanese Nelly Attar, who became the first Arab woman to summit K2, and Taiwan’s Grace Tseng, 29, the world’s youngest female mountaineer to do so.
“You have to work hard and you have to believe in yourself,” Baig said in a message for women. “Nothing is impossible in this world, nothing.”
In Conclusion
K2 is more than just a mountain; it’s a testament to the human spirit’s yearning for the extraordinary. It’s a journey to the roof of the world, a journey that transcends the limits of the physical and delves into the realm of the heart and the soul. As you gaze upon K2’s towering presence, you’re reminded that the Earth’s beauty and power are boundless and that the human spirit’s capacity for courage and triumph knows no bounds. K2 is an invitation to stand on the threshold of greatness, to touch the sky, and to embrace the emotions that come with standing in the presence of a mountain that has witnessed the dreams of generations and continues to inspire the dreams of those yet to come.