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First winter ascent of K2 achieved by Nirmal Purja and fellow Nepalese climbers, as they sing the national anthem
- One of the last great firsts in mountaineering has been achieved by 10 Nepalese climbers
- A host of other teams were on the mountain this year in a frenzy to claim the world first
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The first ascent of K2 in winter was achieved on Saturday by 10 Nepalese climbers, including the famous Nirmal Purja, who rose to notoriety when he climbed all 14 of the 8,000-metre peaks in six months.
“THE IMPOSSIBLE IS MADE POSSIBLE! #K2winter – History made for mankind, History made for Nepal,” Purja wrote on Instagram.
K2 is the second highest mountain in the world, standing at 8,611m. Although it is smaller than Everest, it is a far harder climb. The high death to summit ratio has earned it the nickname “The Savage Mountain”.
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Climbing K2 in winter was considered one of the last great firsts in mountaineering. This year, it attracted a host of teams, including the likes of Colin O’Brady, famed for his exploits in Antarctica.
“A very special moment. The whole team waited 10m below the summit to form a group then stepped onto the summit together whilst singing our Nepalese National Anthem,” Purja said.
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