In a historic first, more than a dozen female mountaineers from Pakistan and Italy have set off on an all-female climbing expedition to the world’s second-highest K2 peak, officials and organizers said on Friday.
The 8,611-metre-high K2 peak in northern Pakistan is considered the toughest and most challenging trek for mountaineers. Several dozen climbers have died while attempting to scale the mountain.
This week, a group comprising four Italian and four Pakistani female climbers reached the base camp, with plans to commence their ascent over the weekend, according to Sirbaz Khan, a Pakistani organizer of the expedition.
Additionally, a separate team of at least six Pakistani female climbers was set to start their climb on Monday, said Rahat Baig, spokesman for the regional tourism department.
For the first time, all-female expeditions led entirely by women are attempting to scale what is known as a killer mountain, said Karar Haidri, spokesman for Pakistan’s Alpine Club, which oversees such adventure tours.
Both groups aim to reach the summit within three weeks to a month, contingent on weather conditions, explained climber Khan.
“I’m happy to be part of this group. This will be a historic feast,” Pakistani climber Samina Baig told Pakistani broadcaster Geo.tv.
Baig has submitted K2, Everest and several other peaks worldwide.