GILGIT(National Times)- Four women mountaineers from Gilgit-Baltistan, joined by a Romanian climber and a male mountaineer from Punjab, successfully summited 7,027-metre Spantik Peak without the assistance of high-altitude porters, marking an inspiring achievement amid challenging conditions in the region.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed that the four-member local women’s team reached the summit and safely returned to Skardu on Monday.
The successful climbers were Shama Baqir and Samana Rahim of Shimshal Valley, Zooni Aslam of Gulmit Valley in Gojal, Upper Hunza, and Zaiba Batool Shigri of Shigar district.
Bismah Hassan of Lahore was also part of the expedition but returned around 250 metres below the summit after experiencing a health issue.
Alpine Club of Pakistan General Secretary Ayaz Shigri told Dawn that the women reached the summit either a day before or on the same day that climber Dr Asma Mushtaq died while descending from the mountain.
He said weather conditions had been favourable at the peak before Friday, but subsequent deterioration created difficulties for rescue and recovery operations.
The expedition also featured Alexandra Visan of Romania, who, despite battling cancer, successfully climbed Spantik and descended safely. Her expedition was organised by Broad Boy Adventures, owned by Pakistani mountaineer Shehroze Kashif.Zaiba Batool from Shigar waves the Pakistani flag. —Dawn
In a social media post, Mr Kashif said Ms Visan was accompanied by local high-altitude porter Ali Ameen of Shigar. He described her achievement as a story of perseverance, saying some climbs are about finding the strength to continue when life itself becomes the mountain.
Punjab climber Ayyan Adeel also summited Spantik. According to Mr Kashif, the attempt was notable because Ayyan became the youngest climber to summit the peak without high-altitude porter support, carrying his own equipment with assistance from fellow expedition members Awais Choudary and Talha Khalid.
While the successful summits brought encouragement to the mountaineering community, deteriorating weather has continued to hamper efforts to bring to Skardu the body of Dr Asma Mushtaq, who died at an altitude of around 6,250 metres on Thursday while descending from the Spantik summit. Her body remains at Camp 3.
Mr Shigri said a six-member team of high-altitude porters reached Camp 2 on Sunday and attempted to proceed towards Camp 3. However, heavy rain and snowfall forced the team to turn back to Camp 2.
Weather conditions are expected to improve on Tuesday, after which rescuers will make another attempt to bring Dr Mushtaq’s body down to base camp. Pakistan Army helicopters are then expected to airlift the body to Skardu.
Bad weather has also prevented helicopter operations at 8,047-metre Broad Peak, where the body of American climber Sarah Mallory Geis remains at the base camp awaiting airlift.
