Remembering the Nanga Parbat Massacre of 2013: From Horror to Hope through the Eyes of Survivors
On June 22, 2013, on a tranquil night in the Himalayas, beneath the imposing Nanga Parbat, a group of armed terrorists dressed in paramilitary uniforms invaded Base Camp. In just a few minutes, one of Pakistan’s most heartbreaking mountaineering tragedies unfolded: ten foreign climbers and one Pakistani cook lost their lives in a brutal attack. […]
New Route Opened on Spantik’s East Ridge: Climbing Style or Number of Summits?
Muiz Ud Din of Pakistan and Mathieu Maynadier of France have opened a remarkable new alpine-style route on the East Ridge of 7,029-meter Spantik. This milestone reaffirms climbing as a craft rooted in style, ethics, and connection with nature, rather than just a game of 8,000-meter summits. Their climb, accomplished in a classical alpine style […]
Historic First Ascent: Southeast Pillar of Ultar Sar Finally Climbed
The first ascent of the Southeast Pillar of Ultar Sar (7,388m) in Pakistan’s Karakoram range has been accomplished by a group of elite alpinists, including Ethan Berman, Sebastian Pelletti, and Maarten van Haeren. The three took on the 3,100-meter tricky face in alpine style, with the support of the Alpine Club of Canada’s John Lauchlan […]
Col. Sher Khan, the Mountain Lion: A Forgotten Lead Climber
Col. Sher Khan’s (Retd) journey was not only defined by the conquest of summits but also by the fulfillment of a legacy—one that is etched in the grand shape of Rakaposhi. This mountain had determined his destiny long before he initially crossed its slopes. Sher Khan narrates; “I would like to say that Rakaposhi, my […]
Sirbaz Khan’s Return to Annapurna: A Symbol of Unfinished Dreams and Local Legacy
In the far reaches of the Himalayas, Pakistan’s famous mountaineer Sirbaz Khan is once again climbing on the steep slopes of Annapurna. His latest Instagram post from the foot of the gigantic 8,091-meter-high mountain not only marks a personal challenge but also signifies the hopes and dreams of an entire generation of Pakistani mountaineers and […]
The K2 Betrayal: When Hunza Tigers Missed the First Ascent of K2
The mountaineering community has overlooked the significant roles played by indigenous climbers, such as the Sherpas, Hunzokutz, and Baltis, during the Himalayan and Karakoram expeditions. Unlike many Western climbers who sought national prestige and global recognition in the race to be the first to summit, mountain communities in the Karakoram and Himalayas participated in early […]