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 […]
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 […]
The Restless Giant: Unraveling the Mysteries of Shishper Glacier in Pakistan’s Hunza Valley
“This great workshop of primaeval forces where nature seems to exert her supremest energy” George Nathaniel Curzon’s depiction of the Hunza landscape remains hauntingly accurate when observing the Shishper Glacier’s behavior. The Hasanabad Glacier system, with its twin arms Muchuhur (western basin) and Shishper (eastern basin) descending dramatically from peaks exceeding 7,300 meters, epitomizes glacial […]
Tamgha-i-Pakistan Awardee Conquers Unclimbed Cherireen Sar in Karakoram
Following a series of persistently adverse weather conditions that thwarted their initial objective of achieving the first ascent of Kurdophin Sar, Tyrolean alpinist Lukas Wörle and Slovenian elite climber Aleš Česen devised an audacious alternative plan, as reported by Der Standard. Upon their arrival at the base of Kurdophin Sar, they found the summit ridge […]
“Holy Mountains: The Importance of Indigenous Practices in the Age of Climate Change”
Masood´s Presentation on Holy Mountains and the importance of indigenous practices in the age of climate change at Afro-Asiatic Institute in Salzburg Austria. Photo: Afro-Asiatic Institute Salzburg Indigenous communities in the Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalaya (HKH) region hold profound spiritual connections with their natural environment. Traditions such as glacier grafting (merging black and white glaciers), ritualistic irrigation ceremonies […]
The K2 West Face: Honoring the Historic 1981 First Ascent of K2 by Nazir Sabir and Ohtani
“Then l thought we humans are often on the mercy of the forces of nature and we can only beg to be allowed to creep up the slopes of these heavenly places to merely spend few moments up there. It is very ignorant of the egoistic individuals to refer to conquering any mountain. These places […]
Honoring Unsung Local Heroes: Meherban Karim and Jehan Baig of Shimshal Valley
K2 8611m, also called savage mountain, South Face view from Concordia On the 17th anniversary of the 2008 K2 Tragedy, we pay tribute to the legacy of two brave Pakistani mountaineers whose lives were lost on the world’s most perilous mountain, far from the recognition they rightfully deserved. Shimshal Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan — Tucked away in […]
Laura Dahlmeier, a double Olympic champion died in a mountaineering accident in Pakistan
German biathlete Laura Dahlmeier, 31, who had won two Olympic gold medals, died tragically in a mountaineering accident on Pakistan’s Karakoram mountain range’s Laila Peak. She was ascending at about 5,700 meters on July 28, 2025, when she got hit by falling rocks. On July 30, 2025, her management team and the Alpine Club of […]
Olympic Champion Laura Dahlmeier Gravely Injured on Laila Peak; Karakoram Conditions Worsen
“Climbing in the Karakoram is Challenging” – Climate Change Influences Mountain Hazards A tragic event has once again impacted the mountaineering community as Laura Dahlmeier, a former Olympic biathlon champion from Germany, has sustained critical injuries on Laila Peak (6,069 m) within the Karakoram range. Dahlmeier, aged 31, was struck by a severe rockfall on […]
One Year Later: Remembering Kazuya Hiraide and the Final Climb on K2’s West Face
“Yes, I have a dream… the West Face of K2.” — Kazuya Hiraide, 2023 It’s been a year since we lost Japanese climbers Kazuya Hiraide and Kenro Nakajima on K2’s less-climbed West Face while they were tackling a bold new route alpine style. On July 27, 2024, the two disappeared into the unforgiving silence of […]
Himalayan Rocks: A New Climbing Bible for the Roof of the World
The majestic Himalayas, long celebrated for their grandeur and enigmatic allure, now have a definitive rock climbing guidebook that truly covers the climbing landscape in the entire Karakoram-Himalaya. Himalayan Rocks, the latest work by esteemed German alpinist and geographer Kai Maluck, was launched during a public presentation at The Black Hole, Islamabad, which attracted […]
Hunzai Mountaineer Shah Doulat Conquers Gasherbrum I, Eyes on Broad Peak Next
Photo: Shah Doulat at Camp 3 G-I, source his instagram profile Hunza, July 20, 2025 — Shah Doulat, a high-altitude mountaineer from the remote village of Shimshal in Hunza, successfully summited Gasherbrum I (8,080 m) at 11:00 AM today, according to an update shared on his official Instagram profile. The ascent adds the eleventh-highest peak […]