People continue to pray for the revered Pakistani mountaineer Ali Sadpara’s return. The mountain climber and his team have been missing since news broke of their speculated summit of K2. No official confirmation of their successful summit came as yet.
Ali Sadpara is an internationally-renowned climber having summited Nanga Parbat, the western anchor of the Himalayas in the winter. He has climbed that peak four times already and previously summited K2 – the ‘savage mountain’ with his son, then just a 20-year-old.
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The Skardu native started his career as a high altitude porter assisting in mountain climbing expeditions.
Now the mountain climber made history by climbing K2 without oxygen, along with John Snorri of Iceland and Juan Pablo Mohr from Chile. Prior to Ali Sadpara no one had managed to summit the world’s second highest peak in winter, making Ali a world record holder.
Congratulations Ali sadpara And team to summit K2 in winter #alisadpara #k2winterexpedition2021 pic.twitter.com/8UXoTno9GV
— Muhammad Hassan (@Parvee447717) February 5, 2021
K2 Winter Expedition 2021 Gone Awry
As Pakistan rejoiced following news of the mountaineer successfully setting a record, that happiness was short-lived as teams on the ground lost contact with Ali and his team. As fate would have it, a snow storm hit the snow capped peak amid the team’s expected return.
Since then they are missing, with rescue efforts by the Pakistan Army still underway. Another Pakistani mountaineer Asad Memon kept spirits high and called the lapse in communication from the heroes a possible setting a new world record. But much later, hopes began to falter and call for prayers louder.
They are more mentally tired than you sir. Radios aren't working. They shd be on the way back or near to c3 by now I believe. https://t.co/GZ2LEwHQa8
— AsadAliMemon (@asadmnpak) February 5, 2021
I'm deeply concerned & worried by the lack of communication for almost 24h now, which means something is terribly wrong. Official rescue started. I'm praying. Haven't had breakfast yet. Prayers!!!@amalkhan @rifatorakzai @abbasnasir59 @ajmaljami#K2winter #K2winter2021
— AsadAliMemon (@asadmnpak) February 6, 2021
However he later affirmed that the summit was successful based on communication records.
I pray may Almighty bless Sadpara Sb, his only desire was to climb k2 in winters. He did it! You'll be remembered. You'll live forever in my heart. https://t.co/YMsPiONYDH
— AsadAliMemon (@asadmnpak) February 7, 2021
As the search for Ali Sadpara dead or alive continues, his son Sajid Sadpara has been flown to Skardu.
#K2winter2021 Update(5:30pm)
Army’s two Heli back to the camp without finding any trace of Ali Sadpara and other two missing climbers. GB Tourism police told me one Heli has taken Ali Sadpara’s son Sajid Sadpara to Skardu.— Izharullah (@Izhar2u) February 7, 2021
Ali Sadpara’s Son Loses Hope
Back in June 2018, the 45-year-old mountaineer was enlisted by French mountain climber, Marc Batard to undertake a series of expedition. This is a five-year program known as ‘Beyond Mount Everest‘.
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They plan to summit Nanga Parbat, K2 and Mount Everest in 2019, 2021 and 2022 respectively.
As part of the program Marc Batard, Ali Sadpara, and Nepal’s Pasang Nuru Sherpa planned to summit Nanga Parbat in 2019, K2 in 2021, and Mount Everest in 2022.
The 2022 expedition would have marked Marc Batard’s 70th birthday.
Ali Sadpara only celebrated his 45th birthday just days ago on February, 2nd. We hope he lives to see another summit. Netizens are holding on to hope too despite his son having lost hope.
"If I get stuck on a mountain, I can make an ice room and live in it for a few days without eating or drinking."
–#AliSadpara, 2009We hope you return safely to base camp soon, InshaAllah#K2winterexpedition2021 #alisadpara #K2winter2021 pic.twitter.com/1CvsYgIzI4
— Bilal Ashraf (@bilalashraf1144) February 6, 2021
Sajid Sadpara was originally a part of the expedition but couldn’t go through without oxygen and was evacuated early.