Climbing across the Karakorum is underway, with reportedly the first summits of this 2025 summer season on Nanga Parbat. A few teams arrived at several of Pakistan’s five 8000-meter mountains. Popular US climber Ryan Mitchell is on the trek to K2, hoping to add it to his 8000er collection, which includes Everest last year. Conditions on Broad Peak are dry on the lower mountain, which is very unusual.
Pakistani media, including International News, reports that the Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Department has issued 469 mountaineering and trekking visa applications in a single day, marking the highest number of such permits ever processed within 24 hours. According to officials, the department received 555 applications for mountaineering expeditions in 2025, surpassing the total of 423 from the previous year.
The rollback of the permit price increase is credited for the surge in permit applications. In May 2025, the cabinet approved a substantial reduction in royalty fees, slashing K2’s summer permit from $5,000 to $3,500 and lowering trekking fees across all seasons.
A notable person in the Karakorum this season is Sajid Ali Sadpara, the son of Mohammad Ali Sadpara, who perished on K2 a few years ago, and will attempt a no-oxygen climb of K2. He summited the 8000er Dhaulagiri in May with no Os.
K2
A few teams have arrived at K2 Base Camp, but most are still on the trek. Nepali operators Seven Summits Treks, Elete Expeditions, and 8K Expeditions are climbing K2 again this year. There are multiple Pakistani guides, including Summit Karakorum. Most K2 summits occur at the end of July.
Remember that communications in Pakistan are drastically different from those in Nepal. Cell phone signals are unreliable, so many teams bring expensive satellite connection devices, even though they can sometimes be wonky. Also, since the Northern Territories are adjacent to the disputed area of Kashmir between India and Pakistan, the military will sometimes limit communications. The bottom line is that we cannot expect the same type of coverage we can for the Nepal mountains.
Ryan Mitchell, a Summit Coach client, gained considerable recognition thanks to his impressive video documentation of his 2024 summit of Mt. Everest, which he completed with Madison Mountaineering, and is now attempting K2. He left home on Saturday, June 21, 2025. I did a Podcast with him last week, and he is currently on the trek at Pajo Camp on the Baltor Glacier.
You can follow him on his social media:
And another pic from Madison’s logistics partner, Mashabrum Expeditions Treks & Tours, with Ryan and a teammate in Islamabad:
And the Other 8000ers
While K2 gets disproportionate attention, the other four deserve equal coverage. The Nepali outfit Seven Summits Treks, aka SST, has commercialized all fourteen of the 8000ers and usually does the route finding and rope fixing.
Nanga Parbat – Summits?
Nanga is more southern than Pakistan’s four other 8000ers. It’s in the Himalaya Range, whereas the other Pakistani giants lie in the Karakoram Range. NP usually sees the first summit each year. The mountain attracts serious professional climbers. Here are some of them:
- Denis Urubko and Maria Cardell, on the Diamir Face, are attempting to establish a new route.
- Pakistani Sa’ad Mohamed is climbing Nanga Parbat via the Kinshofer (standard) route on the Diamir Face without supplemental oxygen or high-altitude porters.
- Also with no O’s or porters is Romanian Horia Colibasanu.
Media reports from Pakistani Saad Mohammed said two Czech climbers had summited, but without names or details. Also, famous German Alpinist David Göttler posted a cryptic message on his social media saying, “Definitely one for the books! More details to come,” with a picture of three people with skis on what appears to be a summit. He was making another attempt on the Rupla Face in Alpine Style, his fifth attempt at this challenging climb. He’s climbing with Boris Langenstein and Tiphaine Duperier.
Gasherbrum I/II – Quiet
No updates
Broad Peak – Dry
Karakorum Expeditions noted that their advance and rope-fixing team has arrived at Broad Peak Base Camp and has the ropes to Camp 2. My friend Ryan Kushner is climbing Broad this season and updated me on the conditions after their first rotation, tagging 6000 meters:
Conditions are horrific below Camp 1. No snow at camp: guides and rope fixers say it’s the most dangerous they have ever seen. They worry about K2. Great climbing above camp 1, though. We touched 6000m and had incredible morning alepnglow views of k2 and Masherbrum. Unbelievable and already worth the trip.
Climb On!
Alan
Memories are Everything
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2 thoughts on “K2 2025: Coverage Begins & First Summits”
Thanks for bringing Ryan Mitchell to my attention Great kid great videos The ones of Khumbu Ice Falls really help one appreciate the dangers and difficulties of that feature Prayers for him as he tackles K2 Hope his future stays bright WDH
He’s a good egg, to be sure!