{"id":38393,"date":"2021-02-06T15:00:02","date_gmt":"2021-02-06T22:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/?p=38393"},"modified":"2021-02-06T15:00:02","modified_gmt":"2021-02-06T22:00:02","slug":"winter-k2-update-summit-push-update-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/2021\/02\/06\/winter-k2-update-summit-push-update-7\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter K2 Update: Summit Push Update #7"},"content":{"rendered":"

Latest as of 3:00 am, Sunday, February 7, 2021, – K2 Time: John Snorri, Ali Sadpara, and\u00a0Juan Pablo (JP) Mohr Prieto remain missing with no trace.<\/p>\n

\"Sajid
Sajid Ali Sadpara<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First the good news, Sajid Ali Sadpara<\/strong> is back in Base Camp. He is one strong individual. And the not-encouraging news, a helicopter did a cursory search for the missing climbers but didn’t get very high, certainly not in the area they were last seen in the Bottleneck.<\/p>\n

Another flight will try on Sunday, but the winds will be similar to Saturday. Pakistani climbers Imtiaz Hussain and Akbar Ali were dropped off at Camp 1 to render aid if possible.<\/p>\n

There are a few official updates but are already several hours old by now. First from Snorii’s home team (his wife I believe):<\/p>\n

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We regret to inform that we have not received any new news from John, Ali, and Pablo after the night. The only news we have is that Sajid Ali is descending safe from camp 3.\u00a0We are grateful to the Pakistani army that has activated a helicopter rescue team and the Icelandic ministry of foreign affairs for their great cooperation. Thanks for all your support, we keep faith.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Dawa Sherpa, the leader of Seven Summits Treks and responsible for his overall expedition (Snorri’s was separate), gave this update:<\/p>\n

Army’s Helicopter made a search flight almost up to 7000m and returned back to Skardu, unfortunately, they can not trace anything. The condition up in the mountain and even at the basecamp is getting poor. We are looking for further progress, but the weather and winds are not permissible. \u00a0Sajid safely reached Camp I, he will descend to advance basecamp very soon, sent more help for him to advance BC.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Snorri’s logistics operator finally put out a statement:<\/p>\n

I Asghar Ali Porik Jasmine Tours official organizers of Iceland K2 Winter Expedition John Snorri Sigurj\u00f3nsson regrets to inform that after many hours pass we don\u2019t have any confirm sighting of John Snorii, Muhammad Ali Sadpara.<\/p>\n

Sajid Sadpara after sleeping in camp 3 is now walking back to base camp. Fazal, Jalal and two new Sadpara climbers (Imtiaz & Akbar from Sadpara Home) we sent today and taking food and supplies to help Sajid Sadpara.<\/p>\n

There is no support we have from anyone as quoted in media. Only Sherpa possibly at c2 is waiting for their client who might help Sajid Sadpara too.<\/p>\n

We are thankful to General Ehsan, General Dar, Army Aviation, 5 Squarden who are always come forward in support of Adventure community. We are thankful to Sajjad Shah and Alex Txikon who made calls to help us. Now a miracle can help us to see our beloved friends. We are still hoping for the best. We also request our friends tour operator to please avoid spreading unconfirmed report on media. We stand with family of John Snorii and Ali Sadpara and thinking positive for a miracle<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And Waqas Johar,Assistant Commissioner, Shigar, GB.,Tweeted:<\/p>\n

The two Pak Army helicopters have returned to skardu after doing search operation at k2 . They have found no clues . Weather condition is not good at k2. Sajjid sadpara is descending from camp 2.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Background<\/h3>\n

There is no 100% confirmed<\/strong> news if they summited, their current status or plans. The three: John Snorri, Ali Sadpara, and\u00a0Juan Pablo (JP) Mohr Prieto, are the only climbers on K2 this Sunday. JP was climbing without supplemental oxygen.<\/p>\n

They left Camp 3 for their summit push around 23:00 on Thursday, February 4, 2021. They were last seen over a day ago. Now, It’s 3 am Sunday morning, February 7, 2021. Computer generated weather forecast continue to call for extremely cold have the summit temps at -42F\/-41C with a wind chill at -80F\/-62C.<\/p>\n

The three along with Ali’s 22-year-old son, Sajid Ali Sadpara left Camp 3 around 23:00 Thursday night. They planned on moving fast, hoping to summit around \u00a014:00 on Friday, just before the next wave of high winds were expected to hit the summit. They reached the Bottleneck when Sajid had a problem with his oxygen regulator and had to return to Camp 3. He returned alone, while the three men, presumably, continued higher. This was the last repot of their status, now close to two days ago. Sajid waited at Camp 3 for over a\u00a0day. He did a short search but with no O’s and not acclimatized without it, it was very dangerous. He found no trace or saw headlamps on his sortie.<\/p>\n

The only K2 summits thus far in the winter of 2020\/21 was by the team of nine Sherpas and one Majar on January 16, 2021. Nirmal Purja Magar summited without supplemental oxygen accompanied by his nine teammates. They held hands and stood on the summit together singing the Nepali National anthem.<\/p>\n

There have been two deaths on K2 this season, Spanish mountaineer Sergi Mingote who fell between Camp 1 and ABC then Bulgarian climber Atanas Skatov who fell just below Camp 3. Another climber, Russian\/American Alex Goldfarb perished while acclimatizing for Broad Peak on nearby Pastori Peak.<\/p>\n

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Who Are They?<\/h3>\n
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Muhammad Ali Sadpara<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Muhammad Ali Sadpara<\/a>\u00a0– Pakistan <\/strong>was born in the village, Sadpara, on the outskirts of Skardu\u00a0is by far one of the strongest climbers at K2 this winter. He has eight summits of 8000ers, including four on Nanga Parbat, the first winter summit of Nanga with Simone Moro and Alex Txikon in 2016.\u00a0He attempted Everest along with Alex Txikon, in January 2018 but conditions stopped them. They were trying a no Os summit.<\/p>\n