{"id":48402,"date":"2025-07-20T15:10:28","date_gmt":"2025-07-20T21:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/?p=48402"},"modified":"2025-07-21T15:22:34","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T21:22:34","slug":"k2-2025-coverage-death-summits-and-progress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/2025\/07\/20\/k2-2025-coverage-death-summits-and-progress\/","title":{"rendered":"K2 2025: Coverage: Death, Summits and Progress"},"content":{"rendered":"
Summits! We have summits in the Karakoram on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Also, climbers are acclimatizing at Camp 3 on BP, and most teams seem focused on an upcoming summit window around the end of July. Conditions are finally improving in the Karakoram after days of high temperatures, winds, and even snow and rain. One issue is that crows are eating food left at high camps! Tragically, one climber died last week on K2 from rockfall. Also, improvements are made for locals and visitors trekking the Baltoro Glacier.<\/div>\n

K2 – Climbing and Death<\/h2>\n

Iftikhar Hussain from Sadpara in Skardu died on Friday from a rockfall and an avalanche. He supported the US-based Mountain Professional team and was with Dawa Finjo Sherpa and Dawa Geljen Sherpa from Nepal and high-altitude porter Niaz Ali from Skardu. Finjo was injured and helicoptered to Skardu for treatment<\/del>. source<\/a><\/p>\n

Nepali operators Seven Summits Treks<\/a>, Elete Expeditions, <\/a>and 8K Expeditions<\/a> are climbing K2 this year. Multiple Pakistani guides, including Summit Karakorum,<\/a>\u00a0Karakorum Expeditions<\/a> and Masherbrum Expeditions<\/a>, are also involved. Madison Mountaineering<\/a> and Mountain Professionals<\/a> may be the only Western teams there.<\/p>\n

Terray Sylvester<\/a> is leading the Madison Mountaineering<\/a> trip. Popular US climber Ryan Mitchell<\/strong> is at K2 Base Camp, reporting that all is well. They attempted a peak near K2 base camp, turning around at 20,400 feet, thus eliminating a rotation on K2. It appears their next push will be for the summit. \u00a0He sent me this update today:<\/p>\n

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Possibly looking at the 29th for summit day, but will see. Maybe 30th, winds seem less around then.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And the Other 8000ers<\/h2>\n

While K2 gets disproportionate attention, the other four deserve equal coverage. The Nepali outfit Seven Summits Treks<\/a>, aka SST, has commercialized all fourteen of the 8000ers and usually does the route finding and rope fixing. This season, at least on K2, all the teams are participating in the rope fixing given the dangers.<\/p>\n

Gasherbrum I – Summits!<\/h3>\n

Four teams, three Nepali and one Pakistani, summited the more difficult Gasherbrum, GI, on Sunday, July 20, 2025. Together, there were over \u00a013 summits.<\/p>\n

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8kexpeditions<\/a> reported:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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We would like to express our heartfelt congratulations to the entire team for their remarkable achievement in summiting Gasherbrum I (8080m), today on 11: 08 A.M( PST) the eleventh-highest peak in the world. This accomplishment reflects their hard work and dedication in the face of extreme challenges. We wish the entire team a safe and successful descent<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Summit Date: 20th July 2025<\/div>\n
Summiters:<\/div>\n
1. Mr. Pavlo Sydorenko (Ukraine)<\/div>\n
2. Ms. Magdalena Arcimowicz (Poland)<\/div>\n
3. Mr. Migma Dorchi Sherpa<\/div>\n
4. Mr. Pem Lakpa Sherpa<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The ongoing expedition season has faced significant challenges, including the dry season, reduced manpower, and unpredictable weather conditions. Despite these hurdles, the team successfully reached the summit of Gasherbrum I.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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However, the weather forecast for K2 and Broad Peak does not look promising in the upcoming days. As in K2, the camps are still unable to be established at Camp III, leaving the success of summiting K2, along with other peaks, GII, and Broad Peak this year in doubt.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
As we move forward, the team continues to monitor the situation closely, adapting to the weather conditions and ensuring the safety of all members. We remain hopeful for further successes despite the tough circumstances.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Summit Karakorum<\/a> noted G1 summits:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Our 8K Gasherbrum I team has successfully reached the summit of Gasherbrum I today at 11:08 AM PST. Initially, the plan was to attempt Gasherbrum II, but due to sudden weather changes, the team redirected their focus to Gasherbrum I. After returning to Base Camp, the team plans to make a summit attempt on Gasherbrum II. Inshallah. Despite the harsh and unpredictable conditions in the Karakoram, the team pushed through and made it to the top.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Seven Summits Treks<\/a> achieved the summit on G1 as well:<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Congratulations to Marco Confortola , Pasang Ngima Sherpa, and Lakpa Tasi Sherpa on your successful ascent of G1 (8,080 meters) this noon at around 11:50. Marco made the successful ascent without the use of supplemental oxygen. He is one of the senior mountain guides, having received the UIAGM\/IFMGA International Alpine Guide certification in 1993.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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And imagine Nepal<\/a> also noted summits:<\/div>\n
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On July 20, 2025, at 10:44 AM PKT, the Imagine Nepal-led G1 Expedition team successfully summited Gasherbrum I (8,080m) in Pakistan. The team included Dr. Sashko Kedev (Macedonia), Mr. Wang Zhong (China), and Nepali climbers Dawa Gyalje Sherpa and Ngima Nuru Sherpa.<\/div>\n