Icelander John Snorri Among Those Missing Near K2 Summit
Canadian Elia Saikaly is currently on K2 to document Snorri's climb, but was not part of the summit team
Earlier today, we reported that at least four climbers hoping to summit K2 today have yet to return to high camp. It’s currently after midnight at K2 with extremely cold temps. We also reported that Bulgarian climber and Himalayan veteran Atanas Skatov has died from a fall while descending from camp three. Skatov is reported to have likely fallen when transitioning from one rope to another, with early reports of a rope breaking being dismissed when it was noted that the fixed ropes high on K2 are new.
Among those missing is Icelander John Snorri, who is the only climbers from his home country to have climbed K2 in summer. With Snorri is Ali Sadpara and JP Mohr. Sajid Sadpara was part of the summit team, but turned around due to equipment failure.
Snorri is an experienced high-altitude climber. His first notable success was Mont Blanc in 2011, the highest mountain in the Alps. Six years later, he dialled it up with ascents of: Ama Dablam in 2015, Mount Elbrus in 2016, Lhotse in 2017, K2 in 2017, Broad Peak in 2017, Matterhorn in 2018, Breithorn in 2018, Pollux in 2018 and Manaslu in 2019.
Canadian Elia Saikaly is also on K2 as a filmmaker documenting Snorri’s ascent. Saikaly traveled to K2 at the last minute for the expedition. Last November, he summited Ama Dablam as a member of Garrett Madison’s team. Saikaly had recently filmed Snorri and the Sadparas in K2 basecamp before their push. His last known location was at camp three until today at 6:30 EST when he’s tracker showed him back at basecamp.
There is currently news circulating that Ali Sadpara had reached the summit, but it was determined to only be a rumour based on false information from a news outlet.
On Jan. 16, 10 Nepalese mountaineers reached the summit of K2 for the first winter ascent. Those climbers who will go down in history for reaching the summit, are Nirmal Purja, Gelje Sherpa, Mingma David Sherpa, Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, Sona Sherpa, Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, Pem Chhiri Sherpa, Dawa Temba Sherpa, Kili Pemba Sherpa and Dawa Tenjing Sherpa.
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