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K2 Summits: 19-year-old and First Ukrainian Woman

The youngest climber to ever reach the summit and the first woman from Ukraine made up the first group of paying clients to reach the top

Photo by: (of) Shehroze Kashif

Over the past week, legendary climber Rick Allen has died on K2 and the bodies of Juan Pablo Mohr, Ali Sadpara and John Snorri were found above camp four, but that hasn’t stopped the expedition companies from pushing on.

The first summits took place within the past 24 hours thanks to Sanu Sherpa and Chiring Namgel Sherpa fixing ropes and breaking trail. Shortly after them was Lhakpa Sherpa and Mingma Dorchi Sherpa guiding their clients. Other Sherpa who summited include Lakpa Gyalzen Sherpa, Pemba Rita Sherpa, Mingma Dorchi Sherpa, Pemba Dorchee Sherpa, and Tashi Sherpa.

Among the paying clients who reached the summit included Ukrainian Dmytro Semerenko who did so without using supplementary oxygen. With Semerenko was Irina Galay, now the first Ukrainian woman to climb the world’s second-highest mountain, she was also the first Ukrainian woman to climb Everest.

Shehroze Kashif, 19, from Pakistan became the youngest climber to reach the summit of K2, he was climbing with Muhammad Sharif. Following their summit was another team from Pakistan. More climbers are in queue to make an attempt up the fixed-rope route this week.

Canadian Ian Welsted and American Graham Zimmerman are currently making an alpine-style attempt up the west ridge, which has never been fully climbed.

 

 

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Lead photo: (of) Shehroze Kashif