KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) – A team of 10 Nepalese climbers who were the first to climb the world’s second highest mountain during the harsh winter season was welcomed as a hero on their return home to Nepal on Tuesday.
Mountaineers, supporters, friends and family lined the Kathmandu airport to greet the climbers with streamers and cheers while a police band played tunes. They were then driven around town in open trucks.
“We are very proud as a team; we are truly honored. I think we have sent a very clear message to the world, if we unite nothing is impossible, so everyone is happy here, ”said Nirmal Purja, one of the members of the team who also holds the record for the fastest climb of the world. the 14 highest. peaks in the world.
The winter climb marks another achievement for Nepalese climbers who worked as porters and guides for foreign mountaineers for decades, but now set their own records and conduct expeditions to the highest peaks.
“This expedition has taken the status of Nepalese climbers to a new height, which is an achievement for all mountaineering and shows that there is nothing we cannot achieve if we try,” said Mingma Sherpa, who organized the expedition.
K2 is the most prominent peak on the Pakistani side of the Himalayas and is second in height only to Mount Everest. The K2 had remained the last peak above 8,000 meters (26,240 feet) in the world left to be climbed in winter.
The Nepalese team made sure that all 10 members reached the summit at the same time.
“All 10 of us worked together on the same level. We all took a big risk in our lives. We felt it should be justice for every team member, ”said Purja.