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Thread for #k2winterexpedition2021 and challenges faced by local mountaineers like #alisadpara.
For every four people who summited K2, one died on the mountain. On 1st August 2008, 25 climbers left the Camp IV to attempt the summit, but 11 never returned.
For every four people who summited K2, one died on the mountain. On 1st August 2008, 25 climbers left the Camp IV to attempt the summit, but 11 never returned.
Two of the eleven climbers who perished on K2 were high altitude porters from Shimshal, Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan. Their names are Jehan Baig and Meherban Karim.
Here is the story of Jehan Baig (2nd from left).
Jehan Baig (left) was a mason by trade who used to build houses in Shimshal. The circumstances didn’t allow him to study much, so he became a porter at the age of 12 to support his family.
On this expedition, a Serbian climber fell to death in the Bottleneck. Jehan & others went to recover him. While trying to rescue the Serbian’s dead body in the death zone, he lost his footing and plunged to his death.
Jehan was the only breadwinner in his family. After his death, they received some financial support once or twice, but that wasn’t sufficient to solve their problems. The insurance compensation was only 200,000 PKR (1,250 USD).
Jehan left behind three children, two sons and a daughter. When I met his eldest son Azam (20) in Hunza, I could see tears in his eyes. Like his dad, he too couldn’t pursue his studies and had to look for a job at an early age.
He approached the tour operator his dad used to work for, and asked for employment, but never heard back.
Unlike his father, who was a reluctant mountaineer, the son loves mountaineering. Azam was only 8 when his dad died. He doesn’t remember much about him. All he can recall is that he was very friendly to him.
https://www.kamranonbike.com/father-son-and-k2/
https://www.kamranonbike.com/father-son-and-k2/
This is the story of all High Altitude Porters (HAP) of Pakistan, their financial struggle, lack of opportunities, poor insurance and non-existent support system.
Help us support their families by donating:
https://gogetfunding.com/support-mountain-people/
Help us support their families by donating:
https://gogetfunding.com/support-mountain-people/
I will be sharing more stories of High Altitude Porters in the coming days. #k2winterexpedition2021 #Alisadapara
