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Clearing K2's mountains of litter - 6th September 2023
K2 is the world's second highest mountain after Everest, at 8611 metres. It lies in the Karakoram range and rises like a steep pyramid. It's such a challenge to climb, that it's often called the Mountaineers' Mountain.
However, as the number of mountaineers increases, rubbish from past climbers covers the slopes. The first person managed the climb in 1954 but the first successful expedition during winter was made as late as 2021. Yet the summit's now been reached by approximately 700 people, with 190 in 2022.
This increase brings problems. There's now a wide range of rubbish on the mountainside, such as tents, oxygen tanks, climbing ropes and food cans.
Muhammad Ishaq's job is to take care of the Central Karakoram National Park and he believes it's essential to keep this beautiful area free of waste.
Muhammad Ishaq: "There are eight peaks higher than 8,000 metres in central Karakoram. This K2 and G2 mountain area in Pakistan is extremely beautiful. We love it more than life itself, because there's no place on earth with such beauty. So we're putting our life into trying to keep it clean."
Skilled mountaineer Sajid Ali Sadpara created a 5-man team to get rid of the rubbish. In just seven days, they dug out 200 kilograms from K2's ice and snow.
K2's taken the lives of 92 climbers, which includes Sajid's own father, the well-known mountaineer Ali Sadpara. By clearing the slopes, Sajid’s showing respect for the mountain and his father's grave.
Sajid Ali Sadpara: "This is the final resting place of my father, so I am voluntarily focusing. Emotionally, I am doing it from my heart. I am doing this work, so inshallah, due to my father's graveyard. So I will try my best to clean this mountain as much as I can."
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