K2: Sajid Sadpara Safely Back

Night has fallen on K2. In the midst of confusion created by the lack of official information on one side, and the proliferation of fake news and impersonated accounts on another, there is finally some confirmed good news. Chhang Dawa reports that Sajid Sadpara has made it to Base Camp, although there is no detail concerning young Sadpara’s condition.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, a helicopter should bring two more Pakistani rescuers to Base Camp, ready to search for John Snorri, Ali Sadpara and Juan Pablo Mohr. The helicopter will then leave to take climbers who have been injured or frostbitten back to Skardu.

Akbar and Imtiaz are spending the night in Camp 1. In the morning they hope to resume their search up the Abruzzi Spur. Unfortunately, efforts to pinpoint John Snorri’s position using the signal from his Thuraya phone have not provided conclusive results.

The longer the climbers remain missing, the scarcer the possibility of finding them alive. And yet, a glimmer of hope keeps their families and friends going.