A team of 10 Nepalese climbers who became the first to scale the world's second-highest peak during the harsh winter season received a hero's welcome upon returning home in Nepal on Tuesday.
Mountaineers, supporters, friends and family lined the Kathmandu airport to greet the climbers with garlands and cheers as a police band played tunes. They were then driven around city in open trucks.
The team felt honoured, said Nirmal Purja, one of the members of the team who also holds the record for the fastest climb of the 14 highest peaks in the world.
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Nirmal "Nims Purja, Dawa Tenji Sherpa (team MG), Mingma G, Dawa Temba Sherpa and Pem Chiri Sherpa, Mingma David Sherpa, Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, Nimsdai Purja and Gelje Sherpa are seen during the prayer ceremony before their winter attempt on K2 in Pakistan. Reuters -
Nirmal Purja is seen before the winter attempt on K2, Pakistan. Reuters -
Nirmal Purja, a former Gurkha and who served in the British special forces, said his Nepali climbing team set out "to make the impossible possible". Reuters -
The Concordia camping site in front of K2 summit in the Karakoram range of Pakistan's mountain northern Gilgit region. AFP -
Polish climber Magdalena Gorzkowska attempts to climb the K2 mountain in winter, in Pakistan. Handout via REUTERS -
Polish climber Magdalena Gorzkowska attempts to climb the K2 mountain in winter, in Pakistan in this undated photo. Handout via REUTERS -
Dutch mountaineer Arnold Coster and Chhang Dawa Sherpa, Nepali expedition manager and team leader of the winter expedition to K2 peak as dozens of mountaineers converge on Pakistan's mighty K2 peak vying to conquer one of the world's last major climbing challenges -- reaching the summit in winter. AFP
The winter climb marks another achievement for Nepalese climbers who for decades worked as porters and guides for foreign mountaineers but now are setting their own records and running expeditions on the highest peaks.
K2 is the most prominent peak on the Pakistani side of the Himalayan range, and is second in height only to Mount Everest.
K2 had remained the last peak above 8,000 metres in the world that was yet to be climbed in the winter.
The Nepalese team made sure that all 10 members reached the summit at the same time.
"All 10 of us worked together in the same level. We all took a big risk to our lives. We felt like it has to be justice for every team member," Mr Purja said.
