Pakistan’s Five Big Dares pose Ultimate Winter Challenges

The winter is approaching but no news yet of winter expeditions to Karakorum. Mountaineering challenges are scarce these days some say, yet the fierce Pakistan mountains offer just that – and with a stunning view.

Pakistan holds at least five big dares, as none of its 8000ers has been climbed in winter!

Up until now only 7 out of all 14 eight-thousanders have been winter climbed. Cho Oyu is the most ‘visited’ in winter (with 18 winter summits), followed by Everest (15 winter summits).

Dhaulagiri and Manaslu has 11 winter summits each. Even the perilous Annapurna main summit has six summits in winter – mainly because the risk of avalanche is supposed to be lower then. And on the very last day of 1988, Polish climber Krzysztof Wielicki summited Lhotse solo.

It is funny though, that all those peaks are located, partially at least, in Nepal. The only 8000er which stand entirely in Tibetan territory is expecting a winter attempt this upcoming December, by Italian Simone Moro…