Sajid Sadpara summits world’s 5th highest mountain Makalu without supplemental oxygen

Renowned mountaineer Sajid Ali Sadpara summi­ted the world’s fifth-highest peak, Mount Makalu (8,485m) in Nepal, without supplementary oxygen, the exp­e­­dition’s organisers said on Sunday.

Sadpara is on a mission to summit all 14 “eight-thousanders” in the world without supplemental oxygen, and this marks his 10th summit of that mission.

According to a statement issued by Seven Summit Treks, the expedition team Sadpara was part of, an excellent summit push at 5am on May 2 successfully reached the summit of Makalu.

The statement added a team of three members, including Sadpara from Pakistan and Johannss Lau, with seven sherpas, stood on the summit, marking a remarkable achievement on the technically demanding peak.

“We wish them a safe and smooth descent back to base camp,” Seven Summit Treks added.

Sadpara had arrived in Nepal on April 4 for the mission and reached Makalu base camp on April 16. The expedition team completed their summit rotation at Makalu on April 25.

Sadpara is the proud son of the legendary Muhammad Ali Sadpara, who tragically lost his life during a winter ascent of K2 in 2021. Carrying his father’s legacy with honour, Sajid has emerged as a powerful symbol of Pakistani mountaineering strength and global excellence.

Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) President Irfan Arshad, renowned climbers, and civil society members congratulated Sadpara on his remarkable and successful summit of Makalu.

In a statement, Arshad extended heartfelt felicitations to Sajid on achieving the feat, terming it a moment of great pride for the nation.

The statement noted that summiting one of the world’s most technically challenging peaks reflected Sadpara’s courage, determination, and exceptional mountaineering skills.

“This outstanding achievement is not only a personal milestone but also a proud moment for the entire Pakistani mountaineering community,” it added.

The ACP [resident lauded Sadpara’s perseverance and dedication, saying his accomplishment would inspire young climbers across the country and further strengthen Pakistan’s presence on the global mountaineering stage.

ACP Vice President Karrar Haidri also congratulated Sajid, noting, “At just 29 years old, Sajid has displayed remarkable endurance, resilience, and dedication to high-altitude mountaineering.”

Speaking to Dawn before beginning his summit, Sadpara had said he would attempt to climb the peak without supplemental oxygen.

Sadpara has made a name for himself in the alpine community with his summits of the most daunting peaks at a young age.

He has already summited nine of the world’s peaks above 8,000m, including Everest, K2, Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II, and Dhaulagiri. He has also taken part in rescue operations at several peaks, including K2.

He has climbed K2 twice; once without supplemental oxygen. He also set records when he summited both Gasherbrum-I and Gasherbrum-II peaks in three days and 18 hours without supplementary oxygen.

In February 2021, his father Muhammad Ali Sadpara, Iceland’s John Snorri and Chile’s Juan Pablo Mohr went missing while attempting to summit the K2 during the winter season. Their bodies were found in July, nearly five months after they went missing.