Postcard from Sadpara Village - a tribute to Ali Sadpara

SadparaSadpara VillageSadpara LakeAli SadparaGilgit-BaltistanPakistanMountainmountaineeringphotographytravel

Jul 26

‘In climbing there are two outcomes, life or death, and you must find the courage to accept either possibility’. Muhammad Ali Sadpara

We had planned a day trip to Deosai National Park but multiple rockslides on the road meant we had to turn back to Shigar. The change in plans gave us the opportunity to spend more time at places of interest along the way.

We stopped first to look down at Sadpara Village, also known as Satpara. From the road you look across the valley. Colourful houses gathered closely together surrounded by terraced fields. We stood and appreciated the work involved in creating neat rectangles of fields, some bright green, some recently tilled, edged by stone walls. As the valley walls become steeper the fields become narrower and the walls higher. Water channels provide irrigation from streams to the fields.

It was in Sadpara Village that Muhammad Ali Sadpara was born in February 1976. It is easy to see when standing in his village, surrounded by mountains, why Ali Sadpara became a mountaineer. He started as a porter, carrying heavy loads for expeditions to the Boltoro Glacier and K2, then progressed to leading expeditions. His mountaineering achievements are numerous and include climbing eight of the fourteen ‘eight-thousanders’.

In November 2020 we were lucky enough to meet Ali and hear him give a talk about his climbing life. He was quietly spoken and modest about his achievements. It was only when you see some of the video footage from his climbs that you realise what an amazing but dangerous occupation Ali had chosen.

In January and February of 2021 Ali and his son Sajid planned another expedition to K2 along with the Icelandic mountaineer John Snorri and Chilean mountaineer Juan Pablo Mohr. On 4 February Sajid returned from the highest camp due to equipment problems while the other three pushed on to the summit of K2. They failed to return and despite rescue missions have not been found. The whole of Pakistan mourned the loss of its most successful mountaineer and a family their dear husband and father.

"To all the climbers... who look up to him. I promise I will carry on his dreams and mission and continue to walk in his footsteps." Sajid Sadpara

Postscript: It has been reported in the media today that the bodies of Ali Sadpara, John Snorri and Juan Pablo Mohr have been found just above the area known as the Bottleneck on K2. May you all now rest in peace.