Japanese climber dies after falling into crevasse on Golden peak

WEB DESK: Tragedy struck again on Spantik Peak, also known as Golden Peak, in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan district Nagar region as Japanese climber Onishi Hiroshi, 64, fell into a crevasse and lost his life.

Deputy Commissioner Nager, Attaur Rehman Kakar, confirmed the incident, stating that Hiroshi was part of a four-member Japanese team accompanied by two porters. The team had successfully reached the 7,027-meter summit on July 1 but encountered the fatal accident during their descent on July 2. Hiroshi’s body was recovered and brought to camp on July 3.

This recent tragedy follows the discovery of another Japanese climber’s body last month on a different peak in northern Pakistan. Ryuseki Hiraoka and Atsushi Taguchi were attempting to summit Spantik Mountain when they went missing. Hiraoka’s body was found 300 meters below Camp 3, while the search continues for Taguchi.

Naiknam Karim, head of Adventure Tours Pakistan, which organised the expedition, expressed uncertainty over whose body was recovered, highlighting the challenges and risks associated with high-altitude climbing.

Spantik Peak, known for its accessibility compared to other peaks in the Karakoram Range, remains a popular destination despite its challenges. Pakistan, with its formidable mountain ranges including K2, continues to attract climbers from around the world seeking to conquer some of the highest peaks on Earth.