Two SA climbers summit second-highest peak in the world

For the first time ever, two SA climbers have planted their flag on top of K2, the second-highest mountain in the world.

SA climbers plant their flag

Two South African mountain climbers, Warren Eva and John Black have officially planted their flag on top of the K2 mountain in Pakistan. Sponsored by The North Face, the two SA climbers embarked on an arduous and ambitious journey up K2, the most daring expedition that South Africa has undertaken since the one up Everest in 1996 .

According to Cape Town ETC, the team had initially consisted of four climbers, Eva and Black, along with Allan Dickinson and Robby Kojetin. Kojetin could unfortunately not complete the climb due to altitude sickness, and Dickinson remained at base camp as part of the support crew.

Warren Eva reportedly raised funds during the climb for Food4Hope, a charity organisation that aims to address urgent children’s needs such as food, clothing, school fees and attending to their medical needs.

Summiting K2 is an impressive feat, as the mountain stands at a dizzying height of 8 611m above sea level. It’s the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest, which stands at a close 8 849m. K2 is also popularly known as the Savage Mountain after George Bell, a climber on the 1953 American expedition, told reporters, “It’s a savage mountain that tries to kill you.” Of the five highest mountains in the world, K2 is reportedly the deadliest; with approximately one person dying on the mountain for every four who reach the summit.

The two SA climbers fought through temperatures of up to -60 degrees Celcius and winds of over 100kms per hour to stand where only 377 people have stood before. Quite an acheivement indeed!

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