Chinese mountaineer Guan Jing died on Tuesday night after being struck by falling rocks while descending from the summit of K2, the world’s second-highest mountain.
According to Pakistan Alpine Club Vice President Karrar Haidri, the accident occurred between Camp 1 and the Advanced Base Camp on the Abruzzi Spur route — a section notorious for rockfall. Guan had summited K2 on Monday with a group of climbers and was returning when the incident happened. Efforts to recover her body are underway.
Haidri confirmed that other climbers who summited on the same day have safely returned to base camp. A total of 32 climbers reached the top of K2 on Monday. Teams from Elite Exped, Imagine Nepal, Seven Summit Treks, and Alpinist Climber Expedition successfully summited that morning, also installing sensors at the summit as part of their mission.
The joint summit team included Tao He from China, Eduard Kobatov from Kyrgyzstan, Gulnur Tumbat from the USA, and Chinese climbers Zhang Qing Liang and Li Na. Nepali mountaineers in the group were Pasang Tenje Sherpa, Mingma Jangbu Sherpa, Pasang Sherpa, Sona Sherpa, and Pasang Nurbu Sherpa. Pakistan Alpine Club official Maj Gen Irfan Arshad expressed prayers for the climbers’ safe return.
Rare August Success for Imagine Nepal
Imagine Nepal announced that 15 of its climbers summited K2, achieving a 100% success rate for the season. The company noted that August summits are rare, as July is typically the prime climbing window. The 2025 season faced severe challenges from the jet stream, with high winds limiting summit opportunities and forcing long waits at base camp.
Led by Mingma G, the team departed base camp on August 5 and summited on Monday, marking Mingma G’s sixth successful K2 ascent. Climbers in this group included Mingma G, Jangbu Sherpa (USA), Pema Chhiri Sherpa, Angdu Sherpa, Kami Sherpa, Lapka Sherpa, Lapka Tamang Sherpa, and Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa from Nepal; Suhail Sakhi from Pakistan; Liu Mei He, Dili Shiyati Elekuti, Li Jiang, Guan Jing, and Ho Ying Hong from China; and Maria Alexandra Daniela from Romania. Daniela became the first Romanian woman to summit K2, while Dili Shiyati Elekuti set a record as the youngest Chinese climber to achieve the feat. Jangbu Sherpa and Suhail Sakhi completed the climb without supplemental oxygen.
Harsh Conditions Test Every Team
Elite Exped stated that this year’s K2 season tested patience, endurance, and teamwork. Harsh weather forced many teams to turn back, but those who remained waited for the right moment to push for the summit.
Under Mingma G’s leadership, Imagine Nepal, Alpinist Climber’s Prakash Sherpa, Seven Summit Treks, and Elite Exped’s IFMGA guide Vinayak collaborated to fix ropes above Camp 4. Despite heavy snowfall, the teams secured the route, enabling a successful summit on August 11 at 3:32 p.m. Pakistan time.
