Woman from Hunza scales Mount Everest

ISLAMABAD, May 19: A 19-year-old mountaineer, Samina Baig, from the Shimshal valley of Hunza has become the first Pakistani woman to scale Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain with a peak at 8,848 metres.

Ms Baig completed the climb to the summit at around 7:30am local time on Sunday with her brother Mirza Ali, 29. Ali became the third and youngest Pakistani male to scale the mountain.

The Nepal Mountaineering Department official Tilak Padney said 35 foreigners accompanied by 29 Nepalese Sherpa guides reached the peak after climbing all night from the highest camp on South Col — the pass between Everest and a neighboring mountain. Ali has been climbing since age 15, and he was Baig’s mentor, guide and support.

To the surprise of many in the mountaineering community, Samina Baig summated Mount Everest on May 19 with twin sisters from India – Tashi and Nugshi Malik – also 21 years old.

Although, messages had been going around that Samina Baig and her 29 years old brother Mirza Ali summated Mount Everest together, Alpine Club of Pakistan was still to make official the news if Samina’s brother had also summated.

“We have confirmed that Samina Baig made history by becoming the first Pakistani girl to summit the world’s highest peak at 8, 848 meters high peak. We are still trying to confirm if the brother and made it to the top together,” said Executive Member ACP, Karrar Haidri.

Once the news was confirmed, 29 years old Mirza Ali could be the youngest Pakistani to summit Mount Everest. According to ACP, both brother and sister had started the descent back to base camp.