Produced for Associated Press
Climbers make history by scaling K2 in winter
(21 Jan 2021) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Islamabad – 21 January 2021 1. People cheering K2 climbers as they arrive at Islamabad International Airport 2. Climbers arriving at airport 3. Nepali climbers Nirmal Purja (left) Mingma Gyabu (middle) 4. A man hugs Purja and other climbers and presents garland of flowers 5. A man presents garland to climbers 6. Purja along with other climbers at airport 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Nirmal Purja, team leader: "I think it was a great honour and it was a great team effort. I think it was emotional because we walked to the summit together and that's a clear message for everyone in the world to say that if you unite together, anything is possible." 8. Various Nepali climbers 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Mingma Gyabu, climber: "As I said, we will so grateful and humble that Pakistani government (offered) so many facilities, picking up from K2 base camp to here and now we are being welcomed here." 10. People taking selfies with climbers 11. Climbers leaving airport STORYLINE: Climbers from Nepal who made history by scaling Pakistan's K2 mountain in winter arrived safely in Pakistan's capital Islamabad on Thursday. The team of ten Sherpas reached the summit five days ago. "It was emotional because we walked to the summit together and that's a clear message for everyone in the world to say that if you unite together, anything is possible," said team leader Nirmal Purja as they were greeted by crowds at the airport. K2, the world's second-highest mountain, is in the Pakistani portion of the Karakoram range along the Chinese border. It is known as the world's most dangerous and technically challenging peak. At 8,611 meters (28,251 feet), K2 is the most prominent peak on the Pakistani side of the Himalayan range. Winter winds on K2 can blow at more than 200 kilometers per hour (125 miles per hour) with temperatures dropping to minus 60 degrees Celsius (minus 76 Fahrenheit).
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