Meet Hassan Sadpara, from Sadpara valley which is seven kilometers from Skardu. Now doesn't he looks like the simplest village folk. Wait till you read to the last. This man is forty above and has climbed six eight thousand height peeks. Note that there are only fourteen eight thousand peeks in total in the world, all located in the north of Nepal and Pakistan. He is planning to complete all fourteen in next 2-4 years. He started his climbing career as a porter and accompanied foreign expeditions (carrying bags and other equipment). He started the eight thousand adventure by taking on the toughest mountain on this planet, the German killer, Nanga Parbat (2nd July 1999). Then on 27th July, 2004 he took on the Killer mountain K-2. Then Gasherbrum II (22nd July 2006), Gasherbrum I (29th July 2006) and then Broad Peak (31
July 2007). The he took on the highest peek of the world Mt Everest. Standing on its top on 12 May 2011, he knew his goal is still not complete. He has yet to climb another eight peaks.
He climbed all six without supplemental oxygen(reserve bottled oxygen to make up for low oxygen pressure at high altitudes) and was the first Pakistani to do so. Medical practitioners call this madness but these mountain lovers have their own way. It is believed that at such heights the body starts to break down and feeds on the muscle reserves of a person. The oxygen pressure is only enough to support a resting human. The temperature can be upto -70 degrees Celsius on the peak of Mt. Everest with only a third of oxygen as at sea level.
Hassan recalls that at the end of their struggle, due to bad weather, forty five other people from different expeditions lost hope and turned back to the base camp. He had only one thought in his mind that this is his only chance. Keep in mind that climbing Everest amounted up to a whooping 60+ lac Rs for Sadpara which was sponsored by government of Pakistan in result of an appeal to the president Asif Ali Zardari in 2009. So at that time he thought that he might not be able to afford another trip to Everest and then he prayed to Allah to strengthen his will so that he can bring glory and pride to his nation. He pleaded Allah to take him to the peak or take his life because he will not turn back and with Allah's name in his mind he moved forward, six other mountaineers followed him and they made it to the top.
Hassan has been awarded the President's Pride of Performance medal. He has also been recommended for Sitara e Imtiaz by the alpine club to the government of Pakistan. He is now waiting for some sponsors so that he can make an attempt at the remaining eight peaks of which seven are in Nepal. He has a very humble nature and runs a mountaineering gear shop in Skardu city. He plans to start a proper mountaineering school in Skardu to train young mountaineers in Pakistan on modern lines. Although reaching fifty he says that he is as fit as he was fifteen years ago.
Hit play for a very insightful interview of this brave soul of the land with Talat Hussein:
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