First Pakistani Gender Equality Mt.Everest Expedition 2013,Updates

Updates:

Day6 .05-04-2013

Trek to Debuchi, the trek started in the morning at 8am, after nice breakfast, the lodge owner gave us good luck scarf and greet us and siad good bye, we left in good mood,  hundreds of people were hiking up through the trails, its interesting to see hundreds of people visiting this part of the world, its sad that Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, K2 and Concordia ,Hunza,shimshal pass, and chitral provids great adventure trek,climb but unfortunately very few touruist there, they must know that  those areas are pristine and must visit to see the natural  beauty of the region!! Well, after one and half hour of hike, we reached at lunch place, the lunch took long than normal , however we continued for the dsitination. Weather is nice ,warm and we trekked in tshirts.

I took my pace and again rushed to Debuche, but Karma our guide told me that due to hotel is full so we have to good to Pungbochi.that is nearly 1:30hrs,walk,but felt good, I arrived from Lunch place to Pungbochi withing 2hours,which was great pace, Samina and the indian twins ,and Argentinian came one hour later,the other members arrived almost two hours late, warm tea and good weather makes things amazing, the most great thing is that we are staying at Mt.Everest view hotel and just incredible view of Ama Dablam and Mt.Everest. the clouds flying over and covering the mountains gives amazing feeling . now time for dinner and tomorrow short hike! Samina and every one feels just great!!! Do pray for us! <3 p="">

Samina and Mirza at Pungbochi,Ama Dablam and Mt.Everest in the back ground (photo Nugshi)

Day 5. 4-04-2013

Today was rest day ,but the other team left for hike up to Mt.Everest View point, Mirza didn’t go since he had already hiked up there the other day, Samina, and other team members went to Mt.Everest, Ama Dablam view point, they came back within 3hours,  nice hike for them, for lunch they came back at the logde, after lunch,we went in to the market, and loved being around, the most thrilling thing that I loved,was Mr.Perks (korean lengerdary climber) photograhs displayed in  shop! Later we came to the lodge and dinner with lots of fun and laughs. The only thing that I didn’t like, is you have pay for either charging your mobile,laptop or camera battery and second thing, wifi is VERY EXPENSIVE! It reminds me Pakistan that these things are free ,where ever you go! I am internet junkie so felt it :P

A night view of Namche (photo copyy right Mirza Ali)

 Day 4.3-04-2013

The weather was nice,after break fast , we start our trek from phakdin toward Namche. Every one in the group was feeling great, today was supposed to be long day and uphill climbs,including passing through several bridges, after two hours of trek, we stopped for check point for entery, it was done and we continued, at lunch place we spend nearly two hours, the food was surved and we start for Namche, from here Mirza start fast and got to Nache one hour before the rest of the group. I did takek some shoots too, met the jordanians ,Mostefa who leading them, felt so good to see this much large Jordanian treking to EBC. When I reached Namche, didn’t know which hotel we going to stay, then called Mingma in Khatmandu he told me to go to Himalayan lodge, the guys there so nice and served with hot tea, later the team arrived iNcluding samina, Samina ,Tashi and Nugshi became good friends and enjoying the trek ,lots of laugh and fun.before Dinner, I hiked up to the airport above Namche Bazar. The view is just incredible. The lodges are nicely built and amazing colors. Nice Market. Within half hour I turned back to Hotel. Dinner was nice, and lots of fun.

A night View of Namche Bazzar (photo right Mirza Ali)

Day 3 -2-04-2013

 Mingma told us that the flight tickets have been puchased for us to Lukla for the morning at 5am, so we need to reach the airport early. We packed everything very late in the night and then woke up at 3am again to reach the airport in the dark, and  luckily we were the first to get there. Board was around 6am, we had a safe landing on the short & famous landing strip in Lukla and it was nice, loved the plane ride, the weather was fantastic. After Breakfast in Lukla we started our hike, it was 2 hrs to the lunch place. We continued the trak after a 2h rest, to reach Phakdin for the night. The trek was easy and nice. the lodge and food just amazing!

We are GREATFUL TO OUR KIWI FRIENDS & http://youngrasshopper.com for their sponsorship and thankful for their unconditional support, we have seen lots of people with the sponsor logo and shirts,but we are blessed to have such great people as friends, those who sponsor us and we can project our country, we love them from the bottom of our  hearts and say LOVE YOU https://www.facebook.com/younggrasshopper?fref=ts

Day 02:  01-04-2013

It was pretty early at 3 am when we woke up and rushed for the airport, just to hear the announcement, that revealed that the flight is one hour delayed, we kept waiting at Quid E Azam airport Karachi, til 8am,when the announcent was made to porceed, the flight was nice. While boarding the plane, we met a nice lady from Finland and had nice conversations during our flight. PIA flights are usually interesting . We finally arrived in Khatmandu. Since we had visa in advance, there was no problem to stand in line. Outside Dawa and his staff were waiting for us, a warm welcome was made and the traditional scarfs were given to both of us, then we were brought to the hotel. It is pretty hot in Khatmandu! One interesting thing I foundwas, that the roads were broken and work was still underway. When I visit Khatmandu for the Manaslu Expedition last year, it was the same ;-) At the hotel we arrived around 1:30pm, after check in, Dawa told us there is Dinner for the entir group at 7pm, so we had some time and since we were sleepless for the last two days already, we took a nep first. After that we went to the nearest shop to purchase necessary thngs. And in the evening at 7am Tashi came to pick us up and drove us to the dinner place. Another good thing at our hotel is free wifi that we can use. When we came back from the dinner, we enjoyed some great Nepali traditional dance. I loved it thoroughly, we met Mingma the elder brother of Dawa, the first Nepali sherpa to complete all 14x8000er mountains in the world. We also met their other brothers, very lovely people and nice dinner and dance. The next highlight of the days was meeting our Indian team members, there are two twin sisters from India, going to climb Mt.Everst. Later we went to hotel at around 10pm.

Day 1:  31-03-2013

After the Press confrence at the Islamabad Press Club at 3pm, we rushed to the airport to catch the flight for Karachi, since there is no direct flight to Khatmandu. We managed to fly to Karachi after half hour delay. Arrival time in Karachi was around 11pm. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) took us to their Hotel, the flight was nice excpet the delay. We had exess weight but thanks to PIA to let us go through with out extra payment. Very nice support from PIA!

First Pakistani Gender Equality Mt.Everest (8848m) Expedition

"First Pakistani Gender Equality Mt.Everest  (8848m) Expedition"

It is the mission of our Mt.Everest Expedition to embark the FIRST female Pakistani on any 8000er summit. Samina & Mirza are the only Pakistani to carry Pakistan´s National Flag to Mt.Everst on the 60th anniversary of its first ascent back in 1953. 

A mountain climbing venture of a Pakistani brother & sister.

Miza Ali and Samina Baig are natives of Shimshal Valley deep in the extreme Karakorum range in Upper Hunza. Mirza (29 years) has been climbing for last 12 years and wokrs as a mountain guide, expedition leader and trainer in the Karakorum, Himalaya and  Hindukush. Samina Baig (22 years) is a student of arts and has been climbing since four years. Her goal is to turn her love for mountaineering into her profession and work as a tour leader and mountain guide in the near future. Samina is the first pakistani female to attempt any 8000er mountain. Especially Mt. Everest, the highest peak of them all, has been summited only by two Pakistani mountaineers: Mr. Nazir Sabir & Mr. Hassan Sadpara. Samina could become the first Pakistani female to summit  Mt.Evererest.

Dear friends, visitors and followers,

we are extremely delighted to announce that our Mt.Everest Expedition has been in its final phase. The expeditions we are launching are not to gain highest merrits or only to reach the highest summits but the aim of our mountaineering adventures is for the sake of encouraging the youth for outdoor sports, ecological awarness and empowering women in mountain adventures and related sports. 

In the past four years we have successfully organized several expeditions.

We have been pioneers to promote mountain adventure in the country through the making of the first ever adventure documentary for Geo TV "Samina muhim Chashkin Sar" in Pakistan's adventure history, with the help of Geomentary Team, especially Shams Kazmi and his very professional team. In the following year, we made another promotional advertisement for gender equality, which was aired from 25 main stream tv channels. These expeditions have a great vision of empowering women adventures and encouragung women to overcome their own highest hurdles in their respective field of work! In recent years it is greatly experienced that women adventure has gained momentum and yet that is a great contribtion to national pride that women take part in mountain adventures

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Our  Mt.Everest expedition project is the follow up of our mission to encourage women and give them equal rights, this adventure story is about a brother and his sister, how he encourges his sister to emancipate in the society of the worlds most demanding sport: "Mountain Climbing"  

Since Mt.Everest is NOt an easy task or easy mountain to attempt nor its offordable for the average person, we are very much thankful to our very GENROUS KIWI FRIENDS & YOUNG GRASSHOPPER, "the guiders" http://www.younggrasshopper.com/ those who believe in our mission and support us, we would like to THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT FINANCIAL SUPPORT from the core of our hearts! Our Mt.Everest expedition starts from 1st of April till 6th of June 2013.

You can follow us on our expedition right here on this page!

Mt.Everest 

At 8,850 m, Mount Everest straddles the border between Nepal and Tibet, in the great Himalaya Range. our mission is to climb Mount Everest via the south east ridge, which is the original route taken by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay when they were the first people to climb the mountain in 1953.

we  will be climbing Everest with a team of Sherpas  whom I have  met  previously during my Manaslu Expedition Automn 2012 Dawa sherpa would be the team leader, Our expedition has been booked with Seven summit treks. 

After spending a few days in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, our expedition will fly to the small mountain village of Lukla (2,860 m), from where we will depart and spend 10 days trekking through the mountains to Everest Base Camp (5,360 m). Along the way, we will pass through Namche Bazaar, a small town which is the main trading centre in the Everest Region, and which is known as the gateway to the 'High Himalaya'.

Once at base camp, we will begin our acclimatisation trips. This involves climbing to Camp 1, staying the night, then returning to base camp to rest, then climbing to Camp 1 and staying the night and climbing on to Camp 2 and staying the night, before returning to base camp and so on up to Camp 3. Once our acclimatisation trips have finished, and assuming we are  in good health  and super fit physically and mentally , we'll be ready to try for the summit, which should be mid May. We will wait for a good weather forecast or 'window' for the possible summit  attempt,

The route between base camp and Camp 1 (6,100 m) involves passage through the infamous Khumbu Icefall, a dangerous river of ice which cascades down into the valley where base camp is located. Above Camp 1, we will make our way up the Western Cwm (pronounced 'koom') to the base of the Lhotse face, where we will establish Camp 2 (6,500 m). The Western Cwm is a relatively flat, gently rising glacial valley, marked by huge lateral crevasses in the centre. With little atmosphere to filter the sun and reflective snow covering everything, the area can quickly turn into an oven on a clear, windless day, in spite of the extreme altitude. From Camp 2, we will ascend the Lhotse face on fixed ropes to Camp 3, located on a small ledge at 7,400 m, and move on to Camp 4, located on the South Col at 8,000 m, from where we will launch our summit attempt.

The route from Camp 4 will see us first reaching the Balcony at 8,400 m before continuing up the ridge, where we will face a series of imposing rock steps that might force us to the east into waist deep snow, a serious avalanche hazard. At 8,750 m, a small table-sized dome of ice and snow marks the South Summit. From there, we will follow the knife-edge south east ridge along a narrow and corniced traverse. This is the most exposed section of the climb, and the smallest mis-step can be fatal. At the end of this traverse stands the infamous Hillary Step, a 12 m high rock wall which is the notorious 'sting in the tail' which Ed Hillary climbed as the final obstacle to the summit in 1953. After ascending the Step using fixed ropes, it's a comparatively easy 100 m climb to the top along moderately angled snow slopes, though the exposure on the ridge is extreme. Once the summit is reached, it usually takes 2 days to descend back to base camp

Success and failur is in the hands of Almighty, though our struggle is something to do different ,show positive side of pakistan, and unique give chance for females to explore the unknown, bring change, break the barriers,break the chains ,conqure the hights ,find the new vista's,reach the goals ,motivate & give awareness and empower women, this  is the main aim of our Expedition.

Mr.Mirza Ali ,will try to attempt the mountain without using supplementary Oxygen,while Samina Baig will use Supplementary Oxygen, Mirza  Ali will shot the entire expedition,and will try to make a documentary /short film "Beyond the heights",http://vimeo.com/52640690Samina Baig is first Female from Pakistan to Attempt any 8000r in the world, Samina Baig previously attempt two virgin Peaks. she has been Awarded "what is the good news of Voice of america" Excellence Award from Surat foundation and 8th Excellence Award of Sindh Government .samina baig was featured for Gender equity AD for empower  women 

http://www.mirzaadventure.blogspot.com 

we want each of you those who visit our Website please keep us in your prayers and pray for our Success to put Green Flag on top of the world and safe return!

about PYO and its projects,please visit our porjects please visit our project page and other pages as well. thank you

if you like our work,please donate     

Manaslu 8163m Expedition Nepal 2012

http://www.karakorumexpedition.com,https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=465765960128132&set=vb.100000841950854&type=3&theaterOur Manaslu Expedition 2012,though we didn't' summit , due to Massive avalanche and 11 causalities ,but it was  great experience, i was the first to reach 7000m above Camp III  after the massive snow on the mountain!,we called off our expedition in respect to those who lost their lives, on the mountain in massive avalanche! ,my Cousin Sohail made short trailer from my rough Video Archive! !the guy in red Gloves waving hands is Greg "the super french skier" who lost his life in the Avalanche along other 10 climbers, we were together at Camp III on 22nd September few hours before the avalanche,this must be his last appearance in the video!unfortunately Greg and Remy dead bodies were not found due to the massive pressure of the avalanche which blew them away from their tent and perhaps fell in craves!! he was kind of lovely man! Well, the decision was not only mine, it was MY very respect and GREAT Kiwi Friends those who are the Best Human beings on earth as i have seen,those believe in humanity ,respect to grief and sorrows of people,those suffer and not greedy of any fame or glory!! It was Our common decision to give up the summit glory for those who lost their lives and their families grief, as mountain guide its common on the mountain to see individual deaths of different reasons but this was a massive natural disaster that killed 11 people on the spot! thank you and sure there will be much better videos to come from Winter expeditions and next spring and summer,some big adventures:

Spantik Gender Equality Dream Expedition

http://www.pakyouthreach.com , http://www.karakorumexpedition.com,

Gender equality dream expedition was organized by  Karakorum Expeditions to Spantik peak, the team compromised on three New Zealand and two Pakistanis, the team of members  led by Mirza Ali,the team started from Islamabad on 14th of July .due to Bad weather the party left on the Karakorum High way toward Skardu.  After two days of rest in Skardu,the team met with HP’s and cook staff,after briefing at the tourist information center skardu, the team left for Arandu, the team arrived Arandu valley, where the team hired porters and headed up for the base camp,  weather seemed to be very good and hot the first two days of the camp,then the rain starts from Balocho ,that stopped to travel to base camp as the rain start pouring down. When the weather little improved the next two days, the team marched up to base camp, this was amazing feeling and great experience for the new comers to the base camp.

Having rest for two days, the team started acclimatization, reached camp 1 in five hours and back to base camp after setting up the tents. It was pretty quick return climb, this section of the mountain is  more dry and rocky, the Kiwi friends enjoyed this part of the mountain, we did the hike up to camp 1 in normal trekking boats. 

Returning to base camp, then Imran the cook boy got  high altitude sicknes,the rain was pouring down ,when HP’s and the cook took Imran back to Balocho in heavy rain. The weather turned bad for a week that stopped our progress on the mountain. When we got weather window, the team again started their climb, the time was running out and this time, the team had planned to stay until summit push. Established camp 1 on 27th july then 28th camp II ,Samina got neck muscles strain at camp I and told to go down. The  other members went to camp II, the next day, the team  rest at camp II. The  HP’s tried to put on CampIII,but that night the weather was  very cloudy and the snow remained soft and was not  firm to climb. Due to deep snow the HP’s deposit the Camp III materials half to camp III. When I reached camp II , the members wanted to go back to base camp, to look after Samina’s neck,since one of the Team member was nurse by profession. The team got back to base camp the same day and that was a very long decent for elder women.

At base camp Joy and Arthur gave medication and helped Samina with neck strain, though it gave relief but remained unchanged.even still hurts Then the weather turned worst, two French couples went for the summit push and lost up in the mountain. The weather stayed bad for another 8 days. The French couples make it back  after 8 days. though they made it to the top in those first two fine days

By now the time was running out. And the team decided to call off the expedition. The HP’s went to  close the high camps. With our team other two expeditions called off their expeditions and though Spantik didn’t favor us, however it was a great experience.

Gender equality Dream Expeditions Spantik Peak (7027m),2012

Gender equality Dream Expeditions Spantik Peak (7027m),2012

A Myth & barrier breaking mountain climbing expedition in Pakistan adventure history

 

http://www.pakyouthreach.com , http://www.karakorumexpedition.com, Continuing the quest to promote outdoor sports after three successful mountain climbing expeditions and a small school in Arandu valley in Baltistan,  it is our great pleasure to launch another historical, myth, and barrier breaking mountain climbing expedition for Gender Equality to a 7027 m Peak.  The expedition has been named “Gender Equality Dream Expedition Spantik Peak (7027m),2012.  Samina Baig, the only rising female mountaineer of Pakistan is the center character of the expedition along other foreign friends! The expedition is aimed to promote outdoor education, awareness in Pakistan, promote women adventure and empower women through adventure! This expedition is a myth breaking Adventure in Pakistan mountain climbing history and a gate way for Pakistani woman to embark on high altitude mountain climbing.

Samina baig is a 21 year old from a remote village Shimshal, is only Pakistani mountain climber girl to adopt mountaineering as a profession.   Her goal is to empower women through adventure and encourage them to explore the mountains.  Samina Baig and her Brother Mirza Ali started Pakistan Youth outreach Program, an initiative to educate and give awareness about outdoor activities and research work on glaciers, mountains and promote as well as encourage women in mountain adventure sports in Pakistan.

In the last two years PYO organized three mountain climbing expedition to two 6000m plus virgin peaks and first Pakistan women winter expedition. Samina first ascent of Chashkin sar “Samina Peak” documentary for Geo tv  was first mountain climbing documentary in Pakistan Adventure history, following 2011 gender equality expedition to “Koh-i-brober “  promotional AD for gender equity was another landmark of PYO for promoting ,empowering women as well as youth about adventure sports.

Pakistan is home of mountains, worlds five 8000 meters peaks are in Pakistan, there are nearly 7000 mountains above 6000meters, above 5000meters they are countless, beside mountains out of polar range there are more than six glaciers ranges that stretches plus 50km including  Siachen glacier. There are hundreds of challenging passes ,lush green valleys, awe inspiring lakes ,yet having all the great potential in the country, until now no female Pakistani female mountain climber has been produced who could have   climbed over 7000m there is NO Pakistani female who stepped  on the top of any 8000 meter in the world. It is surprising that Iranians,Indians,Arab and even Bangladeshi women have summitted mountain Everest , some of these countries even  no mountain exist higher than 3000m,yet those girls brought pride to their countries.

Our Gender Equality Dream Expedition, aim is to prepare and produce Pakistani female mountaineer, who could be role model for other girls to come in to mountain sports, promote tourism and encourage domestic mountain related sports.

A short film of the expedition will be made for film festivals in foreign countries, international adventure TV channels, such as National Geographic and discovery. The short film may also be aired on leading tv channels in Pakistan those would be interested in airing it. The expedition seeks to educate youth about mountain sports and to bring awareness and promotion of women’s adventure and to give other women encouragement to conquer the Karakorum.

 Second goal of the expedition is to promote tourism in the country .Gilgit baltistan people source of income is tourism and tourism directly benefits every sector, through tourism handsome foreign exchange can be earned, Nepal 90% revenue is been gained from tourism  ,Pakistan has world’s largest adventure and touristic point yet not promoted and encouraged. Pakistan is rich culturally, historically, and that its mountains are unmatched in the world in the beautiful and peaceful Karakorum, Hindukush and Himalaya. These huge mountain ranges are heaven for trekkers, photographers, culture observers, historians, researchers, film makers, nature lovers. Unfortunately in Pakistan tourism has completely ignored and this year nearly ban it through strict via policy for tourist. The tourism ministery has been dissolved this shows lake government’s lake of attention and importance tourism industry

The climbing will take place on Spantik peak 7027m,will go through KKH,Chilas,Skardu,Shigar valley ,Arandu and to the base camp,The expedition starting on 13 July and will last until 17 August, the expedition is 36days expedition,

The expedition consists of five members including two Pakistani and three New Zealanders. The expedition update will be made on daily or weekly basis from the base camp!  The Expedition has been sponsored by foreign friends those who are participating in the expedition and younggrasshopper.com

Expedition Members:

Mirza Ali , Pakistan- Expeidtion leader

Jawad Sharif, Pakistan - Filmmaker

Arthur Smith, New Zeland - Climber

Joy Deerness, New Zeland  - Climber

Jenni Kent, New Zeland - Climber

Samina Baig, Pakistan - Climber

Arshad Karim, Pakistan - Climber

Pakistan Youth Outreach: a doorway to the splendor of Karakoram | Climb For Change

Pakistan Youth Outreach: a doorway to the splendor of Karakoram | Climb For Change

“When I was a kid, I heard from my uncles and cousins that climbers, both men and women, would come across the borders into Pakistan to climb our mountains, explore new passes, valleys, and do research on glaciers, flora, fauna or culture.”

Mirza Ali continues to explain to me that he hardly ever sees any travelers from his own country visiting his village and the magnificent surrounding areas. He wants to change this – create something unique – especially for young woman. Enter Pakistan Youth Outreach.

“It’s our mission to provide a platform for mountaineering awareness and education to youth, and to encourage and promote women’s adventure in the country,” says Mirza. “We want to empower our youth to explore our country, to see the beauty of nature and study the environment, wilderness, mountains and glaciers. We are richly blessed with nature but due to a lack of awareness, education and promotion, it still remains ignored.”

I ask Mirza why the focus on educating young women??

“I started this program with my sister Samina in 2010. She has chosen mountaineering and mountain guiding as her future career, and will be the first female in Pakistan to do so. She is also the first Pakistani woman to climb over 6,400m. Samina is currently still in college but in the very near future, she wants to be a tour leader, guide women groups in the Karakoram, and assist with our Pakistan Youth Outreach programs and charity work."

Mirza says they currently have no outdoor education and activities in Pakistan, and there are no female athletes in the country – or at least not like the many female world-class athletes from other countries around the world. “We don’t even have a national climbing team – neither male nor female. Yet, we have five 8,000m peaks, and hundreds of 7000m and 6,000m peaks…”

Mirza and Samina organized their first expedition in 2010 to Chashkin Sar in Shimsal, to create awareness among youth and empower women in adventure sports. Samina successfully summited the 6,400m peak (now called Samina peak!), and the documentary was picked up by leading TV channels in Pakistan.

The brother sister duo grew up in the mountains of Karakoram Hunza-Shimshal. The village, Shimsal, is located on the Pakistan-China border at 3,300m above sea level and considered among the world’s 15 highest settlements. According to Mirza, Shimshal is one of the most remote and isolated villages in Pakistan, and very hard to access for the modern world.

Mirza and Samina hope that their work is a massive message to people in Pakistan, “that if a girl can climb a mountain, which in our society is considered the most daring of sports, other young women can do anything within their capacity – it will help boost the morale of women in our country.”

Find out more about Mirza and Samina's inspiring work and remarkable leadership atwww.pakyouthreach.com.

“My birth place has played a significant role in providing me with the strength to fight with extreme situations. Mountains are our culture – they are our identity.” 
Original source Climbforchange.com

See more videos from Pakistan Youth Outreach, Mirza and Samina here

Samina Baig Promotional AD for Gender Equaty

Samina Baig has been the pioneer to introduce women adventure in Pakistan, that is why she is among top 10 women in Pakistan that they have influenced society through their unique work to Inspire and give courage to other fellow women. Samina and Mirza are the pioneer that they for the first time produced two documentaries one 40minutes documentary for Geo TV Pakistan,which is the top leading TV channel in Pakistan and this five minutes gender equity promotional AD.  This Short film was aired from 13 mainstream TV channels and aired 17times, before these documentaries there was even not a male adventure documentary aired from any Pakistani TV, Samina aims to promote and encourage through her adventure work other women in Pakistan and support her brother work to educate youths in the mountainous area's of Pakistan.through Pakistan Youth outreach.