GILGIT: Four women mountaineers from Gilgit-Baltistan have made history for Pakistani sports by reaching the summit of the 7,027-meter Spantik Peak without hiring high-altitude porters, along with a Romanian climber who survived cancer and a young mountaineer from Punjab.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) confirmed on Monday that the four-member local women’s team has returned safely to Skardu after completing their unassisted expedition.
Four Women Mountaineers from GB Summit 7,027m Spantik Peak
Shama Baqir, Samana Rahim, Zooni Aslam and Zaiba Batool Shigri have successfully scaled #Spantik Peak (7,027m) in Baltistan.
Zaiba Batool Shigri has become the first woman from Shigar to summit a 7,000-metre peak.… pic.twitter.com/wCjsBalcD2
— PAMIR TIMES (@pamirtimes) August 23, 2026
Historic Breakthrough for All-Female Team
The expedition was marked by the four GB female climbers completing the climb without high-altitude porter support, carrying their own equipment up the mountain. Another member of the Pakistani women’s team, Bismah Hassan from Lahore, also tried for the summit but stopped around 250 meters short of the peak due to health issues.
- Shama Baqir & Samana Rahim come from Shimshal Valley.
- Zooni Aslam: From Gojal, Upper Hunza, Gulmit Valley.
- Zaiba Batool Shigri: From Shigar district, waving the national flag at the summit
Further Records of the Expedition
Supported by the agency of mountaineer Shehroze Kashif, Broad Boy Adventures, the expedition also brought two more major achievements:
| Climber | Background / Hometown | Achievement & Operational Notes |
| Alexandra Visan | Romania | Battled cancer to summit Spantik and descend safely, accompanied by high-altitude porter Ali Ameen. |
| Ayyan Adeel | Punjab, Pakistan | Became the youngest climber to summit Spantik without porter support, assisted by team members Awais Choudary and Talha Khalid. |
Severe weather hinders ongoing recovery efforts
The successful summits have been a source of pride for the climbing community, while other expeditions have posed serious challenges for recovery operations due to sudden changes in weather on the peak.
“The women reached the summit in good conditions before Friday, but a deteriorating weather situation has severely impacted recovery efforts throughout the region.”
— Ayaz Shigri, General Secretary, Alpine Club of Pakistan
Dr Asma Mushtaq Recovery: Rescuers are trying to recover the body of Dr Asma Mushtaq, who tragically died at an altitude of 6,250 meters (Camp 3) while descending from the summit on Thursday. Heavy rain and snow forced a six-member high-altitude porter team back from Camp 3 to Camp 2. Rescuers will make another attempt to recover her body on Tuesday, before Pakistan Army helicopters airlift her remains to Skardu.
Broad Peak Bad weather has also delayed helicopter airlifts at Broad Peak (8,047m) where the body of American climber Sarah Mallory Geis remains at base camp awaiting transport.
