Sajid Sadpara is a 26-year-old Pakistani who wants to climb 14 summits over 8,000 metres in memory of his father. Begun in 2019, this project has already taken him to the highest points of Everest, Annapurna and four other 8,000-metre peaks. On 26 June, Sajid reached the summit of Nanga Parbat alongside Sophie Lavaud, among others. We spoke to him at the base camp, a few days before the ascent.
Nanga Parbat base camp (8126 metres high, Pakistan), 17 June 2023. Sajid Sadpara – son of Ali Sadpara who died on K2 in winter a few days after the first Nepalese ascent in 2021 – is part of the lead rope fixing team for the ascent of this 8000 metres peak. At the age of 26, he is in the process of climbing the 14 peaks over 8000m, without supplementary oxygen, in memory of his father. Since the interview, Sajid has successfully climbed Nanga Parbat, his father’s mountain. An interview with a Pakistani who (also) sees a bright future in Himalayan climbing.
Sajid Sadpara in his father’s mountain. ©Ulysse Lefebvre
I’m trying to climb all 14 summits over 8000 meters
without supplementary oxygen
Alpine Mag : Is this your first visit to Nanga Parbat?
Sajid Sadpara : I’ve been here before, but on a trek. With a Spanish mountaineering friend of my father’s, we did a project in memory of my father. We put up a memorial here, on the Nanga. But this is the first time I’ve come