By Asghar Ali Mubarak
Islamabad: The family members included widow Lina Moey, Halla Karen daughter and Sisters Karen and Kristine of late mountaineer John Snorri while addressing a press confrence at at National Press Club Islamabad thanks entire Pakistani nation for for a warm welcome in Pakistan’’.
Speaking during press conference the family members included widow Lina Moey, daughter and sisters of late Snorri stated that the events which took place in February 2021 were difficult for us as a family and for the families of Ali Sadpara and Juan Pablo. ‘’ friendship between John Snorri and the mountaineering hero and legend of Pakistan Mr. Ali Sadpara was so sincere and strong that we as a family have felt a strong commitment for visiting Pakistan to personally thank those who supported us in a professional & personal manner and to visit the parts of Pakistan John was in love with just as much as his special places in Iceland.’’they added.
They further said that ‘’We travelled here in the hope of being present if an opportunity had been for John being moved away from the path towards the summit of K2 to a resting place close to his friend and climbing partner Ali and their climbing partner Juan Pablo’’.
They stated that the safety of those participating in such an action has always been of the utmost importance to us,they added. They stated that today we got the news that a team of four mountaineers led by Mingma G was unsuccessful in their attempt, after spending two hours on the summit of K2. They said that based on the information we have there was some new snow on the mountain creating an avalanche risk. ‘’The new information about the conditions in the mountain from Mingma G and other expeditions will help us evaluate our options going forward,they added. ‘’
As of now it is too early to go through these options since new information is still coming in.
The information and experiences from this year’s expeditions have illustrated well how much safety needs be part of such a mission they stated.
They said that ‘’it is clear from the information coming from the expeditions that John´s current location is probably one of the most challenging in the mountain’’ and moving him could have created serious safety hazards for the 150 plus mountaineers summitting K2 this summer ‘’ they said. They further said thatWe as a family would like to highlight that John should only be moved in a manner which is safe for those involved and other climbers on the mountain. ‘’ John´s and Ali´s team was a strong team built on friendship.
Their lives and achievements as mountaineers are unique and such that both nations,they further added.’’I truly believe and I know it in my heart that John and Ali summitted K2 on 5th February 2021 ‘’ It is not easy to explain the journey of sorrow which I and the children have been on since the loss of John.’’ they said. ‘’To be here in Pakistan is an important milestone on our journey. ‘’John and I ‘’were from the very beginning of our relationship an extremely strong team of two persons unified in one spirit’’. ‘’We were always aligned in our decisions for creating a life worth living’’ they said.They said that John had my full and unconditional support in pursuing his childhood dream of climbing K2 both in summer and winter conditions. ‘’We as a family are grateful for the great support and warmth expressed by many people ‘ they said. They thanks the Chief of Pakistan Army , Commander of 10 Corps, Pakistan Foreign Office, local government of Gilgit Baltistan Province, Khalid Khurshid Chief minister, Raja Naser Minster for tourism, Asghar at Jasmine tours, the family and friends of Ali Sadpara, peoples of Pakistan, local and international Media for their support. ‘’We also want to thank the local military commanders , pilots in Skardu who lead the search missions and especially Sajid Sadpara,’’ Elia Sækly, and PK Sherpa who were with John and Ali during the last days on the mountain and have gone through so much alongside the family’’ Special heart from the family to the Major Irfan who played an important part in the search & rescue but died in another mission whereas they were on a search & rescue mission ,they added. ‘’we would like to the express our warmest regards to the Vanessa Obrien, our very dear friend Colonel Hassan Bin Aftab and the mountaineering fraternity and sorority, which has supported us in many ways both during and after the events which took place on K2 in February 2021’’ they stated.’’I hope I have covered all names but if anyone is left out its not intentional’ they stated in joint press conference. ‘’Pakistan will always be in my heart and our children’s hearts and as such we plan to return in a few years’ time when the children are more grown up and walk together as a family to K2 basecamp,they conculded. More over earlier on other day the Family members of late Icelandic mountaineer John Snorri Sigurjonsson called on President Dr Arif Alvi at Islamabad. During a meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr, the president expressed his condolence on the death of late mountaineer who died while attempting a K2 summit push during February 2021 along with Pakistani and Chilean mountain climbers, Ali Sadpara and Juan Pablo Mohr. The family members included widow Lina Moey, daughter and sisters of late Snorri. On the occasion, Canadian filmmaker and adventurer Elia Saikaly was also present.The president observed that late mountaineer John Snorri was a renowned mountaineer and passionate about the sports.The late Icelandic also played a very active role in the promotion of mountaineering, he added.
