Hassan Sadpara

Hassan Sadpara PP (born Hassan Asad; April 1963 – 21 November 2016) was a Pakistani mountaineer and adventurer from Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. He is the first Pakistani to have climbed six eight-thousanders including the world's highest peak Everest (8848m), K2 (8611m), Gasherbrum I (8080m), Gasherbrum II (8034m), Nanga Parbat (8126 m) and Broad Peak (8051m). He is also credited for summiting five of the eight-thousanders without using supplemental oxygen. Contrary to initial reports, Hassan Sadpara clarified that he used supplemental oxygen during his Everest ascent due to bad weather. He died due to cancer on 21 November 2016 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Hassan Sadpara

PP
ﺣﺴﻦ ﺳﺪﭘﺎرہ
Sadpara standing in front of his own poster in PTDC Skardu
Born
Hassan Asad

3 April 1964
Sadpara Village, Skardu
Died21 November 2016(2016-11-21) (aged 53)
OccupationAdventurer, Mountaineer, High Altitude Porter

Background

Hassan Sadpara was born into a poor family in "Sadpara", a small village in a remote area of Baltistan, some 7 miles away from Skardu.[1] There was no school during his childhood, so Hassan helped his family as a farmer and a shepherd. His biggest regret in life was that he never went to school; he was proud of providing education to his children. He had four children (3 sons and a daughter). His eldest son Arif is studying for a degree in Master of Business Administration[2][3]

He began his mountaineering career as a high altitude porter in 1993 and became a celebrated climber after conquering Mount Everest.[4] He owned a small shop of used mountaineering equipment in Skardu. It was his dedication and self-confidence that led him to the summits of the world's highest peaks.

Career

He was the second Baltistani to have summited all five of the 8000m peaks of Pakistan, after Nisar Hussain (also of Sadpara village). Unlike most climbers from the West, who are equipped with state-of-the-art climbing gear (and often sponsored by multinational corporations), Hassan Sadpara began his career from scratch, with very few resources, and climbed with whatever gear he could manage to afford. He had worked as a porter for expeditions, including ones led by Koreans and Poles. He ran a shop for used and new mountaineering equipment in the Skardu bazaar.

After his successful summit of Mount Everest, he said in an interview that he could summit all the Top 14 mountain peaks if he were sponsored and had requested the Pakistan government or international corporations in his regard. His other dream was to open a mountaineering school in his city so that he and others like him can transfer their knowledge to youth from around the world.

Award

In 2008, Government of Pakistan awarded him the President’s Pride of Performance.[5]

On 14 August 2019, Government of Pakistan posthumously awarded him the President’s Pride of Performance for his numerous notable feats that include him being the first Pakistani to have scaled six eight-thousanders which also include the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest. The awards ceremony was held on 23 March 2020.[6]

Mountaineering consultant

Hassan Sadpara was a free consultant for new climbers. He provided guidance to the team of Pakistan’s "First Big Wall Climbing Expedition".[7]

Significant climbs

Unlike other well-equipped climbers sometimes sponsored by multinational companies, especially those from Western countries,[8] Hassan was the only Pakistani who had climbed:[9][10]

Death

On 8 October 2016, he was diagnosed with blood cancer.[11] After a short stay at a private hospital in Rawalpindi, he was admitted to Combined Military Hospital. Hassan Sadpara died[12] on 21 November 2016, at Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, where he was being treated for multiple diseases including blood cancer.[13] He was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Hargisa Shqthang Skardu[14]

References
  1. Haider Ali Sindhu (21 November 2016). "Pakistani mountaineer Hassan Sadpara dies in Rawalpindi". Daily Pakistan. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  2. Shahzeb Jillani (26 August 2014). "Hassan Sadpara – Only Pakistani to Climb Six Out of Fourteen 8000er Peaks". BBC. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  3. "Hasan Sadpara dies: Pakistan mourns loss of 'hero' climber to blood cancer". BBC. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  4. Jamal Shahid (23 November 2016). "Hassan Sadpara- man who braved heights". Dawn News. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  5. Maj Sameer Azhar (English) (16 July 2016). "Hassan Sadpara – Only Pakistani to Climb Six Out of Fourteen 8000er Peaks". Hilal (English) Magazine. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  6. "Top 20 distinguished recipients of the Pakistan Civil Awards". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  7. Capital’s climbers scale Trango Braak in G-B, The Tribune, 21 October.2013.
  8. PPI (21 November 2016). "Renowned Pakistani mountaineer Hassan Sadpara passes away". The News International. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  9. Haseeb Bhatti and Abdul Ghaffar (21 November 2016). "Renowned mountaineer Hassan Sadpara passes away". Dawn News. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  10. "Pakistani mountaineer Hassan Sadpara dies after battle with cancer". Dunya News tv. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  11. "Pakistani Mount Everest Climber Hassan Sadpara Diagnosed with Cancer". GBee News. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  12. "Pakistani Mountaineer Hassan Sadpara Passes Away of Cancer at 54". GBee News. 21 November 2016. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  13. Hassan Sadpara, Death. "Pakistani Mountaineer Hassan Sadpara dies after battle with cancer". www.skardu.pk. Skardu.pk. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  14. "Mountaineer laid to rest in Skardu". Dawn News. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
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