UIAA congratulates Nepali climbers on first successful winter ascent of K2 Tuesday, 19 January 2021 The International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) has congratulated a team of Nepali climbers who have become the first to mount a successful ascent of K2 in winter. The UIAA say K2 was the only one of the commonly recognised mountains over 8,000 metres which had not be successful ascended during the winter months. K2 is the second-highest mountain in the world at 8,611 metres. The successful expedition was led by Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, a certified International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations guide. Nirmal Purja Pun Magar, who climbed the fourteen 8,000m peaks in a little over six months in 2019, was also among the climbers.