Turkish female mountain climber reaches the summit of Mount K2

Turkish female mountaineer Esin Handal has achieved a historic feat by climbing Mount K2, the world's second-highest mountain at 8,611 meters. Known for its challenging routes and harsh weather conditions, K2 is considered a route only the most experienced climbers dare. Handal, who was part of a 16-person international team that climbed the mountain, which was opened to summit climbing for only one day in 2025, became one of only two Turkish women to reach the summit on the same day. Having previously climbed five mountains over 7,000 meters, Handal earned the title of "Snow Leopard," a title held by only 32 women in the world during the former USSR era. She is the first woman from Türkiye to achieve this title. The 45-year-old athlete also volunteers at the SAR Search, Rescue and Emergency Aid Association. Esin Handal, who stated that she has been mountaineering for 25 years, said, "I've been mountaineering for about 25 years. The first mountain I climbed wasn't even a mountain; it was Mount Ilgaz. But when I did, I was so happy and realized it was a form of competition with myself. I saw that it was a sport of pushing my body to its limits, and I really enjoyed it. And gradually, of course, I started climbing high mountains and technically advanced mountains, taking training from the Turkish Mountaineering Federation."

Handal, describing his climbing process on K2, said, "K2 is actually a very difficult mountain, the most difficult in the world. I had a lot of experience before going to K2. I've climbed both 8,000- and 7,000-meter mountains and improved my skills. The ascent of K2 was truly challenging because it's a dangerous mountain, and there were many accidents. We do what we call 'acclimatization climbs' before summit day, and I've done three acclimatization climbs on this mountain. Each time, there was either an accident or an injury. This year was a very difficult season, a dry season in fact. That's why there were a lot of falling rocks. So, the process was difficult, but I'm incredibly happy to finally succeed and see the summit."

"As a Turkish woman, it's a truly wonderful feeling to be at the summit of K2 after all these years."

Handal, who stated that the climbing process took a very long time, said, "The process took a very long time. This was actually a special situation this year. Overall, it took two months for both the transportation, the arrival, and the wait. During those two months, the summit of K2 was opened for just one day, and everyone summited and returned within a single day. In other words, everyone reached the summit on the same day. As a Turkish woman, being at the summit of K2 after all these years is a truly wonderful feeling. I'm representing my country and showing that as a woman, I can reach these heights and overcome these challenges. I'm very happy that I've been rewarded for years of hard work."

"Statistically, it is said that one in every four people who climb mountains dies."

Speaking about Mount K2, successful athlete Handal said, "It's not as high as Mount Everest, but it's more technical and quite dangerous. Statistically, one in four people who climb the mountain dies. There's a high risk of avalanches, a high risk of falling rocks, and you can't avoid them. This year, especially, there was a lot of falling rocks because it was such a dry season. You can hear the rocks passing by like lightning, and when you hear the sound, there's nothing you can do but take cover."

Handal, emphasizing that she is the first Turkish woman to receive the snow leopard title, said, "I am the first female snow leopard in Türkiye. To receive this title, you have to climb the five highest mountains in the former USSR, and I successfully climbed them and received the title of the first Turkish woman. After these successful climbs, I climbed K2, the world's most difficult mountain. I am proud to have done this. This title is valid in the Turkic Republics, and I have waved my flag on all these mountains."

Handal stated that young people should be encouraged to take up this sport, saying, "I would love for young people, especially girls, to take up this sport and be encouraged by their families. If you receive training in this sport and make the right decisions about where and when to practice, taking into account the weather conditions, I don't think it poses any life-threatening risks. It's no more risky than driving in traffic, and it makes your children stronger."

UAV

Reporter: News Center