Melting Peaks, Rising Risks: How Climate Change is Rewriting the Rules of Mountaineering in South Asia

The soaring peaks of the Karakoram and Himalayas, once the domain of daring climbers and extreme adventurers, are turning increasingly treacherous — and not because of the challenges they pose by design. A silent transformation, driven by global warming, is altering the very character of these mountains, and the consequences are fatal.

One such tragedy struck German biathlete-turned-mountaineer Laura Dahlmeier. Though speculative, experts point to climate-driven rock instability as a contributing factor in the accident that claimed her life in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. Rockfalls, now more frequent due to vanishing ice, are becoming a deadly hallmark of high-altitude climbing.

A Peak That’s Lost Its Snow

Laila Peak, a stunning 6,096-meter spire known for its dramatic shark-fin profile, used to be blanketed with thick snow even in summer. Two decades ago, its northwest face was a haven for climbers and extreme skiers. Today, most of that snow is gone, replaced by crumbling, exposed rock.

This year, the climbing season began under ominous conditions. Regular snowfall failed to arrive, and heatwaves pushed temperatures in the town of Chilas — near the southern edge of the Karakoram — to a record-breaking 48.5°C (119°F). At altitudes over 5,500 meters, climbers reported rain instead of snow, and night frosts became rare.

These aren’t just unusual weather quirks — they’re symptoms of a larger shift. Snow and ice, which act like cement holding rocks together, are melting faster than ever. As they vanish, so does the structural integrity of the mountain faces, leading to more frequent rockfalls and wet avalanches.

Expeditions Turn Around, Citing Danger

This summer, several expeditions abandoned summit bids in Pakistan’s high mountains due to unstable conditions. “Too dangerous” was the recurring judgment. And mountaineers are now adjusting to this new reality.

David Göttler, a seasoned German climber who ascended Nanga Parbat (8,125 meters) without oxygen or fixed ropes in June, put it bluntly: “These mountains are changing at an insane pace. Rockfall has become a major threat.”

Göttler believes that future expeditions may need to start earlier in the year — possibly as early as May — to avoid the summer heat that now threatens both climbers and the mountains themselves.

Even “Beginner” Peaks Are No Longer Safe

Baruntse, a 7,162-meter peak near Mount Everest, used to be considered a relatively manageable climb. Not anymore.

“Huge crevasses are opening up near the summit,” Göttler noted. “Even novice climbers now need serious skills to navigate these mountains.” Many teams are opting for night climbs, resting during the day to avoid midday rockfalls — a reversal of traditional mountaineering schedules.

Rain, Floods, and Washed-Out Infrastructure

The effects of climate change aren’t confined to summit routes. Infrastructure is being battered, too. Heavy rains recently washed away concrete bridges in northern Pakistan, forcing expeditions to reroute and delaying supply chains. At least 18 people lost their lives to landslides and flash floods around Chilas.

In Nepal, more than 20 were killed after a glacial lake burst its natural dam during intense monsoon rains, sending torrents downstream and destroying bridges — including one on the border with Tibet.

According to ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development), these GLOFs (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods) are becoming more frequent as melting glaciers form unstable lakes behind natural ice and moraine dams.

A Threat to Mountain Economies

Beyond the immediate dangers to life and limb, there’s a looming economic crisis. Many Himalayan and Karakoram communities depend on mountain tourism — porters, guides, lodge owners, and local merchants all rely on climbers to keep their livelihoods afloat.

If the risk outweighs the reward, climbers may stay home, leaving entire towns economically stranded. That’s why countries like Nepal and Pakistan have repeatedly raised alarms on the global stage, urging industrial nations to take climate action seriously.

So far, the response has been largely symbolic.

During a 2023 visit to Nepal, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning: “Nepal has lost nearly one-third of its ice in just three decades. Greenland and Antarctica are bleeding ice. And the result is devastating — swollen rivers, broken bridges, and swept-away villages.”

From what he called “the rooftop of the world,” Guterres made an emotional appeal: “Stop the madness.”

But as the climbing seasons shorten, the peaks melt, and the risks rise, that plea has become more urgent — and more ignored — than ever.