Govt. License No. 2046
 

The K-2 Mount Godwin Austen

Brief Climbing History of K-2
The first time in 1902 a European climbing expedition led by Englishman Eckenstein climbed k-2 up to 6600 meters. Seven years later it was time for the Duke of Abruzzi's large expedition to Karakorum and K2. Mountain photographer Vittorio Sella took a lot of fabulous and legendary photos. To start with, they tried to reach up through the South East Ridge (that later was named after the Duke). Later, the expedition made an attempt to climb K2's guardian in the west, the 7,544 meter high Skyang Kangri, but a giant gorge blocked their way at 6,600 meters. However, later on Chogolisa (7,654 meters) the Duke reached 7,500 meters with a resolute attack. This became an absolute high altitude record until 1922 when it was beaten on Everest. In 1938 American expedition led by Charles Houston made an attempt to 7925 meters. Again in 1939 American German Expedition led by Fritz Wiessner climbed very close to 8000 meters. In 1953 when the Americans again headed for K2. The expedition consisted of eight men, including the veterans Houston and Bates (from the 1938 expedition), Tony Streather (who had been with the Norwegians on Tirich Mir in 1950) and George Bell famous climber. All of all eight climbers reached an altitude of 7750 meters, but a snowstorm again started and the stuck at camp VIII for more than week and decided to descend.

The Climb
1953 Italian Professor Ardito Desio and Mario Puchoz researched for the possible routes up K2. They probed the terrain up to 6,000 meters and made a lot of observations. When Desio got home, he made the final plans to reach the summit. In 1954 Italian Expedition led by Professor Desio successfully scaled the 2^nd highest on July 31^st 1954 on Abruzzi spur. The ascenders were Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni.

Locally the K-2 is known as Chogori , meaning the king of mountains. Really it is standing like a king in the heart of Karakorum Range. Since the existence of Pakistan more than well-equipped expeditions mostly from Europe and Japan, have this far flung region. Several scientific and research parties have also carried out extensive work open the Fauna, flora and hidden minerals of the area. This expedition was accompanied by Prof. Ardit Desio, a renown personality in the realm of mountaineering who latter led the 1954 successful expedition to the world’s second peak-----K-2.

After having dealt the historical and other physical aspects of the Karakorum it would be worthwhile to mention about the region in which it is situated this longest range of the high mountains. This area comprises of two the then agencies of Northern Areas---Gilgit and Baltistan famous for some of the most beautiful valleys of the world.
 

BALTORO CONCORDIA K2 BASE CAMP TREK
21 DAYS (REF: KKE/KK-01)

THE TREK FROM SKARDU TO THE BALTORO GLACIER GIVES THE BEST CLOSE-UP VIEWS OF K2, AND THE TRAIL ALONG THE BRALDU AND BIAHO RIVERS TAKES HIKERS RIGHT INTO THE HEART OF THE KARAKORAM MOUNTAINS. THE EARLY PART OF THE TREK PASSES THROUGH GREEN ORCHARDS, AND SUMMER VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO SAMPLE APPLES, APRICOTS, PEACHES AND CHERRIES ALONG THE WAY. THE TERRAIN SOON BECOMES RUGGED, HOWEVER, AND TREKKERS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO NAVIGATE TRAILS COVERED WITH SHARP STONES AND PUNCTUATED BY GLACIAL STREAMS AND STEEP GULLIES. THE DARK STONE OF THE LOWER PEAKS PROVIDES A DRAMATIC CONTRAST TO THE GLITTERING SNOW-CAPPED PEAKS IN THE DISTANCE. CONCORDIA, THE BASE CAMP FOR K2 EXPEDITIONS, OFFERS SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF SOME OF THE HIGHEST MOUNTAINS ON EARTH, INCLUDING K2, GASHERBRUM, MASHERBRUM, AND CHOGOLISA.

Itinerary:
 

Day	1	ARRIVE ISLAMABAD, TRANSFER TO THE HOTEL.
Day	2	FLY/DRIVE TO SKARDU.
Day	3	SKARDU.
Day	4	DRIVE JEEP TO ASKOLE.
Day	5	TREK TO KOROFON, CAMP.
Day	6	TREK TO JULLA, CAMP.
Day	7	TREK TO PAYU, CAMP.
Day	8	A FREE DAY AT PAIJU FOR REST AND ACCLIMATIZATION. CAMP.
Day	9	TREK TO KHOBURSAY, CAMP.
Day	10	TREK TO GORO I, CAMP.
Day	11	TREK TO CONCORDIA, CAMP.
Day	12	DAY TRIP TO K-2 OR BROAD PEAK BASE CAMP.
Day	13	REST DAY AT CONCORDIA FOR EXPLORATION.
Day	14	TREK BACK TO URDUKUS, CAMP.
Day	15	TREK BACK TO PAYU, CAMP. 7 HOURS.
Day	16	TREK BACK TO JULLA, CAMP. 6 HOURS.
Day	17	TREK BACK TO ASKOLE, CAMP. 6 HOURS.
Day	18	DRIVE TO SKARDU BY JEEPS, TRANSFER TO HOTEL.
Day	19	FLY TO ISLAMABAD OR DRIVE TO BESHAM, HOTEL.
Day	20	STAY IN RAWALPINDI OR DRIVE BESHAM TO RAWALPINDI, HOTEL.
Day	21	TO THE AIRPORT FOR FLIGHT TO ONWARD DESTINATION.

BALTORO CONCORDIA K2 BASE GHONDOGORO LA TREK
22 DAYS (REF: KKE/KK-02)

"THE WORLD’S GREATEST MUSEUM OF SHAPE AND FORM" IS HOW ITALIAN MOUNTAINEER/AUTHOR FOSCO MARAINI DESCRIBED CONCORDIA IN HIS BOOK, KARAKORAM. IN CONCORDIA, SIX PEAKS OVER 7,925 METERS RISE TO TOUCH THE HEAVENS, INCLUDING K2 (8,611 M) THE 2ND HIGHEST MOUNTAIN ON EARTH. WE ENTER A REMARKABLE WILDERNESS OF ICE, ROCK AND SKY. BY THE TIME WE REACH PAIJU CAMP AT THE FOOT OF THE BALTORO GLACIER, WE BEGIN TO FEEL THE PULSE OF CREATION: THE ICE MELTS THE ROCKS ROLL , AND THE GLACIER CREAKS AND GROANS, REARRANGING ITS ICY RIVERS. WHEN WE REACH CONCORDIA WE ARE REWARDED WITH THE MOST INCREDIBLE MOUNTAIN VIEWS IN THE WORLD, VIRTUALLY SURROUNDED BY K2 , BROAD PEAK (8,051 M), GASHERBRUM IV (7,925 M), AND RAZOR- EDGED MITRE PEAK.

OUR RETURN TREK IS BY WAY OF THE GHONDOGORO LA (5,600 M) , A CHALLENGING HIKE SKIRTING THE GHONDOGORO GLACIER, AND DOWN TO THE GREEN IRRIGATED FIELDS OF THE HUSHE VALLEY. THIS IS AN EXCITING, CHALLENGING TREK, GEARED FOR HIKERS WITH PREVIOUS HIGH ALTITUDE MOUNTAIN TREKKING EXPERIENCE.

Itinerary:

BIAFO HISPAR LA & SNOW LAKE TREK
22 DAYS (REF: KKE/KK-03)

TRULY ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE TREKS IN THE MOUNTAINS. YOU DO NOT EXPECT TO SEE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS REMOTE WILDERNESS. HERE YOU HAVE A TRUE RENDEZVOUS WITH NATURE IN ITS PUREST FORM. FOR THE FIRST FORTY YEARS OF THIS CENTURY EXPLORES BELIEVED THAT SNOW LAKE WAS AN ICE-CAP, FROM WHICH GLACIERS FLOW IN ALL DIRECTIONS. ITS SIZE WAS ESTIMATED AT 777 SQ. KILOMETERS. THE CURRENT ESTIMATED SIZE OF SNOW LAKE IS 77 SQ. KM. THE NAME SNOW LAKE WAS GIVEN BY MARTIN CONWAY IN 1892, WHO HAS GIVEN DRAMATIC ACCOUNT OF THIS PLACE IN HIS BOOK ‘CLIMBING EXPEDITIONS IN KARAKORAM - HIMALAYAS’. ERIC SHIPTON IN 1937 HAD ESTIMATED THE PRESENT SIZE OF SNOW LAKE.

AS WE TREK UP TO THIS OTHER-WORLDLY PLACE WE ENTER A REMARKABLE WILDERNESS OF ICE, ROCK AND SKY - OCCASIONALLY INTERCEPTED BY SMALL ABLATION VALLEYS FILLED WITH NUMEROUS WILD FLOWERS. WE UNDERTAKE A 122 KM WALK ON BIAFO & HISPAR GLACIERS, AND EXPLORE THE INCREDIBLE WILDERNESS OF SNOW LAKE SITUATED BETWEEN THE TWO GLACIERS. AS WE FINISH OUR TREK WE DESCEND DOWN TO HUNZA VALLEY AND TRAVEL OVERLAND ON KARAKORAM HIGHWAY TO ISLAMABAD.

MASHERBRUM & HUSHE VALLEY GHONDOGORO PEAK TREK
20 DAYS (REF: KKE/KK-04)

Itinerary:
 

Day	1	ARRIVE ISLAMABAD, TRANSFER TO HOTEL.
Day	2	FLY / DRIVE TO SKARDU.
Day	3	FREE DAY IN SKARDU IF FLY OR DRIVE CHILAS/SKARDU.
Day	4	DRIVE BY JEEPS TO HUSHE, CAMP.
Day	5	TREK TO SAITCHO, CAMP.
Day	6	TREK TO SPENCER.
Day	7	DAY TRIP TO THE BASE CAMPS OF K7 OR TRINITY PEAK.
Day	8	TREK DOWN TO THE SAITCH0, CAMP.
Day	9	TREK TO THE SUMMER HAMLET AND PASTURES GHONDOGORO, CAMP.
Day	10	TREK TO THE LAKESIDE CAMP AT DALSANPA, CAMP.
Day	11	TREK TO THE GHONDOGORO BASE CAMP AT KHIUSPAN, CAMP.
Day	12	ATTEMPT THE SUMMIT OF GHONDOGORO PEAK (5650M).
Day	13	WE HAVE A SPARE DAY TO CLIMB PEAK.
Day	14	TREK DOWN TO THE DALZANPA, CAMP.
Day	15	TREK DOWN TO SAITCO, CAMP.
Day	16	TREK TO HUSHE VALLEY, CAMP.
Day	17	JEEPS TO SKARDU, HOTEL.
Day	18	FLY / DRIVE TO ISLAMABAD.
Day	19	FREE DAY IN ISLAMABAD IF DRIVE BESHAM TO ISLAMABAD, HOTEL.
Day	20	FLY TO ONWARDS DESTINATION.

THE GREAT KARAKORUM TRAVERSE (HISPAR TO HUSHE)
34 DAYS (REF: KKE/KK-05)

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THALLEY LA TREK
13 DAYS (REF: KKE/KK-06)

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RUSH LAKE/PEAK TREK
15 DAYS (REF: KKE/KK-07)

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KARAKORUM HARAMOSH TREK
10 DAYS (REF: KKE/KK-08)

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KARAKORUM - BATURA TREK HUNZA
17 DAYS (REF: KKE/KK-09)

THE BATURA GLACIER, 65 KILOMETERS LONG, IS THE SECOND LONGEST GLACIER IN THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE POLAR REGIONS. STARTING FROM GILGIT, ONE TRAVELS ALONG THE KARAKORUM HIGHWAY THROUGH THE MYTHICAL HUNZA VALLEY. ALL THE WAY TO PASSU AND THE BATURA GLACIER, THE ARID LANDSCAPE IS OFTEN INTERRUPTED BY LUSH GREEN FIELDS, HELD IN PLACE BY DRY-STONE RETAINING WALLS. THE COMPLEX IRRIGATION CHANNELING SYSTEMS ARE TESTIMONY TO THE SKILL AND PATIENCE OF THE NATIVES. AT GULMIT THE VALLEY, RICH IN ORCHARDS AND POOR IN FORESTS, OPENS UP TO PRESENT A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE HUNZA RIVER. ONE ENCOUNTERS THE GREAT BATURA GLACIER NEAR MALUNGIN AND TREKKING ON TO YASHPIRT OFFERS SUPERB VIEWS OF THE BATURA PEAKS PERCHED ON THE BATURA WALL (6830-7785M), THE KAMPIRE DIOR GROUP (6931-7143M), SHISHPAR (7619M) AND PASSU PEAK (7284M).


Itinerary:

KARAKORUM - SHIMSHAL MINGLIK SAR & CHAPCHINGOL TREK
22 DAYS (REF: KKE/KK-10)

THIS IS A TREK SOMETHING COMPLETELY OFF THE BEATEN TRACK – REMOTE, FAR FROM CIVILIZATION, AND WE HOPE BECAUSE OF THIS TO CAPTURE SOME OF THE SPIRIT OF EARLY EXPLORATION. SHIMSHAL VALLEY MUST RATE AS ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE AREAS OF THE KARAKORAM HIMALAYA. THE VILLAGES APPEAR LIKE OASES IN THE BARREN MOUNTAIN LANDSCAPE. IT WAS NOT FAR FROM HERE THAT COLONEL FRANCIS YOUNGHUSBAND HAD HIS CELEBRATED ENCOUNTER WITH HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART, CAPTAIN GROMBTCHEVSKI. THIS WAS DURING THE PERIOD OF THE ‘GREAT GAME’ WHEN THE BRITISH RAJ WAS COMPLETELY PARANOID ABOUT THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE SENDING THEIR TROOPS OVER THE PASSES AND DOWN INTO INDIA. ON THE TREKKING WE MIGHT SEE MARCO POLO SHEEP WOLF, BLUE SHEEP, TIBETAN ASS AND THE EVER-ELUSIVE SNOW LEOPARD .

THE MOUNTAIN SCENERY IS NO LESS IMPRESSIVE AND AWE-INSPIRING THAN ELSEWHERE IN THE KARAKORAM AND THE LARGEST MOUNTAIN THAT YOU WILL SEE IS DISTAGHIL SAR, 7,885M. WE WOULD CERTAINLY RECOMMEND THIS TREK TO ANYONE WHO LIKES THE IDEA OF A TOUGH TREK WHERE THE ITINERARY MAY CHANGE ON A DAILY BASIS AND WHICH TAKES YOU THROUGH VERY WILD COUNTRY.


Itinerary:

KARAKORUM - MINAPIN NAGAR & BATURA
21 DAYS (REF: KKE/KK-11)

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KARAKORUM - SHIMSHAL TREK
18 DAYS (REF: KKE/KK-12)

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KARAKORUM - MINAPIN (DIRAN & RAKAPOSHI) & BATURA TREK
21 DAYS (REF: KKE/KK-13)

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KARAKORUM - MOUNTAIN VISTAS OF HUNZA
14 DAYS (REF: KKE/KK-14)

THE 7 DAYS TREK TO ENCHANTING PLACES AROUND HUNZA. ENJOY VIEWS OF JERAB PEAKS AND THE CATHEDRALS AT GHULKIN, AND OCEAN OF PEAKS AT PATUNDAS MEADOWS, BORIT LAKE ON WAY TO PASSUGHAR AND PASSU GLACIER AT LUZHDAR. CAMP AT MOLOVIL, LUSH GREEN WITH ROSE BUSHES, CLOSE TO THE BATURA GLACIER.

Itinerary:

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