Chitral (4x4 Offroaders Club Karachi)

Bridge

Sat, 23 Aug 2003 00:34:23 +0500

The bridge on the river North. Cars have to cross it one at a time, as this was built by the British almost a century back.

Major Breakdown

Sat, 23 Aug 2003 01:26:53 +0500

Though it might seem the tyre is taking a rest by the side of the jeep, this was a major breakdown on our first day out of Karachi, three hours short of Sukkur.

Rest Stop on the N5

Sat, 23 Aug 2003 23:48:48 +0500

Taking a break on the side of the National Highway (N5). This is 3 hours before Sukkur.

Lowari Pass Resthouse

Sat, 23 Aug 2003 23:56:44 +0500

A resthouse at the Lowari Pass.

Hotel

Sun, 24 Aug 2003 00:02:57 +0500

A typical hotel.

Glacier

Sun, 24 Aug 2003 00:04:47 +0500

A glacier on the way to Chitral.

Ice Factory

Sun, 24 Aug 2003 00:09:18 +0500

Ice is cut up and loaded onto trucks here. Glacier's are apparently a natural ice factory.

Kalash Dancers

Sun, 24 Aug 2003 00:17:06 +0500

Kalash Dancers. Kalash are a miniority native non-muslim Tribe in Northern Pakistan, they have an ancient History, culture and language and are one of the five most endangered Indiginous people of the world.

Kalash Locals

Sun, 24 Aug 2003 00:28:40 +0500

Another picture of the Kalash Dancers

Watching Forest

Sat, 30 Aug 2003 01:32:55 +0500

Watching [something].

KO by Jeep

Tue, 02 Sep 2003 14:47:09 +0500

Standing on the road, on the way to [....]

AO on Jeep

Tue, 02 Sep 2003 14:50:36 +0500

Crossing a river stream.

Sikander Coke

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 01:29:25 +0500

A cute Sikander posing for a Coke add. The location is 3 hours north of Chitral.

CJ Flat Tire

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 01:35:53 +0500

Salman is trying to fix the jack under the CJ5. Every day it would have at least one puncture, so by this time he had become an expert in the art of changing tires. The silencer above his head had also earlier fallen off.

Rice fields

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 01:38:38 +0500

A beautiful view before reaching Chitral.

Charpai

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 01:43:18 +0500

Stopped at a truck stop en route. Dr. Mansoors CJ5 had blown the seal on the power steering pump, and we spent an hour cutting up ladies leather hand bags making a new seal. The weather was well over 40 degrees.

British Bridge

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 01:46:44 +0500

This bridge was built by the British a century ago, and it's still going strong. It's barely wide enough for a jeep to fit, and moves as you go along it.

Mahodand Lake

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 01:54:36 +0500

Another view of the river. This picture doesn't do it justice. The lake is at the end of the swat valley, about three hours beyond Kalam.

KKH Signboard

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 01:59:52 +0500

Signboard of the KKH as you approach the Karakorum highway.

SO Jeep

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 02:03:10 +0500

SO standing in front of the White Jeep.

MO Hammock

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 02:05:44 +0500

MO relaxing in hammock at camp.

On the Move

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 02:08:45 +0500

The road to Garam Chasma. It was a very picturesque drive, with a few very narrow places where you have to go very carefully.

Fallen Jeep

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 02:12:34 +0500

This local jeep had gone into the river just a few minutes before we got there. The driver managed to jump out as the jeep went down and came out scratchless. Dr. Mansur orchestrated the rescue attempt, while Hamid Omar and Taimur Mirza were the brains behind actually bringing it up.

Winching

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 02:15:31 +0500

Taimur Mirza's CJ7 and Hamid Omar's M38 are winching up the jeep. These warn winches are rated at 12,000 pounds and even then everyone was suprised that they managed to pull the jeep up. The locals couldn't believe it at all!

Winching Ends

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 02:17:34 +0500

The Jeep is almost there. The axle snapped as it was dragged upwards.

Susan

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 02:20:24 +0500

Susan reading a book by the side of the Jeep.

Narrow Road

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 02:22:14 +0500

A road. Goes to Garam Chasma along the river.

Chitral Camp Site

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 02:24:15 +0500

Our campsite next to a river just before Garam Chasma 3 hours north of Chitral.

Omar Family

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 02:27:07 +0500

SO, AO, KO and MO

Sukker Hotel

Sun, 07 Sep 2003 02:29:32 +0500

We arrived at Sukker a day late due to a major breakdown enroute.

Fishing for trout at Maho Dand lake

Mon, 08 Sep 2003 01:51:03 +0500

This is a river fed by glaciers just around the bend. It's one of those spots which you see in pictures of travel magazines.