K2 Base Camp Hike (4x4 Offroaders Club Karachi)

The Karakorum Highway

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 04:36:36 +0500

On the Karakorum Highway enroute to Skardu from Islamabad. This picture is somewhere near Islamabad.

KKH Distance signboard

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 04:50:59 +0500

KKH.]]>

Food stop enroute to Skardu at Sombul Nalla

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 05:22:54 +0500

Restaurants clumped up alongside a river. All the truckers sleep on the roofs of these restaurants overnight. The chai is far too sweet, but the daal and sabzi is kickass!

Tea on the KKH

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 05:27:36 +0500

A typical dhaba that serves chai and food on charpahis..

Our Van

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 05:29:10 +0500

The van in which we went from Isb to Skardu. The flight got canceled (as it always does because of weather), so we decided to go by road. Our van was the fastest on the road: we cut corners on the KKH, overtook every other vehicle in our way (especially when there was a critical blind spot) and tried to run over pedestrians wherever we could..

Indus River from the KKH

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 05:32:13 +0500

One of the advantages of going by road is that you can stop at the many scenic spots along the way.

The Indus Motel in Skardu

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 05:41:50 +0500

Where we stayed at in Skardu.

The board at the Indus Motel

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 05:54:46 +0500

The Indus Motel is one of the major stops on the mountaineering circuit. This is one of the boards there.

Indus River at Skardu

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:32:10 +0500

View of the Indus from Skardu.

Satpara Lake

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:35:09 +0500

On the way to Deosai plains. Our guide Baqir is also a resident of Satpara lake region. There is lots of good trout swimming in this lake and the government has been constructing a damn since 2002. The Chinese company that has the construction contract is paying good money to the labourers and a lot of former porters have started working at the damn site. This is causing a shortage of porters-

Road to Deosai Plains

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:40:45 +0500

The plains are just gorgeous. It is probably the most fertile area in the region. The plains are completely deserted except for the occasional marmot or yak..

Flora on a rock at Deosai

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:42:55 +0500

Bara Pani

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:45:26 +0500

a suspension bridge made from wood and steel. some of the tents are living quarters for the park staff and others are restaurants (dhabas) where you can get chai loaded with sugar.. they also make parathas that remind you of your grandma's cooking..!

Bridge over Bra Pani

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:47:07 +0500

The famous bridge over the Bara Pani. "Bara Pani" translates to "Big Water".

Tea at Deosai

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:49:22 +0500

There is a chai shop in a tent at Bara Pani. It was quite cold, so we were all glad to huddle into the tent near the stove. As usual Khizar looks like he's thinking about something deep, but it is just that he's really concentrating on his chai and food. Let nothing come in the way of Khizar and his food. He's dangerous when he's hungry

Another view of the bridge at Deosai

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:51:37 +0500

This is the famous bridge present in every tourist poster of the Deosai plains.

Marmot at Deosai

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:55:10 +0500

Saw a few Marmots on the Deosai plains. They are amazingly cute!

The amazingly green Deosai plain

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:57:03 +0500

Near Sheosar lake.

Driving through Deosai

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:59:34 +0500

Deosai park sign

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:00:52 +0500

Wildlife of Pakistan.]]>

A polo match at Skardu

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:02:26 +0500

This is really an exciting match between Askardu A & B team. It look likes a settle between these two teams but actually it was a practices match. Some of the players were very brutal against the other players

Trees near Skardu

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:04:26 +0500

Near Polo ground in Skardu.

Main Street Skardu

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:06:19 +0500

Skardu's main road. All the shops are on this road, as is the Indus Motel.

Enroute to Askole from Skardu

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:07:48 +0500

Road to Askole

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:12:03 +0500

The Indus river from Askole road

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:13:12 +0500

Landslide

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:15:35 +0500

A landslide blocking the road to Askole and workers fixing the road so that our jeep can come through..

Drive to Askole

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:17:04 +0500

Our rental CJ-5

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:19:14 +0500

Enroute to Askole from Skardu in a extended CJ-5.

Landslide by the waterfall

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:20:45 +0500

Another landslide here, which just got cleared as we approached it. Saw a funny sight of a guy holding dynamite running and shouting at us to get out of the way. They were also using jackhammers to break up the larger rocks.

By the river enroute to Askole

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:35:07 +0500

Askole - our first camp site

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:41:56 +0500

This is the most pleasant of all the campsites. There are two restaurants and bathroom facilities. The camp is surrounded by mountains, the river runs beneath and there are grasslands and farmlands all around. Really pleasing to the senses.

Askole Campsite

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:44:57 +0500

This is where the walking starts. The jeeps drop you off at Askole village, and just beyond the village in the fields is the campsite. There were 4 other groups camped here with us.

Tent at Askole

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:48:35 +0500

Atif's money belt is full right now

An hour into the hike from Askole

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 16:51:55 +0500

Climb on the way to Jhoola

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 23:58:29 +0500

A lot of the hike consisted of going up and down, up and down.

Hiking

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:00:52 +0500

This picture is taken half an hour before Korophon, which is the resting point between Askole and Jhola (the second camp-site). Munna was carrying about 215kg right now, then his muscles gave way, his back gave way, his enthusiasm gave way and he was reduced to a whiny mess! He proceeded to hand over all his luggage to the porters..

Tea break at Korophon

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:02:13 +0500

The hike from Askole to Concordia is broken up into 9 stages - Korophon is the first stage on the hike. Some groups camp here, but it is now generally a tea/lunch break only. We ate green tea and parathas.

Hiking to Jhoola

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:05:12 +0500

posing for the camera :p

On the trail

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:06:47 +0500

Hiking

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:08:47 +0500

Stopped for a rest and a drink of water. KO claimed it was water, but looked a lot like beer...

Another stop while hiking

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:11:34 +0500

The breaks were frequent on the first two days of the hike! Jhola is around the bend about 3 hours away.

A slippery descent

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:13:36 +0500

This is where walking sticks come in handy

How to walk on slippery slopes

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:14:38 +0500

While we figure out hot to get down this very slippery path, a porter takes the direct shortcut down!

How to walk on slippery slopes part 2

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:17:19 +0500

We go down a lot more carefully! A walking stick really helps on slippery descents. Look at how much luggage the porter is carrying - phew!

Paiju Peak shrouded in clouds

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:20:37 +0500

Paiju Peak

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:22:56 +0500

Paiju marks the fourth stage from Askole, and is the traditional rest day stop for hikers en route to Concordia.

Trail near Paiju

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:26:00 +0500

walking on soft sand is a real bliss.

River crossing near Paiju

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:29:40 +0500

This was a tricky one! You had to jump from one slippery rock to the other, while trying not to fall into the river. Which Asad managed to do (more than once)...

Tree near Paiju

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:31:37 +0500

Mountain tops at Paiju

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:32:40 +0500

Our tents at Paiju

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:35:46 +0500

The Paiju Campsite. We had a rest day, hence the clothes drying on top of the tent after washing. if we were to do this in Karachi, the crows would shit all over our clothes :(

Paiju Campsite

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:38:58 +0500

A view of the Paiju campsite. It's situated on Paiju peak, some distance up from the river.

First view of the Baltoro glacier

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:46:05 +0500

The Baltoro glacier starts (or ends) just after the Paiju campsite.

Khiz trying to climb Paiju peak

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:10:26 +0500

We had a rest day at Paiju, so two us us tried to climb Paiju Peak. We probably made it a couple of thousand meters from the campsite, but were defeated by the slippery rock and the thorns! STOP looking at Khizar's ass

Midway up Paiju Peak

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:16:09 +0500

This is as far as we got. The proper way winds up the mountain and takes 2 days to get to the top.

Mountain near Paiju

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:17:26 +0500

Snowy mountain near Paiju

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:18:17 +0500

Braldu river

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:27:30 +0500

The start of the Braldu river, from the meltwater of the Baltoro glacier.

Moutains at the start of the Baltoro

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:29:57 +0500

Trango towers is visible between them.

The Trango towers

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:32:00 +0500

Trango towers, one of the most difficult and challenging rock climbs in the world. We met a Mexican climber (Carlos) and his Pakistani climber (Ali) at our hotel who had just completed a new route up the Trango.]]>

Resting underneath a big rock

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:42:54 +0500

After falling in the river Asad is now trying to look like a bit of a hero..

Glacier lake

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:44:45 +0500

After Paiju, you walk on the Baltoro glacier the entire way.

View from inside the tent at Liligo

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:46:16 +0500

The story of Liligo: In the 1800s a British lady Lilly hiked this area along with her family and friends. She fell ill here and stayed here with a porter while the rest of her group hiked on. A couple of days later she passed away and the porter chased after the rest of the group screaming "Lilly Go! Lilly Go!". Hence the name Liligo was coined - at least that's what the guide told us.

Liligo Campsite

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:47:32 +0500

We camped overnight at Liligo. This campsite is now abandoned - groups go from Paiju to Khoburtse, or all the way to Urdukas and camp there. The orange tent is of a lone Spanish hiker, who unlike us was carrying 32kg of weight. He had more muscle than bholu pehelwan

Sand NOT ICE

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:53:46 +0500

Heading to Urdukas from Liligo, a sandy patch high up in the mountains. Perfect for playing soccer.

The view approaching Urdukas

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:55:42 +0500

The view approaching Urdukas 2

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:58:32 +0500

A camera just doesn't capture the majestic beauty of the mountains.

Watching the mountains

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:02:33 +0500

and catching a breath.

Rock suspended in the Glacier

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:08:01 +0500

It looked like it was falling, and probably has by now.

Mountain Glacier

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:09:19 +0500

While hiking on the Baltoro, at many points a glacier comes down from a mountain and meets the Baltoro.

On the Baltoro

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:14:13 +0500

On the Baltoro 2

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:37:57 +0500

Glacier, water and Mountains

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:39:38 +0500

Glacier, water and a mountain

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:41:43 +0500

Icy glacier path

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:43:24 +0500

A view of the path. While the Baltoro is mostly covered with rocks and earth, at many places the ice is fully exposed - and very slippery! Also, closer to concordia, the people walking on the path clear up the dirt, exposing the ice and often times turning it into a channel of running water.

Walking on the Baltoro

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:46:16 +0500

On the way to Urdukar.

The Baltoro up close

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:48:46 +0500

This is what you walk on part of the time.

White ice

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:49:59 +0500

One of the few patches with completely exposed ice. This is near Urdukas.

More Glacier

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:51:55 +0500

Crevass

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:53:28 +0500

Big rock balanced on ice

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:55:40 +0500

Close up of the balancing act

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:56:47 +0500

Walking on the Glacier

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:59:31 +0500

GPS

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:01:39 +0500

Picture of our GPS taken just before the Urdukas campsite. Right now at 3,937 metres.

Another river crossing

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:05:08 +0500

Small, but tricky because both sides were incredibly slippery.

Mountains near Urdukas

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:06:56 +0500

Helicopter flying overhead

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:07:45 +0500

Many of the expeditions use helicopters.

Urudukas Campsite

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:09:38 +0500

When you get to Urdukas, you are at the foot of the mountain and the camp-site is half way up the mountain.. Even the donkeys run out of breath climbing up to the camp-site.

Solar panels at Urdukas

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:10:20 +0500

These were set up along with a battery to provide lighting at night to the campsite. Sadly, they were no longer in working order.

Cathedral Peak

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:11:50 +0500

account of a recent ascent of the peak.]]>

The View from Urdukas

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:16:52 +0500

Urdukas campsite from uptop

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:19:57 +0500

Urudukas Campsite upclose

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:22:44 +0500

This is only a part of the campsite, as there are a number of terraces. In this picture the tents of 3 groups are visible, and there was 1 or two more groups camped further up.

Crow flying amidst the mountains

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:26:39 +0500

Heading from Urdukas to Goro I

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:29:17 +0500

Glacier coming down from the mountains

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:30:47 +0500

Jagged peaks

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:32:23 +0500

Near Urdukas.

Shelter from a snowstorm at Goro I

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:34:39 +0500

Waiting for tea and trying to warm up.

Snowstorm from inside our shelter

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:42:04 +0500

Iceberg on the glacier

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:43:06 +0500

It snowed for almost 6 hours, and in the low visibility when this suddenly appeared it looked like a iceberg.

Enroute from Goro I to Goro II

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:44:54 +0500

Arctic landscape

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:46:10 +0500

Arctic landscape 2

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:57:48 +0500

Walking amidst ice in the snowstorm

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:58:45 +0500

It snowed for almost 6 hours today, and yes, it was very cold.

Ice sculpture

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:00:10 +0500

Goro II campsite snowing

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:03:36 +0500

Goro II campsite

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:08:44 +0500

It finally stopped snowing, but visibility remained very poor.

Tent at Concordia

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 16:59:38 +0500

Concordia

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:27:47 +0500

FINALLY we reach Concordia nine days after leaving Askole'

Concordia campsite

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:31:52 +0500

Tent at Concordia in the morning

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:37:29 +0500

The morning dawned bright and clear after a lot of bad weather the previous day.

Asad stydying a map

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:39:14 +0500

Trying to figure out what all the peaks around us were named.

Mashabrum

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:44:30 +0500

Chogori

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:48:19 +0500

Wikipedia entry on K2 for more info.]]>

Peaks around Concordia

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:55:36 +0500

Peaks around Concordia 2

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:56:57 +0500

Peaks around Concordia 3

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:58:14 +0500

View from Concordia

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:01:43 +0500

Heading to Broad Peak base camp from Concordia

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:06:49 +0500

Walking in ice

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:09:53 +0500

Icy landscape

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:12:47 +0500

Somewhere near Concordia.

Mitre Peak

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:15:49 +0500

Starkly beautiful. Height is 6,010 metres (19,718 feet).

Bridge over a Crevass

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:19:13 +0500

Concordia campsite

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:24:01 +0500

K2 from Concordia

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:26:29 +0500

On a clear day, K2 is visible from Concordia.

Broad Peak

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:29:42 +0500

A unknown peak

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:35:25 +0500

Sunlight on Broad Peak

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:42:11 +0500

Golden mountain

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:47:07 +0500

Sunset on Broad Peak

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 23:14:36 +0500

Hiking to K2 base camp from Concordia

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:26:18 +0500

Walking on ice

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:34:31 +0500

On the K2 trail

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:38:46 +0500

Close up view of the K2 trail

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 02:01:14 +0500

There are a lot of loose rocks, and the entire way goes up and down the glacier from Concordia.

Ice fence before K2

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 02:37:00 +0500

Heading to K2

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:43:28 +0500

Helicopter heading back from base camp

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:46:47 +0500

Rest stop enroute to basecamp

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:48:34 +0500

Ice landscape near Broad Peak

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:51:39 +0500

Camps up Broad Peak

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:53:47 +0500

You can see mountaineers climbing up, and a line of multicoloured tents.

Broad peak basecamp at sunrise

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:58:04 +0500

Climbing Broad Peak

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:59:25 +0500

Looking from the base camp, many climbers (besides the ones in this picture) were visible on the mountain.

Ice field at K2

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 23:03:00 +0500

Long line of climbers on Broad Peak

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 23:04:07 +0500

There were 25 or 26 expeditions camped at base camp when we visited, and though over 250 climbers were attempting to summit, most of the expeditions turned back due to bad weather.