{"id":40703,"date":"2025-01-22T04:27:33","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T04:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/adventure\/pakistan-5-x-8000m-base-camps\/"},"modified":"2025-01-22T04:27:33","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T04:27:33","slug":"pakistan-5-x-8000m-base-camps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=40703","title":{"rendered":"Pakistan 5 x 8000m Base Camps"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Raw and rugged. Pakistan is a safe and welcoming country. Our goal: trek to the 5 x 8000m mountain base camps in Pakistan.<\/p>\n

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\"Uli\"Uli
Zabardast! (\u201cwonderful\u201d!) \u2013 Uli Biaho (centre) as seen from the Baltoro Glacier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Mules\"Mules
Mules walking up the Baltoro Glacier towards Concordia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s hard to sum up Pakistan. On the one hand, it feels like a crater on the moon \u2013 raw and rugged with a beautiful landscape. On the other, it holds a certain edge to it. Whatever you think, we found the Balti people of Gilgit-Baltistan warm and hospitable. We always felt safe in their company.<\/p>\n

The first thing that strikes you when you see the 8000ers in Pakistan is their beauty \u2013 from the bottom to the top. The Karakoram mountain range is strikingly different to the Himalayan range of Nepal.<\/p>\n

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\"Sunset\"Sunset
Sunset over Paiju Peak and Uli Biaho<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Emma\"Emma
Emma & Trevor at Urdukas camp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Islamabad<\/h2>\n

Islamabad is a purpose-built capital city divided into zones and can be \u2018sterile\u2019.<\/p>\n

Arriving at the modern airport late at night, we were confronted by the locals hustling you for a taxi. Trusting them to take you where you needed to go was an exciting encounter. Having rats in your hotel room was something else. Welcome to Pakistan!<\/p>\n

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\"HillView\"HillView
HillView Hotel, Islamabad<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Sunset\"Sunset
Sunset view from Islamabad Hotel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

However, we did find some great coffee and places to eat and chill out for a few days at either end of our trek.<\/p>\n

The approach<\/h2>\n

In resuming our project to trek to all 14 x 8000m base camps, this was always going to be the \u2018big one\u2019. Tackling all 5 x 8000m base camps in Pakistan \u2013 Broad Peak, K2, Gasherbrum\u2019s I and II, plus Nanga Parbat.<\/p>\n

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\"View\"View
View from Concordia Motel, Skardu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Entry\"Entry
Entry to Concordia Motel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

We flew to Skardu from Islamabad after heading off with 15 other intrepid and adventurous trekkers. Before landing in Skardu, we flew past Nanga Parbat (8,126m), the ninth-highest mountain in the world and with a reputation for being more dangerous than K2. More on that magic mountain later.<\/p>\n

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\"Nanga\"Nanga
Nanga Parbat (photo: Mark Lawson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Our\"Our
Our jeeps in Skardu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Jeep\"Jeep<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Driving from Skardu to Askole, we met up with our porters and mules, along with chickens \u2018Drumstick 1 and 2\u2019 plus two goats. Trekking up the Baltoro glacier with mules allowed us flexibility. The advantage of having mules transport our gear and supplies was that they never went on strike. We observed this had happened to other trekkers and climbers who relied only on porters.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A
A welcome lunch in the shade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Campsite\"Campsite
Campsite on the Baltoro Glacier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

We were very blessed with the weather. The \u2018mountain Gods\u2019 were watching over us. The Balti people treated us like their guests and we were always in safe hands. The food cooked for us was some of the best we\u2019d had previously on any trek. There were no tea houses and somewhat sketchy trails, so we camped in some unique places.<\/p>\n

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Lunch was often alfresco, out in the open, with chairs and a table for comfort. This was much to the envy of other trekkers passing by.<\/p>\n

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\"Lunch\"Lunch
Lunch on the Baltoro Glacier!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Broad Peak Base Camp<\/h2>\n

Heading up the infamous Baltoro glacier, we passed the magnificent Masherbrum and Trango Towers, sighting Broad Peak (8,051m) in the distance and Gasherbrum 4. The 12th highest mountain in the world was just the beginning. We were in awe of its beauty, having stared at it for some four days heading up the Baltoro glacier. Some climbers acclimatise by climbing Broad Peak before heading to K2 \u2013 the \u2018double double\u2019 as they say. But this year was brutal \u2013 warm days with a lot of rock fall and not much snow.<\/p>\n

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\"Broad\"Broad
Broad Peak<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Project\"Project
Project Base8000 at Broad Peak Base Camp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

K2 Base Camp<\/h2>\n

K2 (8,611m), the 2nd highest mountain in the world after Mt Everest (8,848m). The views are much better than Everest! Once you near Concordia and round the corner, \u2018karbang\u2019! There she is \u2013 K2 rising in the distance. You could spend days staring up at her sheer steep face. We did!!<\/p>\n

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\"K2\"\"K2\"
K2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Trekking up the Godwin Austin glacier to K2 base camp from Broad Peak, K2 is a very imposing and steep mountain. More impressive the closer you get.<\/p>\n

Some of the climbers we encountered after successfully summiting remarked, \u201dit was like being on a back of a tiger while someone was shooting at you\u201d. Translated, lots of rock fall!<\/p>\n

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\"Mules\"Mules
Mules in front of K2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

You can understand why K2 gets its reputation and sadly many people lose their lives either summiting or descending. It takes someone exceptional to undertake a climb of this stature \u2013 more so than other 8000ers. Now we can see first-hand why.<\/p>\n

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\"K2\"K2
K2 Base Camp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Project\"Project
Project Base8000 at K2 Base Camp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

The first part of our trek up to Broad Peak and K2 had the group splitting off in all directions once we were back to Concordia. Half of our group headed up and over the Gondogoro La. In contrast, the others trekked back down the Baltoro, retracing their steps. It was sad to say goodbye after having been together for some ten days.<\/p>\n

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\"Concordia\"\"Concordia\"
Concordia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Mitre\"Mitre
Mitre Peak from Concordia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Gasherbrum\u2019s I and II Base Camp<\/h2>\n

After saying our goodbyes and watching the group disappear into the distance, we were alone with our guide and two porters. Such was the silence; you could hear the glacier melting and moving around you.<\/p>\n

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\"Trekking\"Trekking
Trekking to G1\/G2 Base Camp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Trekking\"Trekking
Trekking further up the Baltoro to G1\/G2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

The plan from here was to trek further up the Baltoro and around to the Gasherbrum\u2019s and the climbers\u2019 base camp which is used for both peaks. Gasherbrum I (8,080m) and Gasherbrum II (8,035m) are the world\u2019s 11th and 13th highest mountains respectively. It turned out to be tough going in the snow at altitude, plus picking our way through the glacier.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A
A glimpse of G1 in the background<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Project\"Project
Project Base8000 at G1\/G2 Base Camp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

But we weren\u2019t to be disappointed. There were still some climbers at base camp and after lunch, we retraced our steps back to our campsite and back to Concordia. Summoning up all our strength, the next day, we prepared for our trek back down the Baltoro to Askole.<\/p>\n

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\"Waking\"Waking
Waking up to snow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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\"Snow\"Snow
Snow near the Gasherbrums<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Snow\"Snow
Snow on the way back down<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

Encountering heavy snow, we found the Baltoro glacier had changed quite a bit in the two or so weeks from when we trekked up. We navigated around newly opened crevasses and washed-out bridges. We managed to pick up our jeep earlier than expected, which was a welcome relief. After several washouts and another sketchy river crossing, this time in a basket, we finally reached Askole and back to Skardu.<\/p>\n

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