BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF EXPLORATION
There is something majestic, there is something awesome about the Karakorum. They are unique range of mountains in more than one respect. They possess the loftiest peaks in the world and that too in the smallest area. Within a radios of 100 miles from the towns of Gilgit and Skardu, there are as many as 100 Peaks, ranging from 18,000 feet to the world’s second highest peak K-2, at 28250 feet. The Karakorum are important for they stand like sentinel at the meeting point of four countries-the China, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the USSR. The USSR does not actually touch Pakistan, its border is so near, across a bulge of Afghanistan but it can be seen by the naked eye from one of the Peaks in Batura group. The Karakorum have held a great attraction for mountaineers, as their peaks are singularly challenging and enthralling in their rugged beauty and stark majestic.

K-2 (CHOGORI)
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.

K-2 CONCORDIA TREK:
Climbing Expedition period ….. 60- 90 days.    (Starting from 15^th June to 15^th September)
Trekking period …… 21 - 22 days.                  (The best season starts from June to September )

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CONCORDIA K-2 WITH GHONDOGORO - LA:
ISLAMABAD TO ISLAMABAD ( TOTAL DAYS 24)

In 1968 a trekking route was established that connects the Baltoro Glacier to the Hushe Valley over a pass called the Ghondogoro La (5600 m,) Since then the challenging pass has attracted the trackers and climbers alike.This route enables you to avoid retracing your step down the Baltoro Glacier and the pass is one of the most overwhelming mountain panoramas any where in the world, with four of the five 80000 m. peaks of Pakistan closed at hand. Ghondogoro La though popular with trackers, involves 4^th class climbing. The north side 50 degree snow slope where three pitches must be fixed.

The south side is a continuous 50 degree slope where up to 300 m of rope must be fixed. This high technical pass requires good judgement, commitment, fitness, prior acclimatisation, and basic mountaineering skills of all members of a trekking party. In addition to proper equipment, wearing halmet is prudent Parties cross both the directions. The south side of Ghondogoro La is extremely long, with avalanche and rock -fall danger once the sun softens the snow. Therefore, parties must on the top of the Ghondogoro La at sun rise to avoid these dangers.

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HUSHE VALLEY / MASHERBRUM WITH GONDOGORO PEAK
(TOTAL DAYS 20)

The beautiful Hushe Valley is situated in the District of Khaplu 103 kms. away from Skardu the central city of Baltistan. Khaplu has many valleys i.e. Saltoro, Kondus Siachen, but the Hushe valley is the most beautiful. There is a carved wooden and old beautiful mosque named Chakh Chang supposedly the oldest mosque in Baltistan. The valley runs from Masherbrum Mountain ( 7,821 m ), the 24^th highest peak in the world. The beautiful peak of the world the Liala Peak stands here near Masherbrum Mountain.

 

GONDOGORO PEAK
The Ghondogoro peak is a comparatively easy climb of six to eight hours up and three hours down. No. permit is needed, but it is recommended only for those with some climbing experience, as crampons and ice axes are essential.

Set off at 1 am in order to back before 10 am. When the snow gets too soft. From the top are views of Masherbrum, Gasherbrum 1 ( Hidden Peak ), Chogolisa, part of Broad Peak, Mitre Peak and Gasherbrum IV.

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BIAFO GLACIER OVER HISPER PASS TO NAGER AND HUNZA
(TOTAL DAYS 24)

It connects Baltistan to Nagar and Hunza valleys by crossing the Hispar Pass . During this trek you can see the incredible expanse of ice and rock known as Snow Lake. The views across this area are unbelievable with a sea of whiteness stretching into a long distance, surrounded by the jagged peaks of the central Karakorum. It is suitable and best spot for skiing the suitable season is March and April. You will have to adapted the same route up to Askole as usually used for Concordia K-2 trek.

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SHIMSHAL - GUJRAB - KUKSEL TREK SHIMSHAL

The 60 km trek from PASSU to Shimshal village follows the polished sandstone of the Shimshal River gorge due east from the Hunza River. Shimshal is the oldest of the Wakhi-speaking villages in Gojal. Established over 400 years ago, the 1200 residents maintain customs no longer practised in other villages. Their large herds of yaks, sheep, and goats roam the high rolling summer grasslands of the Pamir, on the divide between South Asia and Central Asia. They also have large herds in Ghujerab and Lupgar. In the centuries prior to 1947, when the Hunza Mir's ruled Gojal, the Mir occasionally punished Hunza men to remote Shimshal. The notorious Hunza raids on the Leh- Yarkand carvan route were conducted from the Shimshal Pamir. Shimshal was closed to outsiders until 1986. Since then, only handfuls of foreigners have made the trek each year. Shimshal high pastures are right in the middle of the Khunjerab National Park (KNP). The KNP has been a bone of contention between Shimshal and the government since its establishment in 1975. Some Shimshalis view it as an opportunities for economic development; others view it as a vehicle through which the government could seize control of the Pamir and so threaten Shimshallis survival. The government has agreed to leave the Shimshal area out of the KNP management jurisdiction until the Shimshalis agree to accept the park. You can make short side treks to the pastures along the Lupgar or Momhil glaciers. Beyond Shimshal Village, you can trek to pastures areas along the Yazghil, Khurdopin and Virjerab glaciers. The heavily crevassed East Khurdopin Glacier leads to the difficult Khurdopin Pass and snow lake. You need a guide to show you the way across the Yazghil Glacier and beyond Shimshal Village is the starting point for longer treks to the Pamir and Ghujerab.

SHIMSHAL VALLEY AND CHAPCHINGOL PASS

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RUSH LAKE / RUSH PEAK TREK

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MINAPIN (NAGAR) AND BATURA (Hunza) TREK
(21 DAYS)

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