Adventure Life In Kingdom of Hunza

Gondogoro La 5620m

2010-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

In 1986, a treking route was established that connects the Baltoro Glacier to Hushe Valley over a pass called gondogoro la 5620m. Since then, this challanging pass has attracted trekkers and climbers alike. However, the popularity of this trek is also an accurate reflection of its attractions.

This is along the BRALDU River then into Baltoro Glacier is a long and extremely demanding one. The reward as the other hand is spectacular, taking you right into the heart of Karakuram maountain at concordia, then K-2 Base Camp.On the top it offers beautiful view of the K-2 8611m, Broad Peak8048m, Choglisa 7660m, upper Baltoro region,Laila peak,Bassu Peak, Manzil Peak etc. mostly all above 7000m high peaks of Shigar and Hushe Valley. The north side is 45o degrees snow slope and south is also continuous 45o degrees slope where rope must be fixed. This high technical pass requires good physical fitness, judgment prior acclimatization and basic mountaineering skill for all members of trekking party.The thrills of gondogoro la trekk starts from ali camp,at night 2am everyone prepares him/her self for climbing accross the exciting La..on the top of gondogoro la you can enjoy the views of well-known peaks around you.You will feel a bit crazy for the natural beauty om gondogoro la.This la really catch more people come again and again...just visit for once you will never forget it...that will be an everlasting trekk of your life.You will enjoy the best of it.What a scene appears when all the tourists and porters starts walking on the gondogoro la glacier with lamps on their heads or torch in their hands,it seems like some people are searching for something in a vast white coloured plain.

Tirich Mir Peak 7708m(Hindukush Range)

2010-01-28T14:05:00.000-08:00

History
Tirich Mir is the highest mountain in the Hindu Kush region.Traditional route to the peak passes through Chitral - Reshun - Kuragh - Khosht - Drassan - Zani pass - Shagram and Shaikh Naik. After a two-hour jeep drive on Chitral-Mastuj road one has to take a direct route from Perpish to Barum village and then through the glacier of the same name (Barum) to the peak. This route is, however, recommended for those who have already acclimatized themselves with high-altitude-climbing; otherwise there is a great danger of high altitude sickness.

Tirich Mir like Rakaposhi and Nanga Parbat to the east, is known for being the home of 'Peris' called "fairies" in english. The Tirich valley parallels the Turikho Valley and is separated from it by a 15 mile-long flat-topped ridge which averages about 12,500 feet in elevation. The ideal way to reach this ridge, for its unsurpassed views of the high peaks in the Hindu Kush, is to climb Zani An (12,500). Zani An is situated between Shagram and a mile higher than Drasan, thus it is most easily approached from the Tirich valley, because the climb is 2,000 feet less from this side.The ridgetop in both directions from the pass is quite level, inviting you to stroll along it and view the spectacular Hindu Kush peaks from Tirich Mir to Saraghrar and north.

Tirich Main peak (7,708m/25,288ft) was climbed for the first time in 1950 by a Norwegian expedition which was lead by Arne Naess. The other members of the expedition included P. Kvern berg and H. Berg. The expedition was also accompanied by Professor Hameed Beg of the Karakoram Club (Pakistan) who reached an altitude of over 6,096m/20,000ft quite a feat in those times. Captain Tony Streather of Chitral Scouts tagged alongwith the expedition from Drosh and eventually climbed Tirich Mir.

The first major attempt by Pakistanis was the Karakoram Club's expedition to Tirich Mir in 1951. The expedition was led by Mian Abdul Rauf and consisted of Daud Beg, Arshad Munir and Captain Shaukat Malik. It set up three advance camps and reached 6,553m/21,500ft before abandoning the attempt due to shortage of supplies.

It was in 1982 that a German by the name of Fritz Stammberger tried to climb, all alone, a subsidiary peak of Tirich Mir (7,701 m/25,267ft). He could go up to (6,096/20,000ft) when he was hit by an avalanche and sustained minor head and face injuries. Upon returning to base camp he met an American expedition of Knauth, Peter Newell and Dr. Bill Bartlett from whom he received medical treatment. Tirich Mir (E):- It has a height of 7,692m/25,236ft and was climbed in 1964 by a Norwegian expedition which was again led by Arne Naess, who had headed the successful 1950 Tirich Mir (Main) expedition. Two members, R. Hoibakk and A. Opdal, reached top of Tirich Mir (E). Tirich Mir (West II):- It is about 7,500m/24,607ft high, and was climbed in 1974 by Beppe Re and Guido Machetto of an Italian expedition. After establishing base camp, the party set up two additional camps. In order to acclimatize itself with high altitude climbing, the party also climbed an already-climbed Dirgol Zom peak.

Shandur Polo-Pakistan

2010-01-23T13:29:00.000-08:00

The remote wind-swept amphitheater of the Shandur Pass, located on the lofty border between Gilgit and Chitral, comes to life once a year as the dramatic venue of the Shandur Polo Festival held during the first week of July.

At 3738m, this is the world's highest polo field, set in a magnificent landscape of rolling pastures, crystalline azure lakes & Hindu-Raj Mountains; it is just the setting for the clash of the local polo titans, Chitral and Gilgit. This contest is considered the toughest polo tournament in the world - with fraying tempers and passions running high, the strain of the high altitude and the ferocity of the game creates a drama in which horses die and players invariably suffer grievous injuries. Yet despite the hazards, the polo tradition continues unabated.

History

This game goes back many centuries when the local, Mirs and Rajas were patrons of polo and it was played, not only for pleasure, but for celebratory and commemorative occasions. The Mirs and Raja’s and Mehtar of Chitral would send a message to their relatives the Rajas of Ghizar , Yasin and Ishkuman and would travel far down the valleys to Punial Gilgit and Chilas where the challenge would be taken up. But despite being dubbed 'the game of kings', in the Northern Areas, it is not an elitist sport, often played in village square on sorry nags or even on bicycles. " It is the local obsession along with music & dancing on Shandur. In recent years, the event has become something of a legend - the dramatic landscape, the local colour, the presence of international celebrities but above all the passion with which the game is played by the age-old rivals, make the Shandur Polo Festival an unforgettable occasion. A large tented village and bazaar is set up with thousands of people camping out.

The British Resident at the time, Col Evelyn Hey Cobb, a keen polo player himself, came up with the idea of holding the tournament in the Shandur Pass, approximately 11,000ft above sea level between Gilgit region and Chitral. Every 2nd week of July this fascinating tournament take place and people from all over Pakistan rushing to watch this mountain grandeur festival. Originally this idea was developed by a British Col Cobb who was interested to play polo in the full moon light as he thought on the pass the moon is so closed to earth.

Biafo Hispar Trekk.

2010-01-23T12:59:00.000-08:00

The Biafo Glacier is a 63 km long glacier in the Karakoram Mountains of the Northern Areas, Pakistan which meets the 49 km long Hispar Glacier at an altitude of 5,128 m (16,824 feet) at Hispar La (Pass) to create the world's longest glacial system outside the polar regions. This highway of ice connects two ancient mountain kingdoms, Nagar (immediately south of Hunza) in the west with Baltistan in the east. The traverse uses 51 of the Biafo Glacier's 63 km and all of the Hispar Glacier to form a 100 km glacial route.

The Biafo Glacier presents a trekker[1] with several days of very strenuous, often hectic boulder hopping, with spectacular views throughout and Snow Lake near the high point. Snow Lake, consisting of parts of the upper Biafo Glacier and its tributary glacier Sim Gang, is one of the world's largest basins of snow or ice in the world outside of the polar regions, up to 1,600 m (one mile) in depth.
The Biafo Glacier is the world's third longest glacier outside of the polar regions, second only to the 70 km Siachen Glacier disputed between Pakistan and India and Tajikistan's 77 km long Fedchenko Glacier.
Campsites along the Biafo are located off of the glacier, adjacent to the lateral moraines and steep mountainsides. The first three (heading up from the last village before the glacier, the thousand-year-old Askole village) are beautiful sites with flowing water nearby. Mango and Namla, the first two campsites, are often covered in flowers and Namla has an amazing waterfall very near the camping area. Baintha, the third camp site, is often used as a rest day. A large green meadow, it has a few running streams near the camp and many places to spend the day rock climbing or rappelling.
Evidence of wildlife can be seen throughout the trek. The Ibex and the Markhor Mountain Goat can be found and the area is famous for brown bears and snow leopards, although sightings are rare.It will be an everlasting trekk in your life.

Historical Forts In Pakistan

2010-01-22T14:40:00.000-08:00

Historical Background of Baltit Fort-Hunza

In olden times a number of small independent states existed in the history of Northern Areas of Pakistan. Among them Hunza and Nager were the traditional rival states, situated on opposite sides of the Hunza (kanjut) river. The rulers of these two states, known as Thámo / Mirs (Thάm=S), built various strongholds to express their power.

The Hunza rulers initially resided in the Altit Fort, but later as a result of a conflict between the two sons of the ruler Sultan, Shah Abbas (Shάboos) and Ali Khan (Aliqhάn), Shaboos shifted to the Baltit Fort, making it the capital seat of Hunza. The power struggle between the two brothers eventually resulted in the death of younger one, and so Baltit Fort further established itself as the prime seat of power in the Hunza state.

The rich beauty of Baltit Fort can be traced to over seven hundred 700 years ago. Ayasho II, Tham / Mir of Hunza in the early 15th fifteenth century married Princess Shah Khatoon (Sha Qhatun) from Baltistan (In Moghul history Baltistan is called Tibet Khurd mean, little Tibet), and was the first to modify the face of Altit and, subsequently Baltit Fort. Baltistan meaning land of Balti people had a very strong cultural and ethnical relation with the Ladakh territory of India then. Consequently, the structure of Baltit Fort was influenced by the Ladakhi / Tibetan architecture, with some resemblance to the Potala palace in Lahasa. Then additions, renovations and changes to the building were being made through the centuries by the long line of rulers of the Hunza that followed.

A veritable treasure house for ancient forts, the Northern Areas of Pakistan lost most of its glorious built heritage around the 19th century as a result of the destructive attacks by the Maharja of Kashmir.

However, in this regard people of Hunza were exceptionally fortunate to successfully defend against the invasions of Maharaja Kashmir four times.

One of the biggest changes in the structure of Baltit Fort came with the invasion of British in December 1891. Tham / Mir Safdarali Khan, ruler of Hunza his wazir Dadu (Thara Baig III), fled to Kashgar (China) for political asylum with their fellows and families. With the conquest of Hunza and Nager states by the British forces in December 1891, the fortified wall and watch towers of the old Baltit village and watch towers of the Baltit Fort on its north-western end were also demolished as desired by the British authorities.

The British installed his younger brother Tham / Mir Sir Muhammad Nazim Khan K.C.I.E, as the ruler of Hunza state in September 1892 {Ref: History of Northern Areas of Pakistan by Prof. A.H.Dani, Page:285 Pub: Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore Pakistan www.sang-e-meel.com, Reprinted: 2007}.

During his reign, Tham / Mir Nazeem Khan made several major alterations to the Baltit Fort. He demolished a number of rooms of third floor and added a few rooms in the British colonial style on the front elevation, using lime wash and colour glass panel windows.Baltit Fort remained officially inhabited until 1945, when the last ruler of Hunza, Mir Muhammad Jmamal Khan, moved to a new palace further down the hill, where the present Mir of Hunza Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan (Current Chief Executive of Northern Areas) and his family are residing.

With no proper authority entrusted to care for it, the Fort was exposed to the ravages of time and over the years its structure weakened and began to deteriorate. His Highness Aga Khan IV initiated the restoration efforts for Baltit Fort in 1990, when Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan the son of last ruler of Hunza, Tham / Mir Muhammad Jamal Khan and his family generously donated the Fort to the Baltit Heritage Trust, a public charity formed for the explicit purpose of owning and maintaining the Fort.

Restoration of Baltit Fort

The restoration undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Geneva in association with the Aga Khan Cultural Service Pakistan (Pakistan), took six years to complete.

The project was supported by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture as the main donor through its Historic Cities Support Programme, as well as by the Getty Grant Program (USA), NORAD (Norway) and the French Government. The restored Fort, resplendent in its regal glory was inaugurated on September 29, 1996 in the presence of His Highness the Aga Khan IV and the president of Pakistan Farooq Ahmad Khan Laghari. It is now operated and maintained by the Baltit Heritage Trust and is open to visitors. Preservation at its best, the Baltit Fort serves as a perfect example of culture restored and preserved for the future generations of the mountain people.

History of Altit Fort Hunza

Introduction :

The majestic historical Altit fort is center of attraction due to its architectural design and strategic location. Altit is one of the oldest settlements of Hunza valley. During the time when Hunza was under the central government of Gilgit principality, Altit served as the capital and sitting place of Hunza. Altit is the birth place of the HunzaKingdom and Altit fort is the first fort of the region. During early period of former Hunza state Altit was the capital. The artisans from Baltistan who accompanied the wife of Mir Ayasho II constructed this fort during 1540s A.D.The fort has been constructed in six different stages by using various natural levels of the rock. The construction has been made right on the edge of a sheer rock cliff that drops 1000 feet straight down to the Hunza River.

Restoration :

In the beginning it was built as a palace, soon after the addition of the watch tower a defensive architectural element it transformed to a fort. There is great possibility that different stages of the fort have been constructed during different times because the actual age of the fort is said to be more than 800 years. However, the date of construction on the fort tower is written as 955 A.H/1548 A.D thus the age is calculated as 458 years. This fort is said to be around 50-100 years older than the Baltit Fort. When the state capital transferred to Altit it remained vacant and occasionally used as a guest house. The fort was in disposal of Raja Amin Khan who donated it to Aga Khan Cultural Services, Pakistan (AKCSP) in 2001. AKCSP after some emergency repairs is now working to preserve this historical heritage.

Architecture View :

"The fort is sited on a two rocks; the eastern rock is higher as compared to the western rock. The fort has been constructed in six different stages by using the various natural levels of the rock. The first level is located before the western side edge of the rock, which is containing a two floor building built in the first stage of the construction.The second level, contains a single floor building which was also constructed in the first stage of construction. These were built over 800 years ago. A three floor watch tower was constructed during the second and third stages of construction while the storage space was constructed during the third stage of construction. The mosque was constructed during the fourth stage of construction. A grain storage was constructed during the fifth stage of construction. In the sixth stage of construction the guest rooms were constructed after removing the grain storage located on the eastern side of the rock. Narrow corridors are used for accessing the construction at lower levels, while the mosque the storage area and the guest rooms can be easily accessed from the watch tower.

Bird Eye View of Altit Fort

The Main entrance faces Ulter and opens into the ground floor narrow dark corridor which leads to a space with two small storage spaces inside it located on the east and western side. The main space contains a rectangular structure which physically seems a supporting structure made of rubble stone and cribbage frames has a story related to it. The story is of a prince who has been buried in standing position inside the structure; he was killed by his father after believing of his son's involvement in a plan against his kingdom. The ground floor corridor further leads westward to a stair made of rubble stone masonry which connects it to the first floor. The first floor contains the royal kitchen which has the richest carving patterns on the column and the capitals. This kitchen used to be full of activities during the cooking of food for the agricultural festivals.

On the eastern side of the Royal Kitchen there is a lobby with a skylight containing the main door of the corridor which is laid out north south. The space located at the northern edge of the corridor is the royal room which is a traditional house with the spaces for sleeping, sitting, cooking, and two small storage spaces, a toilet and storage space on the south side of the room. The space at the south edge is the Royal Rani's (Queen) Room, this has a fire place in the north wall and it has the traditional roof structure with the rotated square. From the north edge of the corridor further is the corridor which is laid out east west ward leads to stairs made of rubble stone masonry.

After climbing these stairs there is the three floor watch tower constructed. The storage space is located at the south side of the tower and it is located at the higher level of the rock. The mosque, the royal throne and the guest rooms are at the north side of the watch tower with a minor level difference. Structurally the watch tower is rich in features containing cribbage work and mud brick infill, with windows looking in all directions. The royal throne is placed in front of the mosque on the eastern side with a panoramic view of the Altit settlement."
The fort is being restored by the Historic Cities Support Programme.

Royal Fort- Lahore

Although most parts of the Royal Fort were constructed around 1566 A.D. by the Mughal Emperor, Akbar the Great, there is evidence that a mud fort was in existence here in 1021 A.D. as well, when Mahmood of Ghazna invaded this area. Akbar demolished the old mud fort and constructed most of the modern Fort, as we see it today, on the old foundations.

The Royal Fort is rectangular. The main gates are located alongside the centre of the western and eastern walls. Every succeeding Mughal Emperor as well as the Sikhs, and the British in their turn, added a pavilion, palace or wall to the Fort. Emperor Jehangir extended the gardens and constructed the palaces that we see today in the Jehangir’s Quadrangle, while Shah-Jehan added Diwan-e-Khas, Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) and his own Sleeping Chambers. Aurangzeb built the impressive main gate which faces the Hazoori Bagh lying in between the Badshahi Mosque and the Fort. The Famous Sheesh Mahal or Palace of Mirrors is in the north-east corner of the Fort. This is the most beautiful palace in the Fort and is decorated with small mirrors of different colours set.

The part of the wall of the Elephant Steps towards the Fort’s inner gate are scarred by bullet marks, bearing testimony to the Sikh Civil War of 1847 A.D.

Derawar Fort Bahawalpur

One of the oldest forts in this part of the former British India Empire, the Derawar Fort history goes back to almost 800 years (this age is disputed though).

The imposing stucture is situated on the edge Cholistan desert on the top of the ruins of ancient Harappan civilization. It has been the ancestral seat of the rulers of Bahawalpur for decades. The present building was built by Abbasi family or the Nawabs in 1733. Its walls are 30m high and there are 40 bastions, 10 on each side. The front area is guarded by a huge defensive tower at the main entrance. The boundaries were constructed from gypsum blocks transported from Uch some 65 kilometers away. The walls are built in mud tiles plastered and fresco painted.

The lofty and rolling battlements made of thin red bricks, ten on each side of the fort are visible from miles around. There are two old vintage guns mounted on pedestals in the dusty courtyard of the Fort.

The buildings inside include the Harem, Subedar's quarters, arsenal and a mosque. There is also a multi-roomed subterranean summer rest house of Nawabs called Sard Khana. The remains of a watchtower, a prison, the granary, a guard house and some 100 inaccessible tunnels and the rumored subterranean chambers with buried treasures of the former rulers.

The once gaily painted rest house or baradari on top of the north-eastern bastion still flies high the flag of the former ruling family of the former Bahawalpur State as a symbol of their authority over the area.

However the fort nowadays is in very perilous condition mainly due to ravages of time and partially due to the negligence of authorities. There are huge ditches in and around the main boundary wall and the gates. Most of buildings have developed huge cracks. The underground cells and wooden structure is now infested with bats and being destroyed by termites. The day doesn’t seem to far away when the whole structure may crumble in one giant sand dune.

History of Shigar Fort

The original Shigar Fort Palace (known as Fong-Khar, which in the local Balti language means, "Palace on the Rock"), was built by Hassan Khan, the 20th ruler of the Amacha Dynasty, in the early 17th century. The Amacha family claims to have ruled Shigar for thirty-three generations, with origins in the "Hamacha" tribe of Ganish, Hunza. When the Hamacha tribe was massacred in Hunza, a few of its members managed to flee to Shigar across the Hispar glacial pass, where they gained power and were recognized as the Amacha Dynasty in the 13th century.

Fong-Khar is the last remaining structure associated with the ruling Amacha family. The oldest of them was Khar-e-Dong, the fort whose ruins can still be seen high up on the cliffs overlooking the present site. It is thought that Khar-e-Dong was captured and destroyed by Mughal forces sent by Shah Jehan, in aid of Hassan Khan to regain his throne which was lost to marauding invaders. In all probability, the destruction of Khar-e-Dong necessitated the construction of the present Fong-Khar.

Hassan Khan brought a variety of artisans, gold smiths, carpenters, stone carvers, and textile weavers from Kashmir to Shigar to build his Fort-Palace. This resulted in a blend of Kashmiri-influenced carving and details with local Balti architecture, one of the unique features which make Fong-Khar a significant historical and architectural treasure.

The Fort-Palace is situated in a powerful natural setting, full of dramatic contrasts. The raw natural quality of this scenery, softened by human settlement that began at least two millennia ago, offers strong contrasts between rocky cliffs and cultivated terraces, as well as between the continuous thunder of the rushing river and the quiet spaces within the garden-site and buildings themselves. The steep rocky escarpment forming the background of the palace, the stream passing in front of the complex, and many of the irrigation channels meandering through a well-preserved and authentic settlement, all account for the unique charm of the site.

Architectural Significance

The Old Fort-Palace

The original Fong-Khar was founded on top of a platform which rises 5m from the ground and partly surrounds a gigantic cone-shaped rock (thus, the origins of the name, Fong-Khar, or "Palace on the Rock"). Although the Old Fort-Palace as it is now restored appears to be one structure, upon closer examination, it is actually a collection of three separate buildings, built adjacent to each other in different times and with different engineering and workmanship. During the restoration of the site, these three structures were identified as Modules I, II, and III.

Module I represents the oldest part of the original structure estimated at 400 years old. It can easily be interpreted as a single, clearly conceived and executed structure, with a distinct and noble architectural expression. Original usage of this structure can be identified through its sequence of rooms including entrance hall, grand audience hall, retiring rooms for the ruler, and kitchen.

Module II is estimated to have been constructed approximately 100 years after the original Fong-Khar, with Module III following another 150 years later. Both Modules II and III were comprised of residential rooms for the royal family, some more elaborate than others.

Old House

The building to the south of the Old Fort-Palace is now known as Old House. Its lower floor had accommodated a horse stable, a cattle pen, and storage for animal feed. It appears to have existed as the royal stable for as long as Fong-Khar itself. The upper floor of this structure was added much later by the raja as new residential accommodation when the Old Fort-Palace was abandoned in the middle of the 20th century.

Amacha Garden and Baridari

It is not known when this decorative square pool - the central feature of the garden - was built, or what its initial appearance was like. Early in the 20th century, a pavilion was built on the central platform of the pool by Raja Muhammad Adam Khan, the father of the present Raja Muhammad Ali Saba. At the time of the takeover of the site by the conservation team, exquisitely carved marble bases that would have supported free-standing and attached columns could still be found on the central platform. The artistic quality of these marble bases approaches the perfection of Kashmiri buildings of the high Mughal style. Knowing that nothing of a quality approaching that of these column bases was built anywhere else in Shigar at the time the pavilion was built in the early 20th century, one can deduce that the column bases have a provenance in an earlier building.

The Raja's Mosque

The Raja's public mosque is a handsome and ornate building adjacent to the entrance to the complex and is of significant antiquity and artistic value. It is similar in form and ornament to other mosques in the Shigar area: a single four-bayed room with a central column support and a veranda on the eastern side.

The Vision for Shigar Fort Residence

In 1999, Fong-Khar was bequeathed to the people of Baltistan by Raja Sahib Mohammad Ali Shah Saba of Shigar and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) was entrusted with its restoration. In a painstaking process lasting over five years at a cost of approximately $1.4 million USD, the entire site was brought back to life following a careful strategy of adaptive re-use and restoration. This strategy would form the foundation for the three-fold mandate of Shigar Fort Residence: Preservation of Cultural Heritage, Socially Responsible Tourism and Economic Development, and Self-Sustaining Operations.

Preservation of Cultural Heritage

One of the most important considerations in the entrustment of Fong-Khar to AKTC for restoration was that the project remain true to the original character and architecture of the buildings as much as possible. Much care was taken to identify original use, to adhere to that use or adopt a new use compatible with the original use so that there was minimal impact on the cultural significance of the building.

Socially Responsible Tourism and Economic Development

The project provided a perfect opportunity to act as a catalyst for comprehensive improvement of the local economy, by generating direct and indirect employment opportunities. Situated in the immediate proximity of a poor and unskilled village population, it was thought that the Shigar Fort Residence project could raise the quality of life in the villages surrounding it, and boost economic enterprises in the bazaar area. This process was to be accompanied by a proactive village upgrading and rehabilitation programme in which micro-finance played an important role.

The idea of promoting a new type of environmentally conscious cultural tourism was decisive for the reuse design of Shigar Fort, both in terms of providing new opportunities to local residents and of ensuring financial self-sustainability for the restored building. With little existing commerce related to tourism, and the resulting lack of pressures on land, the Shigar context was relatively untouched by any major conflict between heritage and development. It was consequently possible to put in place mechanisms linked to social and economic development for appropriate management of cultural, scenic and environmental resources prior to the onset of the pressures of tourism. The establishment of a wide-ranging local institutional base before the commencement of tourism promotion programmes in the region was a part of this strategy.

Self-Sustaining Operations

The reuse concept for Shigar Fort Residence strikes a balance between, on the one hand, a museal site and, on the other, a very special resort-type guest house offering the unique experience of authentic guest rooms in a historic palace. The ongoing operations of Shigar Fort Residence strive towards long-term self-sustainability providing continuing economic and tourism development for the entire Shigar Valley.

Adventure Life In Pakistan Pictures Slide

2010-01-22T13:35:00.001-08:00

Karakorum Highway

2010-01-07T15:38:00.000-08:00

The Karakoram Highway, also known as the Friendship Highway in China, was built by the governments of Pakistan and China,its construction work was sstarted in 1966 and was completed in 1978, after 12years of construction. 810 Pakistani and 82 Chinese workers lost their lives,[1] mostly in landslides and falls, while building the highway. The route of the KKH traces one of the many paths of the ancient Silk Road.

On the Pakistani side, the road was constructed by FWO (Frontier Works Organization), employing the Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers. Presently, the Engineer-in-Chief branch of the Pakistani Army is working on a project documenting the history of the highway. It is being written by Brigadier (Retired) Muhammad Mumtaz Khalid, who oversaw its construction.

The Highway

The highway, connecting Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan to the ancient Silk Road, runs approximately 1,300 km from Kashgar, a city in the Xinjiang region of China, to Islamabad, located in the Chilas Distric of Pakistan. An extension of the highway meets the Grand Trunk Road at Hassanabdal, near Islamabad, Pakistan.

The highway cuts through the collision zone between the Eurasian and Indian plates, where China, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan come within 250 km of each other. Owing largely to the extremely sensitive state of the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan, the Karakoram highway has strategic and military importance.

On June 30, 2006, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Pakistani Highway Administration and China's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) to rebuild and upgrade the Karakoram Highway. According to SASAC, the width of the highway will be expanded from 10 metres to 30 metres, and its transport capacity will be increased three times. As well, the upgraded road will be constructed to particularly accommodate heavy-laden vehicles and extreme weather conditions.

China and Pakistan are also planning to link the Karakoram Highway to the southern port of Gwadar in Balochistan through the Chinese-aided Gwadar-Dalbandin railway, which extends up to Rawalpindi.

Tourism

In recent years, the highway has become a destination for adventure tourism. It was ranked as the 3rd best Tourist Destination in Pakistan by The Guardian.[2] road has also given mountaineers and cyclists easier access to the many high mountains, glaciers and lakes in the area. The highway also provides access to Gilgit and Skardu from Islamabad by road. These are the two major hubs for mountaineering expeditions in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan administered Kashmir.[3] The Gilgit-Baltistan Administration of Pakistan and the Xinjiang Administration of China have signed an agreement to issue border passes to their permanent residents. This pass is valid for a calendar year and is used to travel through Khunjerab Pass only.

Traveling

There are several transport companies in Pakistan that offer bus service between major towns of the highway, and from Rawalpindi and Lahore. The largest company is Northern Areas Transport Corporation (NATCO). Other companies are Masherbrum Travel and Silk Route Travel.

Bus service between Gilgit and Kashghar

On June 1, 2006, a daily bus service began between Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistani Kashmir and Kashghar, Xinjiang, through the Sust and Tashkorgan border area.

Weather

The KKH is best traveled in the spring or early autumn. Heavy snow during harsh winters can shut the highway down for extended periods. Heavy monsoon rains, around July and August, cause occasional landslides that can block the road for hours or more. The border crossing between China and Pakistan at Khunjerab Pass is open only between May 1 and December 31 of every year.

Chogolisa Peak 7665m

2010-01-07T15:24:00.000-08:00

Chogolisa (or Bride Peak) is a mountain in the Karakoram region of Pakistan. It lies near the Baltoro Glacier in the Concordia region which is home to some of the highest peaks of the world. Chogolisa has several peaks, the highest on the SW face (Chogolisa I) rises to 7,665 metres (25,148 ft). The second highest at 7,654 metres on the NE side (Chogolisa II) is the one named Bride Peak by Martin Conway in 1892.

In 1909, a party led by Duke of the Abruzzi reached 7,498m from a base camp located on the northern side and a high camp on the Chogolisa saddle at 6,335m. Bad weather stopped the party from ascending further, but their climb established a world altitude record.[1]

Hermann Buhl and Kurt Diemberger attempted Chogolisa in 1957 after they had successfully summitted Broad Peak behind Marcus Schmuck and Fritz Wintersteller a few weeks earlier. On June 25 they left camp I and camped in a saddle at 6,706m on the SW ridge. Bad weather forced them to retreat and on June 27, Buhl fell through a cornice and disappeared. His body has never been found.[1]

In 1958, a Japanese expedition from Kyoto University led by T. Kawabara made the first ascent of Chogolisa II, placing M. Fujihira and K. Hirai on top.[1]

The first ascent of Chogolisa I was made on August 2, 1975 by Fred Pressl and Gustav Ammerer of an Austrian expedition led by Eduard Koblmuller. Koblmuller almost suffered the same fate as Buhl, as he also fell through a cornice on the ascent; fortunately, he was roped and team members were able to pull him to safety.It is one of the most beautiful mountain in the world covered with snow every year.

Shishper Peak 7611m

2010-01-07T15:16:00.000-08:00

Peak Shishper

Elevation 7611

Range Karakurum

Zone Open

Duration 50 days

Best Season May to 15 september

Shispar Peak is one of the high peaks of the Batura Muztagh, which is the westernmost subrange of the Karakoram range. Its height is 7,611m/24,970ft.

Shispar lies east of the Batura Wall, which is the highest part of the Batura Muztagh. The Hunza River curves around the southwest, west, and northwest sides of the Batura Muztagh, and Shispare towers above the western bank of the river. In turn, the Hunza Valley lies in the Gilgit District of the Northern Areas of Pakistan.

In May 1925, a strong survey-exploratory party of Dr. P.C. Visser reached Gilgit via Astore and established its camp at Passu in early June and surveyed two-third of Passu glacier. The party then went to Shimshal and returned to Passu via Karun Pir for exploring Batura glacier.

However, in 1974 that a 16 member Polish-German mountaineering expedition, under the leadership of Janusz Kurczab, climbed the peak for the first time. In a second attempt one member, Heinz Borchers, a German, was burned under an avalanche which hit him above camp 11 (5,700m/18,700ft). Earlier, Borchers had slipped off the buttress edge near camp I and fallen about 1,500 feet, sustaining only minor injuries. The party had hired 110 porters who brought its equipment to Patundas from Passu. The party set up its base camp near Passu glacier. Subsequently it established four camps before an assault on the summit and came down via lower part of Passu glacier.

Passu Peak 7284m Hunza

2010-01-07T15:06:00.000-08:00

Passu peak is 7284mt high (or Pasu Sar, Pasu I) is a mountain peak in the Batura Muztagh, a sub-range of the Karakoram mountain range, located in the Gilgit District of the Northern Areas of Pakistan, west of the Hunza Valley. It is the high point of the Passu massif, which also includes Passu Diar (or "Passu East", "Pasu II"). The peak lies on the main ridge of the Batura Muztagh, about 7 km (4 mi) east of Batura Sar.

Passu Sar was first climbed on August 7, 1994 by Max Wallner, Dirk Naumann, Ralf Lehmann, and Volker Wurnig.Passu peak situated at the extreme west of Batura Mouztagh at upper Hunza beyond Passu village about one hundred km beyond the china border and 150 km from Gilgit its on the Karakorum high way clearly visible, the surrounding peaks are Batura-I 7885m Shisper 7619m, Balter peak 7400m Kampir Deyor peak 7611m.

It lies between Batura glacier the 6th longest glacier of the world, Passu glacier, Ghulkin glacier, Kamaris glacier.

Technical climbing, this is an ice dome on the top of Batura Muztagh the climbing is through ocean of ice, hidden crevasses, and ice shoulders, on the 1st 2 days from Advance base camp to comp one then gradually with ocean of ice domes toward the peak in the top end crevasses again, but the ice flow, it dose stays the same every year, and depends on the snow conditions.

Lady Finger Peak

2010-01-07T14:55:00.000-08:00

Bublimotin, Bubli Motin, Bublimating or Ladyfinger Peak, is a distinctive rock spire in the Batura Muztagh, the westernmost subrange of the Karakoram range in Pakistan. It lies on the southwest ridge of the Ultar Sar massif, the most southeasterly of the major groups of the Batura Muztagh. The whole massif rises precipitously above the Hunza Valley to the southeast. Bublimotin, while having little prominence above the saddle with nearby Hunza Peak, is particularly notable for being a sharp, relatively snowless rock spire among snow peaks. This, combined with its height above the valley, makes it quite eye-catching; hence the distinctive name. It provides a 600m (1830 ft) rock climb (with a very serious alpine approach) and has been the scene of some notable paragliding.

The Ladyfinger Peak aka Bublimating Peak, while having little prominence at 6,000m, is particularly notable for being a sharp, relatively snowless rock spire among snow peaks. This, combined with its height above the valley, makes it quite eye-catching, hence the distinctive name.

Ultar Peak 7388m (Death Peak)

2010-01-07T14:44:00.000-08:00

The precariously dangerous Ultar Peak is another attraction for adventuring mountaineers. With a height of about 7388 meters Ultar Peak has taken many lives of mountaineers. Indeed, it portrays the most challenging of climbs which many have tried and failed. It can be reached from Hunza, (Kareemabad) where irrigation canals can be seen carrying the grey glacial water from the Ultar stream and Glacier, descending from Ultar Peak, which towers dramatically above the Baltit Fort. The runoff from its glacier is carefully directed into centuries-old irrigation canals thus, forming a whole capillary system of them for every shallow terrace.

The glacial water from Ultar carries brightly reflecting mica and other minerals, locally called "water flowers", which give the liquid a glittering life of its own even as it quietly slips by in an irrigation canal miles away from the steep 'Ultar Nala'. Near Kareemabad and Baltit you can see Bubelimating ("Bubela's Peak"), a granite pinnacle and next to it is the rounded Ultar Peak which frustrated all climbers. The narrow gorge of Ultar conceals pastures and a glacier that cannot be seen from the valley floor. The walk up Ultar's steep nala can be an unforgettable experience. Nonetheless, Ultar seems to be a peculiar crucible for the foreigners who approach it.

Ultar Sar (also Ultar, Ultar II, Bojohagur Duanasir II) is the southeasternmost major peak of the Batura Muztagh, a subrange of the Karakoram range. It lies about 10 km (6 miles) northeast of the Karimabad, a town on the Karakoram Highway in the Hunza Valley, part of the Gilgit District of the Northern Areas of Pakistan.Ultar Sar also gained fame in the 1990s as supposedly the world's highest unclimbed independent peak. This was incorrect, as Gangkhar Puensum in Bhutan is higher, and remains unclimbed (and off-limits) in 2007. (Two other higher peaks are also reputedly unclimbed and of independent stature.) However that perception did add to the appeal of the peak, and a number of expeditions attempted to climb it. During the 1980s and 1990s over 15 expeditions made attempts, resulting in no success, but in a number of fatalities; the peak proved to be quite difficult.

The first two ascents were made in July 1996 by two separate Japanese expeditions, the first (from the Tokai section of the Japanese Alpine Club) led by Akito Yamazaki (who summitted, but died on the descent) and the second led by Ken Takahashi. The first summit team comprised Yamazaki and Kiyoshi Matsuoka (who died one year later on the nearby peak Bublimotin). They climbed the peak from the southwest in alpine style, doing much of the climbing at night to avoid danger from falling rock and ice. After their successful summit, they faced strong storms and bivouaced several days without food before returning to basecamp. However, Akihito Yamazaki died at basecamp of an internal disease due to the severe stress of climbing.

The second summit team comprised Takahashi and four others: Masayuki Ando, Ryushi Hoshino, Wataru Saito, and Nobuo Tsutsumi. They climbed the south ridge. Since 1996, there have been no recorded ascents of the peak.

Im fortunate to see all these peaks in my life.I see Rakaposhi peak when i wake up early in the morning and take a deep fresh breathe from its kool air,it is just near to my house and have a good charming scene from my room window.Ultar is also located on my left window im enjoying the best of its scenes.

Rakaposhi Peak 7788m

2010-01-07T14:35:00.000-08:00

View of Rakaposhi Peak from Hunza Valley

Rakaposhi (Räkapoşi) is a mountain in the Karakoram mountain range in Pakistan. It is situated in the Nagar Valley approximately 100 km north of the city of Gilgit. Rakaposhi means "shining wall" in the local language. Rakaposhi is also known as Dumani ("Mother of Mist"). It is ranked 27th highest in the world and 12th highest in Pakistan, but it is more popular for its beauty than its rank might suggest.

Rakaposhi was first climbed in 1958 by Mike Banks and Tom Patey, members of a British-Pakistani expedition, via the Southwest Spur/Ridge route. Both of them suffered minor frostbite during the ascent. Another climber slipped and fell on the descent and died during the night.The people of Nagar has dedicated the Rakaposhi range mountain area as a community park. The Minister for Northern Areas inaugurated the park. The Rakaposhi mountain range is the home of endangered species such as Marco Polo sheep, Snow Leopard, brown bear, wolves and many other species.Rakaposhi is notable for its exceptional rise over local terrain. On the north, it rises 5800m in only an 11.5km horizontal distance from the Hunza River. There are magnificent views of Rakaposhi from the Karakoram Highway on the route through Hunza. A tourist spot in the town of Ghulmat (located in the Nagar Valley) called "Zero Point of Rakaposhi" is the closest convenient view point of the mountain.

Spantik(Golden) Peak 7027m

2010-01-07T14:24:00.000-08:00

Sapang-Tik - meaning the little garden,It is also known as Golden Peak from back side which has a charming view from Hunza Valley.In the past few years this unknown peak became so much popular that now a days it attract 5 to 10 expedition each year. Since its base camp is within easy reach. Spantik lies in the Karakorum Range and its base camp can be reached in four days INCLUDING one day for the jeep drive from Skardu. For about three days we will trek on and beside Chogolungma glacier before we reach Spantik peak base camp 4100 meters. Spantik lies in between Nagar Valley (also known as Golden Peak) near Hunza and Arandu Valley in Baltistan. The normal South East route to Spantik 7027 meters is from Chogolungma Glacier in Arandu Valley of Baltistan also known as Little Tibet. Among 7000's meters high peaks Spantik is the most beautiful and fascinating peak. Every year it's attract dozens of adventure lovers from all over the World, from which 80% of them successfully climb this beautiful mountain. As with many high mountains, weather and snow conditions, and climbers personal fitness and acclimatization will determine WHETHER the summit is reached. Although not technically difficult, Spantik peak is A serious UNDERTAKING and requires extensive previous alpine or expedition experience.

Spantik Peak (Golden Peak) 7027m

This peak was climbed in 1978 by Japan expedition Hashi to Harashi (Storm & Star) which was led by Nakamura. The Royal Alpine Club expedition of Japan, but other information is that this peak was first climbed in 1955 via the SE crest by a German expedition led by Karl Kramer. Spantik is a superb climbing opportunity for those wanting to further their mountaineering skills and altitude experience To join the expedition and to have a good chance of success, it is preferable that you have both technical mountaineering experience to 4000m in the Alps and trekking peak experience to 6000m in the Greater Ranges. Its base camp is within easy reach. Spantik lies in the Karakorum Range and you can can be reached in four days including one day for the jeep drive from Skardu. For about three days we will trek on and beside Chogolungma glacier.The height of base camp is 4100 meters. Spantik lies in between Nagar Valley (also known as Golden Peak) near Hunza and Arandu Valley in Baltistan. The normal South East route to Spantik 7027 meters is from Chogolungma Glacier in Arandu Valley of Baltistan. Among 7000's meters high peaks Spantik is the most beautiful and fascinating peak. Every year it's attract dozens of adventure lovers from all over the World, from which 80% of them successfully climb this beautiful mountain. As with many high mountains, weather and snow conditions, and climbers personal fitness and acclimatization will determine weather the summit is reached. Although not technically difficult. Spantik peak is a serious undertaking and requires extensive previous alpine or expedition experience.

Mashabrum Peak 7821m

2010-01-07T14:14:00.000-08:00

Masherbrum 7821m it is also known as Queen of karakorum and was climbed back in 6th and 8th July 1960 by two American Bell Clinch and his friend with Akhtar a Pakistani from South East Face. Since then it took 23 years before a second ascent made by the Japanese Kakeyasu Minamura and Masuhino Nomura in August 1983. Another Japanese expedition in 1985 climbed the impressive and most beautiful North West Ridge and North Face.

Masherbrum also called K1 name by British survey team in 1856 while sequencely naming the peaks in Karakoram Range local name of this beautiful peak is Masherbrum. The normal route to Masherbrum Peak 7821 meters is from Hushey Valley of Baltistan. A two days walk from Hushe will bring you the green meadow of Masherbrum Base Camp at 3500m

Masherbrum standard route is from South East and has 4 high altitude camps. Take a direct line up the icefall and then climb the crest of the Dome ridge, rather than taking the skirt the icefall on the right and making a long traverse to the Dome and to its top. This way one would rid of the dangerous avalanche on the traverse. Camp 1 is at an altitude of 5,000 meters on the plateau between a rocky outcrop that guards the icefall on the left and the Dome, follow the icefall, the icefall can be seen as consisting of three giant steps. First can be climb by the middle, bearing right at its top. Second camp 2 is at 6100m on the huge plateau behind the Dome. Camp 3 is at 6600m under the summit pyramid. The last Camp 4 is at 7200m.

Since then many mountaineers from all over the world tried their luck including Satoshi Kawahara and Lev Loffe Russian /American team. Lev Loffe originate from Russia now teaching in America a regular visitor to Pakistan tried this peak from Normal route in 1996 from Hushe valley and manage to reach 7200m, I was part of his 1996 expedition as a Liaison Officer. Lev Loffe again return in 1999.In the same season of 1996 a Pakistani Army expedition manage to reach the summit of Masherbrum II 7806m with the help of high altitude porters, their base camp was two hours down from our main base camp.

Mustagh Tower 7273m

2010-01-07T14:07:00.000-08:00

Muztagh Tower (also: Mustagh Tower; Muztagh: ice tower), is a mountain in the Baltoro Muztagh, part of the Karakoram range in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. It stands between the basins of the Baltoro and Sarpo Laggo glaciers.

The Mustagh Tower was made famous by a spectacular but somewhat misleading photograph taken by Vittorio Sella during the 1909 Italian expedition to K2. Taken from the upper Baltoro, due southeast of the mountain, the twin summits were perfectly aligned and the mountain was seen as a slender tooth, and looked impregnable. Nearly fifty years later, in 1956, this photograph inspired two expeditions to race for the first ascent. In reality both teams found their routes less steep than Sella's view had suggested.[2] The British expedition, consisting of John Hartog, Joe Brown, Tom Patey and Ian McNaught-Davis, came from the Chagaran Glacier on the west side of the peak and reached the summit first on July 6, five days before the French team (Guido Magnone, Robert Paragot, André Contamine, Paul Keller) climbed the mountain from the east. The doctor François Florence waited for the two parties at the camp IV during 42 hours without any radio, when they went, reached the summit and came back to this camp.[3] A lower summit, 7,180 m (23,560 ft) was first climbed in 1984 by the northeast ridge.[citation needed].

On 24 August 2008, the North-East wall was climbed by two Slovenian alpinists, Pavle Kozjek and Dejan Miškovič. They bivouaced on the crest after 17 hours of climbing. They decided not to go to the summit because of strong wind. Just after they started descending, Kozjek fell to his death.

Trango Tower 6286m

2010-01-07T13:32:00.000-08:00

Great Trango

Climbing History

Great Trango was first climbed in 1977 by Galen Rowell, John Roskelley, Kim Schmitz, Jim Morrissey and Dennis Hennek by a route which started from the west side (Trango Glacier), and climbed a combination of ice ramps and gullies with rock faces, finishing on the upper South Face. The east face of Great Trango was first climbed (to the East Summit) in 1984 by the Norwegians Hans Christian Doseth..
Hans Christian Doseth was a Norwegian climber. Doseth followed the standards of modern big wall climbing through many first ascents in Europe and the Himalayas. Among his achievements were several first ascents of routes on Trollveggen , Romsdal's north facing big wall, both in winter and summer...The first successful climb of and return from the East Summit was in 1992, by Xaver Bongard and John Middendorf, on a route parallel to that of the ill-fated Norwegians. These two climbs have been called "perhaps the hardest big-wall climbs in the world."

The least difficult route on Great Trango is on the Northwest Face, and was climbed in 1984 by Andy Selters and Scott Woolums. This is nonetheless a very serious, technical climb.Trango (Nameless) Tower

Trango (Nameless) Tower was first climbed in 1976 by the legendary British climber Joe Brown, along with Mo Anthoine, Martin Boysen, and Malcolm Howells. It is now a popular ascent, albeit for the elite of the climbing community: there are at least eight separate routes to the summit.

One notable route is known as Eternal Flame (named after a Bangles album), first climbed on 20 September 1989 by Kurt Albert and Wolfgang Güllich. This route ascends the South-East Face of the Tower, and was climbed almost entirely free (in stages, using fixed ropes to return to a base each night). This helped inaugurate an era of pure rock-climbing techniques and aesthetics on high-altitude peaks.

Other summits

The West summit of Great Trango and the Trango Pulpit were both first climbed in 1999. The West summit was climbed by two separate teams, one American and one Russian, almost simultaneously, by parallel routes. The American team of Alex Lowe, Jared Ogden, and Mark Synnott climbed a long, bold, highly technical line which they called "Parallel Worlds." They reported difficulties up to 5.11 and A4. The Russian team of Potan'kin Igor, Alexandr Odintsov, Ivan Samoilenko and Yuri Koshelenko climbed an equally proud route (Eclissi) and encountered similar technical challenges. Both climbs were nominated for the prestigious Piolet d'or award in 1999. The Pulpit was climbed by a Norwegian team (Robert Caspersen, Gunnar Karlsen, Per L. Skjerven, and Einar Wold) over a total of 38 days on the wall.

Gasherbrum II Peak 8035m

2010-01-07T13:18:00.000-08:00

Gasherbrum II (also known as K4) is the 13th highest mountain on Earth, located on the border of Pakistan-China. Gasherbrum II is the third highest peak of the Gasherbrum massif, located in the Karakoram range of the Himalaya.

The standard route is via the SW ridge as it is relatively free of objective hazards such as ice falls and avalanches. A typical expedition lasts 7 to 8 weeks with climbing permits costing about $7,500 USD for five climbers.

Gasherbrum II was first climbed on July 8, 1956 by Fritz Moravec, Josef Larch and Hans Willenpart of an Austrian expedition.

[edit]Time Line

1956 First ascent

1975 Second ascent by a French group, 19 years after the first ascent. This expedition also saw the first death on the Gasherbrum. Three other expeditions summit including a Polish women's team headed by Wanda Rutkiewicz.

1979 A Chilean and a German expedition succeed in the sixth and seventh ascents. The Chilean was the first latinamerican ascent to an eight-thousander

1982 Reinhold Messner reaches the top with two Pakistanis, Nazir Sabir and Sher Khan.

1983 Jerzy Kukuczka with Wojciech Kurtyka eastern ridge ascent, new route. Alpine style ascent without the aid of oxygen.

1984 Messner and Hans Kammerlander traverse Gasherbrum I and Gasherbrum II without returning to base camp in between.

1984 First descent by ski by team CAF Besancon (France) lead by Daniel Croisot, summit by Wim Pasquier and Patrice Bournat, ski from the summit, joined by Dr Dominique Dock from 7800m, totally skied the face down to base-camp set at 5200m. 1 month after meeting with Messner and Kammerlander, returning from their 2 summits.

2005 ? number ski descent by Jørgen Aamot (Norway) and Frederik Ericsson (Sweden)

2005 A six-member Turkish expedition, including two women, made history on July 22 when its members scaled Gasherbrum-II.

2007 Three Italians, Karl Unterkircher, Daniele Bernasconi and Michele Compagnoni, reach the top opening a new way on the north face, in alpine style.

Gasherbrum I Peak 8068m Adventure Pakistan

2010-01-07T13:11:00.000-08:00

Gasherbrum 1(8068 M) Hidden Peak

Gasherbrum I is popularly known as Hidden Peak. Flying over the Karakoram, one can see below a maze of peaks as one comes to the huge pyramid that is the K2 which stands out prominently like a giant among the mountains there is cluster of peaks to the south east. These have been named as Gasherbrum peaks. The formation of mountains chains here is such that one peak Gasherbrum I. This peak remained hidden because it lies in one of the Most difficult terrains which is surrounded by the some of the highest peaks around. Swiss Skier "Sylvan Saudan" set world record by skiing down from the summit. Gasherbrum in local language means "Shining Wall". There are six Gasherbrum Peaks and Gasherbrum I Peak is one them. The Gasherbrum Peaks are in the Karakoram Range. A French expedition led by H . De Segogne made first attempt in 1936, but they could not climb beyond camp five (5) at a height of 6797 Meters. However, in 1958 an American expedition led by Nich Clinch made the first ascent of Gasherbrum I (Hidden Peak) and Schoening and Kaufman were first to reach the summit. The approach route to Base camp starts from Skardu through Shigar Valley and approach trek starts from Tongal or Askole through Baltoro glacier, southern Aburuzi glaciers. Period :- June/July/August

Broad Peak 8047m Pakistan

2010-01-07T13:03:00.000-08:00

The local name of Broad peak is Faichan Kangri. The height of main peak is 8,047m/26,401ft. It is called Broadpeak because of its breadth at the top. It has also been called enormous triple-headed Breithorn (4,165m high three-headed peak of European alps) of the Baltoro. In 1954, Dr. Karl M. Herligkoffer of West Germany tried to climb it. His original objective however, was to climb Gasherbrum I. He is stated to have failed in persuading porters to carry loads beyond Concordia above the Baltoro glacier. Accordingly, the party carried the luggage and made an attempt, from the south-western side, through the lower Broad glacier. It however, did not mee with success because of a storm and a very low temperature.

In 1957, an Austrian expedition came to Pakistan to climb this peak. It was led by Marcus Schmuck. Otherimportant members of the party were Fritz Wintersteller, a climber, Kurt Diemberger, an Austrian climber and photographer and a legendary mountaineer, and Hermann Buhl, who is considered as one of the best known postwar Austrian climbers. The expedition began a reconnaissance of a ridge on the western face of the mountain. Consequently it climbed a snow gully and camped at 5,791m/19,000ft. While climbing, it made the best use of ropes which were fixed by the 1954 German expedition. On the 29th May, all members of the expedition left camp-3 for an assault on the summit. A storm forced them to return to the base camp. It was, however, on the 9th June, 1957 that Marcus Schmuck, Fritz Wintersteller, Kurt Diemberger and Hermann Buhl climbed the peak without using oxygen and high altitude porters.

It was after this climb that Schmuck and Wintersteller climbed an un-named peak (7,360m/24,147ft). In tenhours they crossed ten miles of the Godwin-Austen and Savoia glaciers and climbed up a snow slope on skis to camp at about 6,096m/20,000ft. On the 19th of June, they ascended in twelve hours to 1,219m/4,000ft on the south-west face of the summit, first on hard snow and then in deep powder. They were back at base camp just 52 hours after their departure. What an extraordinary feat of self-discipline, endurance and sheer determination! The un-named peak so climbed is probably the Skill Brum peak of Jerziwala Polish maps. The other two climbers, Diemberger and Buhl, headed towards Chogolisa peak where Buhl met his death by falling from the mountain.

The name of other peak in the Broad range is Broad peak middle/central Some maps show its height at 8,016mwhile the others show it 8,000m. It is stated to have been climbed in 1975. Anyhow, it was in 1976 that a French expedition led by Yan nick Seigneur made an attempt on this peak in alpine style, along with main Broad peak. This party of four followed the Austrian first-ascent route and made four attempts but could go only upto 7,925m/26,000ft. The expedition had to come back because of bad weather. A six member Spanish mountaineering expedition climbed Broad (central) peak in 1987. Their leader was Joseph Estruch.

The third peak in the Broad range is Broad peak North. Again some maps show its height as 7,538m while the others show it 7,550m. An Italian expedition, which was led by Renato Casarotto, attempted to climb it in 1982 but was unsuccessful. The party shows its height as 7,600m/24,935ft. Casarotto, however, succeeded in climbing it in 1983.

Nanga Parbat Adventure

2010-01-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

The Himalayas are a great mountain range formed by the collision of Indo-Pakistan tectonic plate with the AsianContinent.The central Himalayan mountains are situated in Nepal, while the eastern mountains extend to the borders of Bhutan and Sikkim. Nanga Parbat massif is the western corner pillar of the Himalayas. It is an isolated range of peaks just springing up from nothing, and is surrounded by the rivers Indus and Astore. Nanga Parbat or "Nanga Parvata" means the naked mountain. Its original and appropriate name, however, is Diamir the king of mountains.

Nanga Parbat (main peak) has a height of 8,126m/26,660 ft. It has three vast faces. The Rakhiot (Ra Kot) face is dominated by the north and south silver crags and silver plateau; the Diamir face is rocky in the beginning. It converts itself into ice fields around Nanga Parbat peak. The Rupal face is the highest precipice in the world. Reinhold Messner, a living legend in mountaineering from Italy, says that "every one who has ever stood at the foot of this face (4,500m/14,764ft) up above the 'Tap Alpe', studied it or flown over it, could not help the amazement of its sheer size; it has become known as the highest rock and ice wall in the world!". Nanga Parbat has always been associated with tragedies and tribulations until it was climbed in 1953. A lot of mountaineers have perished on Nanga Parbat since 1895. Even today it is claiming a heavy toll of human lives, mountaineers in search of adventure and thrill, and in finding new and absolutely un-climbed routes are becoming its victims.

It was in 1841 that a huge rock-slide from the Nanga Parbat dammed the Indus river. This created a huge lake,55 km long,like the present Tarbela lake down-stream. The flood water that was released when the dam broke caused a rise of 80 ft in the river's 3 level at Attock and swept away an entire Sikh army. It was also in the middle of the nineteenth century that similar catastrophes were later caused by the damming of Hunza and Shyok rivers.

The Nanga Parbat peak was discovered in the nineteenth century by Europeans. The Schlagintweit brothers, who hailed from Munich (Germany) came in 1854 to Himalayas and drew a panoramic view which is the first known picture of Nanga Parbat. In 1857 one of them was murdered in Kashgar. The curse of Nanga Parbat had begun!

K2-Godwin Austin(Chogori)8611m

2010-01-07T12:43:00.000-08:00

K2 or Mountain Austin Godwin

Location

Korakoram Range, Pakistan - China Border

Altitude :

8,611m (28,251 ft)

Imporance :

2nd Highest Mountain In The World.

Best Trek Season :

April To October

K2 peak, locally known by the name of “Chogo Ri”, which means "The Great Mountain", 8,611m, is the 2nd highest mountain in the world. K2 is placed on the Pakistan - China border in the mighty Karakoram range.

With no simple routes, K2 is known as the finest and most dangerous mountain in the world. This is because of the massiveness in the size of this mountain and the numerous unsuccessful attempts made on it by various expeditions, which include mostly American expeditions.

About K2

K2 is a rocky mountain up to 6,000m, beyond which it becomes an ocean of snow. The traditional route to K2's base camp goes from Skardu, which is linked with Islamabad by a good road. From Skardu the route goes via Shigar-Dassu-Askole up to Concordia over the Baltoro glacier.

K2 was firstly discovered and measured by the Survey of India in 1856, and first named for English topographer Henry Godwin - Austen, who explored and surveyed the region.

K2 is taken from the first letter of Karakorum, and the number indicates that it was the second peak in the range to be measured. K2 was firstly climbed on July,31 1954 by Italian climbers team lead by Ardito Desio and accompanying him were Lino Lacedelli and Achille Compagnoni. A March 1987 measurement of K2 indicated that it might be higher than Everest, but later that year, Everest was re-measured by a similar method and found to indeed be 778 ft (237m) taller.

K2 Expeditions & Attempts

It was probably for the first time in 1902 that an organized expedition of Oscar J.L. Eckenstein traveled to K-2 from Baltoro glacier. The expedition was without any guide. Its aim was to explore approaches to the mountain and possibly have a try on the peak. It was, however, harsh weather which prevented it from attempting the peak.
In 1909, a big Italian expedition under the leadership of resolute Luigi Amadeo Giuseppe (Duke of Abruzzi) the grandson of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, reconnoitred K2.
Two famous British mountaineers, Harold William Tilman and Eric Earle Shipton, explored and surveyed the north face of K2 and its subsidiary glaciers in 1937.
In 1938, the American Alpine Club sponsored a reconnaissance party for a visit to K2 area. The party reached a height of 7925 meters after setting up eight camps.
The next year saw another American expedition on K2. It was led by Fritz Hermann Ernst Wiessner, a German-American chemist and mountaineer. The expedition, along with nine Sherpas, made very good progress on the already-identified south-east ridge.
Another American attempt on K2 was made in 1953. The expedition leader was Dr. Charles Houston, who had also led the 1938 American expedition on this peak.
In 1954, an Italian expedition came to Pakistan to try its luck on K2. It consisted of twelve climbers and four scientists and was led by veteran mountaineer, Professor Ardito Desio, who had come to these mountains with Italian expeditions before the World War-ll