Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for that?)... Pakistan

In less than 12 hours my old trek buddy, Mary, Mary of Nepal 2012 and 2013, and I are off to Pakistan then over the border into Western China.

The visa for Pakistan was obtained using the new online system- despite supplying 20 pages of docs, including the dates and request for a 60 day visa I was given a 30 day one and instructed to sort it out when I arrived in Pakistan. I submitted Mary's application with exactly the same info - she got the 60 day one as requested- go figure! The visa for China was very fast, submitted and ready in 3 days (after a novel itinerary submission).
https://visa.nadra.gov.pk/

It’s going to be a long trip, more than 7 weeks. We’re covering a lot of ground on foot, in a small plane, by bus and by Jeep.

Based in the cities of Lahore and Islamabad to start with before meeting up with an actual trekking group (!!!!!). A departure from my usual preferred way of travelling. We’re trekking some hard terrain- the Baltoro Glacier, Concordia, K2 Base Camp and (fingers crossed) over the Gondogoro Pass (5580m) with views of 4 of the 8000m peaks. After the group thing we get solo with a guide/driver and Jeep to do more trekking, drive to high altitude lakes and plains, have some village stays and travel more of the Karakoram Highway.

In September we’ll be crossing the high altitude Khunjerab Border into China which takes all day despite not much distance. Then.... phew... we will take in some of the Silk Road through Kashgar, Turpan, Flaming Mountains, desert landscapes and the other side of Tian Shan Mountains that I trekked in last year.

Pretty much ready....

I think.

Wish I had trained harder.

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Trip Length: 7 weeks
Blog Entries: 25
Photos: 571
Words: 27406

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Blog Entries

Date	Blog Title	Location
July 30th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for that?)...Lahore, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Punjab » Lahore
August 1st 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for that?)...Lahore, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Punjab » Lahore
August 2nd 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for that?)... Lahore to Islamabad, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Islamabad
August 4th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for that?)... Islamabad, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Islamabad
August 5th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for that?) ... Skardu, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas
August 6th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Skardu, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Skardu
August 7th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Askole, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 8th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Jhola, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 9th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Payu, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 10th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Payu, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 11th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... STILL at Paiju, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 12th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Khoburche, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 13th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Goro I, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 14th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Concordia, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 15th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Concordia, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 16th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Ali Camp, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 17th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Goro II (via Concordia), Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 18th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Khoburche, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 19th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Bardumal, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 20th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Askole, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 21st 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Back in Skardu, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 21st 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... K2 Basecamp Gondogoro La Trek Info To Impart	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 22nd 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Khaplu, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan
August 23rd 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Back in Skardu (again), Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Skardu
August 24th 2019	Slowly, Slowly (What's Urdu for That?)... Rama via Deosai, Pakistan	Asia » Pakistan » Northern Areas » Gilgit-Baltistan