Blogs from Gilgit-Baltistan, Northern Areas, Pakistan, Asia - page 2

Sleeping at: CONCORDIA!!!! Sleeping Altitude: 4590m Trekking Distance: 21.8 km Day:16 06:30 departure in noticeably cooler conditions, grey sky. We're putting in another big day to make up time and will reach Concordia this afternoon- this is a major milestone and the most scenic of all of the campsites to date. The morning is dominated by glacier moraine and ice, the afternoon- more moraine and ice, some very speccy ice formations and some small flowing glacial streams to cross. It isn't as difficult as previous days despite the consistent altitude gains and we make good time. Lunch is at 10:50 and we are actually in camp by 13:40, so 7 hours including lunch. Coming into Concordia is exciting, I'm really pleased to have made it as there have been moments of real doubt. All of us ... read more

Sleeping at:Khoburche Sleeping Altitude: 3795m Trekking Distance: 16.6km, Ascent 640m, Descent 220m Day: 14 The trekking days have a rhythm to them (no matter where the trek is really, there are just the subtle differences). Up early, try to leave early, get more than half of expected kms under your belt by lunch time to allow for a shorter afternoon. Arrive into camp, say hi to everyone who is in ahead of me (most of the group), be greeted by our porters and shown the tent for the night, clean up as much as possible and meet for an afternoon snack and hot drink. Relax for a while and then have dinner, a chat and an early night. Today followed that plan, but the scenery....... WOW........ we got onto the Baltoro Glacier, we trekked through massive ... read more

Sleeping at:Paiju Sleeping Altitude: 3450m Trekking Distance: Rest Day Day 12 The Sky is Falling I’m going backwards on this day as the most significant thing happened after we’d gone to bed for the night. You know that feeling when you’re tired but relaxed?- it’s been a good day and you’re almost asleep listening to the raindrops on the tent roof. Well, that was how it was. Until.... All of a sudden there was a massive whoosh, to me it sounded like a fire had started. Except that there was no fire light or burning smell and the noise kept getting louder. Neither of us could work it out and the next thing was Gen, fully dressed in wet weather gear, saying not to panic but to get packed up and into wet weather gear and ... read more

Sleeping at:Jula/Jhola Sleeping Altitude: 3200m Trekking Distance: 22.8km, Ascent 530m, Descent 410m Day 10 Average sleep, up before 6 for breakfast- the dining tent is set up with a very hearty amount of cereal, chappati, jam, nutella, eggs, tea and coffee. The aim is to be on the trail by 07:30. It's pleasantly cool and we're raring to go. We have already got our duffel bags that the porters will carry packed up and left outside the tent. I think my duffel weighs in at under 10kg. Our day packs are ready, everyone is carrying about 3L of water as it's going to be hot. I've snaffled one of the empty coke bottles to fill in addition to my other bottles (cool drink bottles are great because they weigh nothing). Owen (Irish guy) is keen to ... read more

Kashgar marks the end of the 1,300km Karakoram Highway and the end of our journey. We've completed one of the classic travel journeys, following in the footsteps of the many traders, warriors, pilgrims and poets that have gone before us on this remote branch of the ancient Silk Road, through the Himalayas, Hindu Kush and Karakorum mountains. Depending on your perspective we’ve survived one of the world’s most dangerous roads or travelled one of the world’s most spectacular. Either way we mustn’t forget the heavy toll on the workers who built the modern day road in the 1960’s and 70’s. 810 Pakistanis and 200 Chinese lost their lives due to the high elevation and inhospitable terrain. Most from the landslides which continue to be a regular feature of the Highway, and the scars from which – ... read more