The route offers a taste of
some of the most stunning mountain scenery and idyllic campsites in the Karakorum. After
Askoli we turn to follow the Biafo glacier and immediately we find ourselves in a wild and
rarely travelled landscape. Lower down, the walking is rather strenuous as we negotiate
the moraine ridges beside the glacier. Higher up, once on the glacier itself, the walking
is relatively easy, often a delight, following a broad highway of ice. Approaching the
Snow Lake there could be a couple of crevasses, where it will be necessary to rope up.
There is sufficient time to take two restdays on the walk up to Snow Lake. This provides
vital acclimatization and enables us to take the splendor of some of the most beautiful
mountain sceneries to be found nowhere else. The highpoint of the trek is the camp at
Hispar La, at a height of 5151 m. This offers a magnificent panoramic view of the
whole area including an unforgetable sunset across the valley of Hunza.
Program
Day 1
Arrival in Islamabad. |
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Day 2
Flight or drive to Skardu.
Day 3
In Skardu we prepare for the trek.
Day 4
Early in the morning we start with the jeeps to Askoli, where we camp for the first
time.
Day 5
The first trekking day leads us to Namla (6 - 8 hours walk).
Day 6
Namla to Shafong.
Day 7
Dropping down again onto the glacier, we cross a jumble of morraine to the centre of
the ice river, where we find bare ice for the first time. Walking on this ice is pure
luxury after the rigours of the moraine and it is thankfully possible to largely follow
this "ice motorway" for the next three days. Tonight we camp on the beautiful
campsite of Baintha.
Day 8
Restday.Day 9
A long stage is expected before we camp in Kalfora. |
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Day 10
Today we move our camp to Sim Gang.
Day 11 -12
An early start for the long ascent to our camp on the Hispar La. This fairly gentle
climb at this altitude is nonetheless strenuous but will be rewarded by one of the most
incredible campsites in the world, with views straight down the Hispar to the mountains of
Hunza in one direction and back to the Sim Gang Glacier with its dominant peak the mighty
Ogre 7285 m in the other direction.
Day 13
A short descent leads to the crossing of the tributary Kani Basa Glacier. After some
tricky moraine negotiation we camp at Jutmal.
Day 14
We walk through green meadows with streams and flowers. After crossing the Jutmal
Glacier, we camp at the meadow of Bitenmal. There are huts of shepherds, which provides to
our faithful porters a
good shelter after the long treck on snow, ice and rocks.orters a
Day 15
Now it is going towards Hispar Village. But first we camp in Falaking Chish at
3500 m.Day 16
We descend to the end of the valley and cross the Hispar River immediately below the
snout of the glacier. In Hispar Village we can camp at the ground of the old resthouse. |
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Day 17
A hot long walk leads us to Huru, where we establish the last camp on our trek. For
some it is a release and for some it is the definite sign that the beautiful traverse is
over.
Day 18
The jeeps take us to Karimabad to the hotel. Hot shower requested?
Day 19
We spend the day resting and relaxing. For those with surplus energy, there is a
chance to explore the ancient capital of Hunza.
Day 20
Drive to Gilgit. Another chance to take in the sight and sounds of Hunza at the
extensive bazaar.
Day 21
Flight or drive to Rawalpindi.Day 22
Onward flight. Khuda hafiz!
Best time to travel: June – October. |
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