The Karakoram, meaning 'Black rock' in Turkic, is one of the great ranges of Asia. The Nepalese Himalaya may have the highest number of 8000m peaks but the Karakoram has the world�s highest concentration of high peaks and some of the largest glaciers outside the Arctic poles. The range contains four 8000m peaks with another 30 rising above 7500m that receive few climbing expeditions compared to the Himalaya. The Karakoram is frequently known for the general K2 area but, as I hope this page illustrates, the range is vast with many areas which are equally breathtaking. It�s impossible for me to write about the Karakoram with the detail it deserves as there are just too many mountains and still so many parts that I have not properly explored. This page is intended as more of an overview and to inspire people to visit and explore the area for themselves.

The Pumari Chhish massif

The Karakoram is an arid and inhospitable place but that is its very beauty. The topography often consists entirely of glacier, bare rock and mountain peaks. There are no tea houses, no pine or rhododendron forests, no remote hilltop villages, often only mountains and glaciers as far as the eye can see once away from the central valleys. These are mountains in their rawest form and some of the most impressive anywhere in the world. The Karakoram considerably less populated than the Himalaya further east. This is mainly due to its rugged, infertile topography and extensive glacial formations that make much of the range unsuitable for farming or grazing livestock. Despite the lack of habitat the range is considerably easier to visit than the Nepalese Himalaya with 7000m base camps accessible in less than a day from the Karakoram Highway, which bisects the Western half of the range. This means a trip to the Karakoram allows for more time in the high mountains and less time trekking in the foothills as in Nepal.

One of the big advantages of climbing in the Pakistani Karakoram is that there is minimal red tape compared to the Himalaya. The Pakistani side is very cheap to climb in provided you stay away from the 'restricted zones' close to border areas. Climbing below 6500m requires no paperwork and so long as you are in an open zone you are free to explore and climb whatever you choose. For me the Karakoram allows for a lot more spontaniety than other ranges where pre-planning is everything.

North Side of the Hispar Muztagh

It is rare to encounter other foreigners once into the mountains and even rarer to encounter other climbers. The majority of peaks have only a few ascents and many remain unclimbed. The number of visitors to the Karakoram is a fraction of that to the Himalaya but that is half the beauty as the region is unspoilt by tourism. Villages still maintain a traditional way of life and as a foreigner you will be shown a high degree of respect. Political tensions are a fraction of that in Nepal at present despite the general media portrayal that Pakistan is a dangerous place. Parts of Pakistan are dangerous but these places are not in the Karakoram.

Climbing and trekking are the most popular activities but there is excellent potential for white water rafting and kayaking, ski touring, hand-gliding and mountain biking. The flip side to this is that a greater self reliance is required than in Nepal as tourism is in its infancy.

K2 from Concordia

Location, Location, Location

The Karakoram is located in Pakistan, India and China. The region forms part of the disputed territory between Pakistan and India that is generally refered to as Kashmir (the Kingdom of Kashmir encompassed what is today the Northern Areas, Ladakh, Aksai Chin and the Kashmir Valley prior to the breakup up British India). To make things worse the region directly north of the Karakoram on the Indian side, Aksai Chin, is also heavily disputed between India and China. Dispite the Karakoram appearing to be at the centre of a political hotspot waiting to explode at any minute the current situation is excellent and the area is quite safe to visit. Ties between India and Pakistan are better than they have been for a long time and China and India are slowly increasing ties.

The highest peaks are located at the centre of the range along the Pakistani-Chinese border and close to the Indian border. Nearly all climbers visit the Pakistani side because it is less bureaucratic and expensive than to visit the Chinese and Indian sides. Away from the central crest of the Karakoram most of the mountains fall on the southern side of the Chinese border. The range extends west to meet the Hinduraj and Hindukush ranges and also the Pamir in the Wakhan Corridor area to the north-west. North of the Karakoram is the Tibetan Plateau and above this the Kunlun range. South of the Karakoram is the Himalaya. The range southern borders are demarkated by the Gilgit, Indus and Shyok Rivers. Although often associated with the Himalayan range the Karakoram is a totally separate range that runs parallel without touching at any point.

The Karakoram was formed as a result of the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian land masses some 50 million ears ago. The Indian landmass buckled and slid under Eurasia, which crumpled and heaved upward, forming the Karakoram. The Karakoram and Hindukush is actually a single continuous upthrust block that runs north of the main suture line between the Indian and Eurasian land masses. The Karakoram started to form after the Himalaya and considerably quicker resulting on its dense mountain topography. The suture line roughly corresponds with the Indus River with Nanga Parbat representing the prow of the Indian landmass and Rakaposhi the prow of the Eurasian land mass.

Structure

The Karakoram can be divided in to the Greater and Lesser Karakoram. Most of the high peaks are found in the Greater Karakoram, which forms the main crest line extending for over 300km in an approximate east-west direction. The Greater Karakoram is divided in to subranges termed Muztagh, which is the Turkic word for any great ice mountain. From west to east these Muztaghs are:

Batura Muztagh
Hispar Muztagh
Panmah Muztagh
Baltoro Muztagh
Siachen Muztagh
Rimo Muztgah
Saser Muztagh.

The former three fall in Indian controlled territory.

On the north side are the following subranges of the Lesser Karakoram:

Lupgar Mountains;
Ghuzherav Mountains (North and South);
Wesm Mountains;
North-East Rimo Mountains;

On the south side are the:

Naltar Mountains;
Rapaposhi-Haramosh Mountains;
Spantik Sosbun;
Mango Gusor Mountains;
Shimshak Mountains;
Masherbrum Mountains;
Saltoro Muntains;
and Kailas (South Saltoro) Mountains

Sections on the Greater and Lesser Karakorum are listed below. There are numerous high peaks located in the Lesser Karakoram and this part of the range can be just as spectacular. Masherbrum (7821m) and Rakaposhi (7788m) for example both fall in the Lesser range despite being collosal lands bulks.

The range can also be divided by general geographical location. The Western Karakoram includes the Batura Muztagh and Lupgar and Naltar Mountains, all of which are conveniently located west of the Karakoram highway. The Eastern Karakoram is located in Indian controlled territory. Everything in between is the Central Karakoram including the mountains on the Chinese side, the exception being the Ghuzherav Mountains which form the Northern Karakoram.

Climbing Conditions

Weather

Karakoram in Summer!

The Karakoram has four distinct seasons: pleasant spring (March to May); a hot summer (June to mid-September); a cool autumn (mid-September to November); and a cold winter (December to February). The summer monsoon in the Bay of Bengal moves steadily westward usually reaching Pakistan by late June and continuing through to September. Being north of, and in the rain shadow of the Himalaya, the Karakoram receives little monsoonal rain and generally has a dry climate in the summer months. When the monsoon breaks in the down-country Pakistan, it�s usually stormy in the mountains too. A curious precipitation peak also occurs in late August. During mid-summer Gilgit (1494m) is usually around 40�C with the temperature dropping 6.2�C for each 1000m.
For many people visiting Pakistan's Northern Areas for the first time the warm summer's take time to adjust to. Even in the mountains the weather can still be uncomfortable at times. On days where there are no clouds a single layer will surfice and measures need to be taken to prevent sun burn. Weather can change quickly with fresh snow falling at any time in the year or heavy rains at lower altitudes. Come prepared for a range of climates.

Avalanche!

Snow and Ice Climbing Conditions

Nights are generally warmer during the climbing season compared to destinations such as the Pamir, Tien Shan or Napalese Himalaya and an early start when climbing is usually imperative to avoid soft snow in the afternoon. It is not unusual for there not to be a proper freeze at night leading to poor snow conditions under foot. At the top of the couloirs snow conditions can sometimes be particularly bad with hard, sugary ice beneath. The majority of the routes attempted in the Karakoram involve climbing ridges as these have less objective dangers. Only in Alaska are avalanches probably more regular making faces a dangerous place to climb unless perfect conditions prevail which is rarely the case.

When To Climb

The mountaineering season runs from June to September with July and August being the most popular months to climb in Pakistan. Outside these months snow can be problematic at high altitude. Late september/october is possibly better for some steep mixed routes where rock is poor as there will be more ice formation and less chance of rock fall. Bad weather can hit anytime of the year. Winters are severe in the Karakoram and anybody attempting a climb this year will hopefully have done their research.

Maciej Berbeka initially believed he had made the first winter ascent in the Karakoram of Broad Peak on March 6, 1988 however he later realised that he had only reached the foresummit and quickly pointed this out. When Berbeka reached the foresummit, a very strong wind blowing from the direction of the main summit drifted snow and prevented his seeing clearly where he was.

Rock Climbing

The big (Nangma Valley)...

...and the small

Rock climbing in the Karakoram can be world class or terrible depending where you go. Much of the range's rock is unfortunately poor quality but when it is good it is solid granite heaven.
The best spots are in the following areas:

� The Baltoro Glacier
� The Charakusa Valley
� The Nangma Valley
� East of Snow Lake
� The Kondus and Saltoro Valleys

Baltistan contains most of the quality rock. At the Western end of the Baltoro Muztagh, north of the Baltoro Glacier the Trango Towers are the Karakoram's most most famous rock. In close proximity are other collosal spires such as the Cathedral Towers, Uli Biaho and Shipton Spire.

The other Karakoram hotspot is the Charakusa and Nangma Valleys in the Masherbrum Musztagh which are big wall heaven. The Nangma Valley is home to Amin Brakk, the Great Tower (5800m). The Charakusa Glacier is also excellent with K7 being the most famous. These valleys have received a lot of climbers in the last ten years or so and there are already various 'classic' lines. New routes are being put up every year in these latter areas.

Much of the good rock in Central-Eastern Baltistan is off-limits due to the proximity of the line of control between India and Pakistan. Big walls in the Kondus and Saltoro valleys rival Baltoro yet receive vitually no visiters due to being in a 'closed' zone. An expedition managed to visit the valleys in 2000 and officials can only say 'no' to an application.

Elsewhere there is sporadically good rock. Lady Finger above Hunza is excellent rock. The rock on Pumari Chhish South was also found to be excellent quality.

The Karakoram isn't ALL about big walls. There is some excellent granite right above Karimabad on route to Ultar meadow for example. A friend of mine put up an E2 route here and no doubt there are other potential lines. Bouldering has also yet to be exploited and I have seen some good boulder fields west of Skardu on the main road and in the Lupgar valley. No doubt there are numerous other places.

Getting There

Travel to the Northern Areas

Islamabad is the nearest international airport with flights arriving from around the world. Gilgit is the largest town in the Northern Areas served by regular transport from the north and south.

Domestic flights

PIA fly daily between Islamabad and Gilgit tickets can either be booked via their ticket offices or via their website. One-way fairs are currently Rs1590 with little discount for return trips. During bad weather planes may be grounded at short notice. Availablity is also a big problem. There are also daily flights to Skardu which operate a higher percentage of the time.

The Karakoram Highway

Despite much of the mountain range's remoteness many high peaks have become relatively easy to access due to the Karakoram Highway (or KKH) besecting it north to south. The highway links Pakistan with China and is the highest paved international road in the world. It's highest point is the Khunjerab Pass which straddles the Pakistani-Chinese border.
The KKH runs approximately 1300km from Kashgar, a city in the Xinjiang region of China, to Havelian, located in the Abbottabad District of Pakistan. An extension of the highway meets the Grand Trunk Road at Hasan Abdal, west of Islamabad, Pakistan.

Buses

Buses ply the KKH daily between Rawalpindi's Pir Wadhai bus station and Gilgit, and vice versa. Buses leave throughout the afternoon and arrive mid-morning next day. Book tickets in advance if poosible to avoid a bone jarring, sleepless ride on the back seat. Travel along the KKH is anything but predictable and landslides, mudslides, rock fall and even avalanches can sever it for hours, days or weeks at a time. Due to Tribal tensions in the Kohistan buses were travelling in convoy for a significant stretch of the journey further lengthening an already long journey. NATCO and Masherbrum both run buses daily with a limited number of seats available at student discount.

Flat tire just below the Khunjerab Pass on the Pakistani side

The Northern Areas can also be reached from China with the trip from Kashgar to Sost taking 2 nights with an overnight stop in Tashkurgan. Hi-Ace vans travel between Sost and Gilgit throughout the day leaving as soon as they are full. There is now a direct bus between Tashkurgan and Gilgit, however, if travelling from China, it is better to buy a ticket to Sost only then take local transport to Gilgit as the international bus sits in the customs yard at Sost for a couple of hours while luggage is checked before continuing to Gilgit. The Chinese side of the KKH (called the "Sino-Pakistani Highway" by the Chinese" has been a distaster area for the last couple of years due to roadworks. Rather than repair small sections of road at a time as most countries do, the Chinese labour force likes to dig up great strectes. The journey to the border therefore means a lot of off-road travel. The road works has unfortunately causedsignificant soil errosion either side of the road that will be irreversable.

Cycling

This is an excellent way to travel along the KKH and detour to nearby villages. The Chinese currently don't allow cyclists to cross the border so you'll need to take to international bus between Sost and Tashkurgan.

Pakistan 1999: Cycling the Karakoram Highway

From Chitral

Vehicles leave Chitral (in the Hindukush) for Gilgit at least once a week, the journey taking about 16 hours by Land Cruiser. The road crosses the Shandur Pass (3,734m/12,251ft), which is passable for an even shorter period than the Lowari Pass. Otherwise Private Landcruisers can be hired for the journey which allows you to plan your own itinerary.

The Chinese Side

K2 from the Chinese side

The general gateway to the Karakoram on the Chinese side is Kashgar - although don't expect to be able to see the range from your hotel window! The range is a long way south by Jeep and trekking. Kashgar has daily flights to Urumqi to the east which is itself connected to major cities in China (as well as a few international cities). Else there is the 24 hour Urumqi-Kashgar train and bus journeys that also run daily. Kashgar is also easy to reach from Kyrgyzstan.
From Kashgar travel to Yecheng 260km east. From here the road south, closer to the Karakoram begins. This road eventually leads to Ali, close to Mount Kailash. There is some good info about reaching the range on the Chinese side on the Crown Peak page. I'll add more general details with time however I have not climbed on the Chinese side so have no personal experience. Ultimately you will not be travelling independantly anyway due to the area being in a closed zone and therefore a travel agent will be responsible for the logistics of getting you to the mountain.

Red Tape

Pakistan

Visas

A valid visa is required. Visas are NOT issued at the airport and must be obtained prior to arrival. Some embassies such as those in Central Asia are reluctant to issue visas and advise you to obtain them from your home country. A single-entry tourist visa is valid for 3 months from the date of arrival in pakistan and for 6 months from the date of issue. Some visas are only valid for 3 months from the date of issue so check if necessary when applying. Visa prices vary. Americans pay the most for their visa whilst Japanese get theirs free! Visa extensions and reentry stamps used to almost impossible to obtain however the process has become remarkably easier in the last few years. Gilgit DC is a good place to try.

Climbing Royalties

The Ministry of Tourism has decided to maintain the 50% reduction in mountaineering royalty fees for peaks above 6500m during 2008. Royalties per expedition are based on a party of 7. Persons additional to this number will be subject to an additional royalty fee. Current royalties are listed below.

Elevation	Normal Fee		Fee for 2008
Elevation	Expedition Royalty	Additional royalty per person	Expedition Royalty	Additional royalty per person
K2	$12000	$2000	$6000	$1000
All other 8000m peaks	$9000	$1500	$4500	$750
7501 - 8000m	$4000	$500	$2000	$250
7001 - 7500m	$2500	$400	$1250	$200
6501 - 7000m	$1400	$200	$700	$100
Up to 6500m	$1400	$200	No fee	No fee

For peaks below 6500m no royal fee is currently payable for 2008. Prior to the discounted royalty fees all peaks between 6000 and 7000m were subject to a $1500 royal fee with additonal royalties of $200 per additonal member.

Royalties for peaks in the Gilgit Region are currently reduced to 10% although Spantik is excluded. The Gilgit distict is bounded by the Wakhan Corridor in the North, Xinjiang (China) in the North and Northeast, and Skardu in the South and Southeast. The district includes Gilgit town, Naltar, Hunza, Gojal (Upper Hunza) and Shimshal.

Elevation	Normal Fee		Fee for 2008
Elevation	Expedition Royalty	Additional royalty per person	Expedition Royalty	Additional royalty per person
7501 - 8000m	$4000	$500	$400	$50
7001 - 7500m	$2500	$400	$250	$40
6501 - 7000m	$1400	$200	$140	$10
Up to 6500m	$1400	$200	No fee	No fee

A liaison officer is not required for the Gilgit region but is required for the Skardu region (ie Baltoro). The liaison officer (usually an army officer) needs fully equipping despite the fact that he will not go above BC, will mostly play cards with the other LOs and will probably leave BC ahead of you. Oh, and he will likely try to sell everything you've bought for him back to you at the end of the trip! The only real benefit that a LO brings to an expedition is that they can usually arrange an emergency helicopter (via the army) if required. Now that the LO is no longer required for Gilgit hopefully this will extend to the Skardu area at some point. In my experience the LO rule discourages people from climbing in the high peaks in the Karakoram which ultimately means less employment for local porters, cooks, guides, etc.

Restricted Zones

Restricted zones are areas relatively close to border areas (ie India, China and Afghanistan). In order to visit these areas a permit must be purchased from the Ministry of Tourism ($50 per person), a licensed guide hired, and a personal accident insurance policy taken out for the guide(s) and porters. The guide is required for the duration even though he will do little once at base. There are climbing guides in Pakistan however few are any good by Western standards (this is probably the wrong mountain to be climbing anyway if you require a guided ascent). One member must attend a mandatory briefing and debriefing at the Ministry of Tourism in Islamabad although many skip the debriefing. Most people use a trekking company in Pakistan who will provide a licensed guide, deal with bureaucracies and make all arrangements.
The above requirements are only for foreigners. Pakistanis who are not from the Northern Areas can easily visit these areas without a permit.

A list of open and restricted zones can be found here

Closed zones

Areas directly buffering the border are generally closed to tourism although the odd climbng permit has been issued when the political climate dictates.

China

The Chinese side is more expensive and more bureaucratic than the Pakistani side to visit. Peak fees for the peaks in the Karakoram are listed below.

Height	Fee
8000m Peaks	$1760
7000m Peaks	$1080
6000m Peaks	$700
Under 6000m	$30 per climber

The above are for a maximum 11 members. For a group of more than 11 members (including high altitude porters from a third country), the registration fee for each extra member is 10% of the registration fee.

A special registration fee shall be charged for the first ascent of any virgin or newly-opened peak in China. The rates are as follows:

Height	Fee
7000m Peaks	$1500 - 10000
6000m Peaks	$1000 - 5000

The Karakoram is in a 'closed' part of China meaning that you will need to apply for a permit to visit and will have to sign on to a tour to get this which will significantly increase costs. The scale of the tour partly depends on your negociating skills. For K2 costs are generally about 50% higher on the Chinese side. Those wishing to obtain a permit should email the Chinese Mountaineering Association (CMA) (cma@sport.gov.cn). Expect a reply in 1-2 weeks. Kong Baocun (climbing@126.com) of the Chinese Xinjiang Mountaineering Association (CXMA) may also be able to help and is usually prompt at replying to emails.

India

Visas

Indian visas are very easy to obtain and for many nationalities are for 6 months and multiple entry. Time of issue varies from same day to a week depending on the embassy.

Climbing Regulations

Climbing from the Indian side is extremely bureaucratic. 198 peaks are open but it seems quite possible to obtain a permit for a peak which is not on the list, provided it is not in a security area.

All peaks in the Eastern Karakoram attract a $4000 peak fee!
The fee is for a party not exceeding 8 foreign members. An additional peak may usually be added to the permit either in advance or with the approval of the LO for 50% of the normal fee. All applications should be to the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF). Climbers should apply at least three months in advance since the applications have to be processed through two Departments of the Government of India. There is a standard application form obtainable free of charge from IMF. Any change in personnel of an expedition (except simply deletion of a name) has to be put to the Government with consequent delay of at least six weeks. Obtaining permission is at the discretion of the authorities and will depend on sensitive the area you plan to climb in is along with the current political situation. Peak fees must be paid within two months of provisional approval being received.

Expeditions to the Eastern Karakoram must include Indian mountaineers
In joint expeditions, out of maximum 16, 8 must be Indians. Minimum three foreigners and three Indians are needed to form a joint expedition. This may sound insane but it is how it is.

Each expedition is required to take a Liaison Officer
This is usually an army officer. There is no charge for the LO but his food, accommodation and transport must be paid and a porter-cum-cook arranged for him from roadhead. Liaison Officer equipment will be provided by the IMF at a cost of $500 to the expedition (it may be compulsory to equip the LO through the IMF). In reality the only equipment that the LO will need are some books to read while you are climbing as he will not go above BC.

Also...
A licence must be obtained for walkie-talkies (it will be sent by IMF along with the peak application form). However the IMF now offers Walkie-Talkies on hire, subject to availability (Priority for remote areas).
Charges are:

4 sets for 4 weeks: $200
Extra per set per week: $10
Security deposit per set: $450

Organising an Expedition to the Pakistani Karakoram

Porters above the Hispar Glacier

This can either be done independently or with the help of a Pakistani-based company. When climbing in a restricted zone a Pakistani trekking company is nearly always used (see red tape). Where this is not the case it is quite easy to organise things independently. Local porters usually know the trails well meaning a local guide is rarely essential. Porters are easy to hire at trailheads at short notice and keen to be employed. Tell your driver that you are looking for porters before you arrive at the trailhead and they will usually know who to speak to in the village on your behalf, else ask at a village guesthouse. Some villages have a porter rotation system so that everybody gets a piece of the cake. It�s essential to agree prior the number of stages, the rate per stage and any extra allowances that the porters may request, such as equipment allowance. Having made reached base camp porters can easily be arranged to return on a predetermined date. The degree of English spoken varies widely from perfect English to none at all. Somebody is usually always on hand to translate I�ve found.

Gear!

Jeeps to trailheads are also easy to organise in most large settlements in the Northern Area at no notice. Karimabad in particular has numerous Jeeps for hire. A small amount of bargaining is sometimes needed as is the culture but the people tend to be fairly honest in this part of the world and hard bargaining isn�t the norm.
Suitable food is easy to come by in Gilgit, Aliabad, Karimabad and Skardu and kerosene is readily available everywhere down to small villages. The kerosene is not very clean and needs straining before use. A decent multifuel stove will be required to burn it properly such as a Dragonfly or XGK for example. Gas canisters can also be found in Gilgit, Karimabad and Skardu although supply may not be enough for a large-scale expedition. I use kerosene at base camp as it is very cheap and easy to acquire, and then use gas when climbing.
Local trekking companies remove the above responsibilities and also deal with any red tape for you such as acquiring peak permits. They can also provide trekking guides and cooks who are generally of a high standard. If you need high altitude porters which are in shorter supply than regular porters then a good company will definately be of help in finding these as this is not sherpa land. If you�re looking for a climbing guide then you are best using an international tour operator (see External Links section) although this will limit your climbing options severely to the usual regularly climbed peaks and will make things very expensive. Local climbing guides exist in Pakistan but unfortunately many are not up to Western Standards in my experience with often insufficient knowledge of crevasse rescue techniques and poor rope work. There are some good Shimshali guides. This isn�t Nepal though and it pays to be self sufficient in the Karakoram.

There is some good general info about putting together an expediton here

Is Everything Hard to Climb in the Karakoram?

No! Although there is less easy stuff compared to the Himalaya in my experience. Some fairly easy peaks to climb that could be compared to the 'trekking peaks' in Nepal are:

Climbing Yazghil Sar

Peaks on the S Side of Hispar Glacier

Sonia Peak, 6300m (North Ghuzherav Mountains, Shimshal)
Yazghil Sar, 5964m (North side of the Hispar subrange close to Shimshal)
Mingulig Sar, c.6000m (South Ghuzherav Mountains, Shimshal)
Spantik, 7027m (Easiest 7000m peak in the Karakoram)
Boe Sar, c.5700m, 900m, 35 degrees maximum incline, Alpine F (Near the Boesum Pass, South Ghuzherav Mountains, Shimshal)
Shar Izat Peak, c.5700m, 45 degrees, Alpine PD (also near the Boesum Pass)
Sheltar Peak, 5982m (Between the Bualtar and Barpu Glaciers, Nagar)
Workman Peak, 5885m (Snow Lake)
Mid-5000m peaks near the Nushik La on the south side of the Hispar Glacier
Gondogoro Peak, 5700m (Gondogoro Valley, Baltistan)

These are just suggestions of my own and not a definitive list. If anybody else has suggestions let me know please. Likewise, anybody who wants more info please PM me.

Besides Spantik, easy 7000m+ peaks are hard to come by. Diran is probably the Karakoram�s second easiest 7000m+ peak but it can be dangerous due to avalanche. Rakaposhi�s SW Spur is not technically difficult but very long. Gasherbrum II is the Karakoram�s easiest 8000er followed by Broad Peak, both of which are popular with commercial expeditions (see external links). Gasherbrum I is harder with K2 widely considered to be the hardest 8000m peak out of all fourteen. Overall the success rate in the Karakoram is significantly lower than in the Himalaya (see Climbing Conditions for an explanation).

For those looking for the toughest challenge look no further than the Karakoram! Some of the toughest big climbs belong here: Kunyang Chhish East, Ultar, the Ogre, Gasherbrum IV� the list is endless! Of course to make things harder you could also try a winter ascent although I know of no successful winter ascents on a major Karakoram peak as the conditions are guaranteed to be desperate.

Regions of the Karakoram

Gilgit
The Gilgit region as far as permits are concerned actually encompasses everything to the north as far as the Chinese border and East as far as the Skardu region, which constitutes Baltistan.

Hunza & Nagar
The Hunza and Nagar valeys are one of the most beautiful spots in Northern Pakistan. Hunza is located to the west side of the Hunza river with the east side constituting Nagir. Hunza is historically Ismaili whereas Nagir is Shia. The KKH passes through Hunza. The Jeep track to Nagar starts a short distance north of Ganish, the oldest setlement in Hunza.

The Hunza Valley

Gojal
Located north of Hunza and extends all the way to the Chinese border. Contains some of the Northern Areas finest scenery including the Hispar and Batura Muztagh. Glaciers such as the Passu Glacier flow almost down to the Karakoram highway. Regions such as Shimshal and Chapursan make for fabulous excursions from the KKH.

Shimshal
Shimshal forms the Eastern part of the Gojal region and contains some of the most remote areas of the Karakoram that are rarely visited.

View towards the Lupgar Pir Pass

Chapursan
The area of Chapursan is located in the far north of Pakistan�s Karakoram, close to the Afghan border. It is on the south side of Afghanistan�s Wakhan corridor from where the Tajik Pamir rises to the north side. While the area is technically the Karakoram the transition to Pamir is evident as the densely packed aggressively angled peaks giving way to rolling mountains and broad grazing pastures.

Baltistan
Home to Pakistan's highest peaks and longest glaciers. Much of the region is also extremely remote and inhospitable. Permits are often required to visit the most famous parts such as Baltoro, Biofo, Concordia and Gondogoro. Eastern Baltistan is famed for its huge granite towers, many of which remain unclimbed. The likes of Siachen, the longest glacier outside the Arctis Poles and the Saltoro Valley are currently firmly out-of-bunds for climbers due to their close proximity to India.

Logistical Centers

Gilgit from the KKH

Gilgit
Gilgit sits adjacent to the Karakoram Highway and is the largest town in the Northern Areas. It is still a town with a relatively relaxed pace of life. The town is well served by public transport and is the best place to stock up on camp food. The bus station is to the West of the town. Public transport in Gilgit is in the form of small Suzuki wagons. Suzuki No. 1 runs between the bus station and the centre. Taxis are also cheap if you have a lot of equipment.
There are a couple of outdoor shops selling second hand equipment but it is recommended that you bring all equipment from home as the choice and quality is poor and prices are not great.
There is good accommodation with the Madina Guesthouse being the central traveller haunt and one of my favourite places to stay wanywhere. Those looking for more luxery should check out the Serina Hotel. The hotel also does excellent buffets for around Rs450 which are good for replenishing strength lost during climbing. No.2 Suzukis running from the central bazaar and along airport road terminate at the hotel.
Sporadic sectarian violence flares up in Gilgit so check the current situation although don't be too paranoid about it.

Karimabad

Karimabad
Capital of Hunza. Popular with tourists because its laid back atmosphere combined with amazing views across the valley below and up to the peaks above Ultar. Trekking food and gas/kerosene available.

Aliabad
Located below Karimabad on the KKH. It's possible to kit yourself out for an expedition in Aliabad although the town is no where near as attractive as Karimabad and accomodation option are poor in comparison.

Passu
One of the most pleasant villages on the Karakoram highway. Plenty of accommodation and good short and longer treks nearby. The nearby giant suspension briges across the Hunza River are also worth checking out and can be done via a short trek to nearby Hussainabad. There are a couple of small shops that sell basics such as pasta, porridge, biscuits, etc, (but no chocolate), however don't expect the same variety as in Aliabad, Karimabad or Gilgit.

Passu

Bridge near Passu

Passu Wall

Sost

Sost
Last town before the Karakoram highway crosses in to China. Not many people hang around Sost for more than one night. There are enough shops to buy food however you won't find any gas. Kerosene is available. Plenty of hotels of mixed quality. Restaurants have extensive menus but cannot prepare anything on them!

Skardu

Skardu
Strating point for trips to Baltistan. Not the most attractive town in the Northern Areas and most people pas through fairly quickly. Enough shops for buying food and korosene. A number of shops in the bazaar sell gas and ex-expedition clothes and equipment but not at bargain prices. Bring all equipment from home.

Kashgar
Starting point for trips to the Karakoram on the Chinese side. You can get everything in Kashgar and there is good accomodation to boot.

The Muztaghs of the Greater Karakoram (West to East)

The Pakistani Side

The Batura Muztagh

This is the Karakoram's Western-most subrange beyond which lies the Hindu Raj and Hindukush. The Batura Muztagh is easy to get to since the Karakoram highway skirts the Batura Muztagh directly to the east. Peaks such as Shispare (7611m) and Passu Sar (7476m) are visible from the road near Passu and the likes of Ultar Peak rise abve Karimabad. The close proximity of the Muztagh to the civilisation is exemplified by the Gulkin Glacier which descends all the way to the Karakoram Highway from the east side of Shispare and Ghenta (7100m) requiring road workers to hack a gap in it annually to allow traffic to pass through.
The Batura Muztagh contains some of the Karakoram's highest peaks outside the Baltoro region and some of the most impressive. Of particular note are the huge, dramatic ice flows that descend the Batura north faces. The Passu Massif and Batura Wall constitute the heart of the Muztagh. These are densely packed along the southern side of the Batura Glacier, the fourth longest in Pakistan - although there have not been many ascents from the north. Only Batura III (7729m) has been climbed from the North. Other Batura peaks have been climbed from the Muchuhar and Baltar Glaciers to the south. Batura II (7762m) and Muchu Chhish (7453m) both remain unclimbed. The former is the Karakoram's highest unclimbed peak despite a number of attempts in recent years. Batura I (7784m) is perhaps the modern day 'Killer Mountain' (not Nanga Parbat) as it has taken a number of lives on both the north and south faces. Kuk Sar I (6943m) and II (6925m, unclimbed) at the Western end of the Muztagh are some of the most impressive in all the Karakoram.

Lady Finger & Hunza Peak

Bojohaghur Duansir & Ultar Sar

Shispare (7611m)

Gulmit Tower (5810m)

West Face of Sani Pakkush (6952m)

Kuk Sar II (6925m)

Kampir Dior (7168m)

NE side of Purian Sar (6293m)

Koran Peak

E Face of Swat Maras (c.6300m)

S Face of Sath Marau Tower (5967m)

Kuti Pokush (c.5900m)

External Links

Excellent topos/information on the Batura Muztagh (in Polish)

Photos from the 1990 Swedish Batura I expedition

The Hispar Muztagh

The Hispar Muztagh contains some of the highest peaks in the Karakoram away from the general Concordia region. Distaghil Sar (7882m) is the highest peak west of K2. Unlike Concordia this region does not share close proximity with the Chinese border and therefore not in a 'restricted area' requiring permits to visit. Whereas the Karakoram's 8000m peaks receive annual attempts, high peaks in the Hispar Muztagh have only each been climbed a hand full of times each. Scenary and mountain grandeur are also a match for anywhere else in the Karakoram. To the north of the range is Shimshal, home to some of the friendliest people in the Karakoram - and some of the best local climbers. To the south is the Hispar glacier, one of the largest in Pakistan. Many of the peaks are easily accessible from the glaciers extending south from the Passu-Shimshal road or north from the Hispar Glacier itself. More challenging approach routes exist via the glaciers east of Shimshal. Besides Distighil Sar there are numerous other 7000m in close promimitysuch as the Kunyang Chhish peaks, the Pumari Chhish Peaks, and Trivor to name a few.

The Kinyang and Pumari Chhish massifs rising above the Hispar and Jutmo glaciers

SP Pages

Kunyang Chhish East (7421m)
Khani Basa Sar (6441m)
Shimshal Whitehorn (6303m)
Yazghil Sar (5964m) + Trip Report

External Links

Blank on the Map - Hispar Muztagh
First ascent by Bularung Sar
Kunyang Chhish East trip reports
First Ascent of Pumari Chhish South (7350m)

Trivor (7720m)

Kunyang Chhish (7852m)

Kunyang Chhish East (7400m)

Kanjut Sar (7760m)

Kanjut Sar 2 (6831m)

Distaghil Sar (L) and Shimshal Whitehorn (R)

Tahu Ratum W (6651m)

Bularung Sar (7200m)

Khani Bassa Sar (6441m)

Pumari Chhish

Yazghil Domes

Hispar Sar (6400m)

Panmah Muztagh

The Ogre (7310m)

Loacted on the Western border of Baltistan much of the Panmah Muztagh is made up of steep rock towers. The most famous and highest is Baintha Brakk (7285m), aka the Ogre, made famous by the epic British expedition in which Doug Scott broke both ankles following the first rapple from the summit. Later, partner Chris Bonington broke two ribs and contracted pneumonia. The pair descended in terrible weather. By the time the climbers stumbled back to base camp, with Scott crawling the entire way, they found that their support team had left. Their rescue took ten days, and 24 years and 25 failed attempts passed before anyone summited The Ogre again. Their summit is one of the great stories of the Karakoram.
Other notable peaks in the range include Latok I (Central), II (West) and III (East).

SW Face of Latok II (7108m)

Latok III (6946m)

Marpho Goro Towers

The Baltoro Muztagh

The Baltoro Muztagh lies at the heart of the Karakoram close to the Indian border and contains some of the range's greatest scenary and four 8000m peaks including K2. Unfortunately it is in a 'restricted zone' (see 'red tape') meaning it is more expensive to visit than areas further West.
Baltoro Muztagh follows the Chinese border for its entirity with the Baltoro Glacier running parallel on the south side for much of its length. This is the second largest glacier in the Karakoram. In the West of the range are some of the Karakoram's most famous big walls such Great Trango (6286m), Nameless Tower (6239m) and Uli Biaho (6109m). These huge granite faces attract climbers to their valleys on an annual basis. Nearby Muztagh Tower (7284m) ranks as one of the most impressive peaks in the whole Karakoram.

The Trango Towers

F. Trango Tower (5763m)

Great Trango Tower (6286m)

Nameless Tower

Payu Peak (6610m)

Uli Biaho

Cathedral Tower (5828m)

Muztagh Tower (7273m)

External Links

Mike Searle photos Taken while attempting Biale
Shipton Spire by Mauro Bole
Women and Chalk; Mauro "Bubu" Bole's new route on the Shipton Spire Including individual pitch grades
Shipton Spire "Ship of Fools" by Mark Synnott
Shipton Spire East Face Routes Excellent overview of routes
Alpinist.com - Shipton Spire: Ascents and Attempts
Shipton Spire: "Inshallah" Route by Lizzy Scully
Shipton Spire 2004 Slovak expedition report
Shipton Spire Karakoram 2004 Photos
Karakoram Trifecta Ascents of Cat's Ear Spire, Hainabrakk East and Shipton Spire by Jonathan Copp and Michael Pennings
Trick of the Light 2001 AAJ report of above climbs by Jonathan Copp and Michael Pennings
Hainabrakk East Tower Topo of routes
Hainabrakk East Tower - Mystical Demno In Polish but some excellent photos
Spectacular Cat's Ear Spire Climbed: By Dougald MacDonald Report of 2nd Ascent
Uli Biaho new route by Kopold and Cmarik
Alpinist.com - The Flame: First Ascent, and Shipton Spire, The Khanadan Buttress, New Route by Josh Wharton
Alpinist.com - Great Trango Tower, Hainabrakk East Tower and Shipton Spire: Various Activity
Alpinist.com - Trango Towers Group: Various Ascents
Dodo Kopold on Assalam Alaikum, a New Route on Great Trango
Great Trango Tower "Brave New Worlds" route By Mark Synnott
Great Trango Tower by Xaver Bongard
Alpinist.com - Great Trango Tower, Northwest Face Including topo of routes
Just Climbing - The first ascent of Great Trango Tower's southwest ridge By Kelly Cordes
Alpinist.com - Trango Tower: First All Female Ascent
On the Big Stones - John Middendorf: the Dean of Big Wall Climbing
South Africans take Trango Tower Ascent of Nameless Tower via the Slovenian route
SA Trango Tower Expedition Official page
Todd Skinner - Nameless Tower
Trango Nameless Tower 6239m Topo of routes

The Northern Baltoro Muztagh

K2 (8611m)

At the heart of the Baltoro Muztagh is K2, the second highest mountain in the world but arguably the hardest 8000er. The peak dominates the entire region casting in to shadow nearby many of its mighty neighbours. South of K2 flows the Godwin Austin Glacier which meets the Baltoro and Upper Baltoro Glaciers at a glacial crossroads known as Concordia. This is a magnificent spot that has attracted trekkers for decades who rarely leave disappointed.
Besides K2 there are many high mountains that are rarely attempted. Chongtar Kangri (7330m), located 8km west of K2, is the highest peak in the Karakoram north of the Chinese border. In 1994 a largely Austrian team climbed the north peak (7250m) and the main summit, but the south summit (7180m) remains unclimbed. A failed attempt on the main summit had previously been made in 1985 by an American team.

Savoia Kangri (7286m) is located immediately SW of K2 and is one of the highest unclimbed peaks in the Karakoram despite a number of attempts. A Scottish team led by Ruaridh Pringle made two attempts in 1998, reaching 7000m on the first attempt before retreating due to deep, unstable snow. Paul Schwitzer and Nick Bullock made three attempts in 2006 but all failed.
Skil Brum (7360m), immediately south-west of Savoia Kangri, was first climbed in 1957 by Fritz Wintersteller and Marcus Schmuck after their ascent of Broad Peak. Starting from Broad Peak�s BC (4950m), they camped at 6060m, made the summit the next day, then camped again at 6060m, and then returned to base camp the next morning. The whole ascent, from base camp to base camp was done in 53 hours, a startlingly short time for a major Himalayan ascent in that era.

Angel Peak (6858m) immediately West of K2

Praqpa Ri (7156m) & Skil Brum (7360m)

Marble Peak (6256m)

External Links

Echoes by Nick Bullock � Savoia Kangri 2006 trip report

The Eastern Baltoro Muztagh

The Eastern Baltoro Muztagh is those peaks east of the Godwin Austen Glacier. This includes Broad Peak and the Gasherbrums which demarcate the border between Pakistan and China. Nearly all climbers approach from the Pakistani side due to less bureaucracy and easier routes of ascent to the main peaks. The mountains east of the Gasherbrums are still sometimes called, for geographical and political reasons, the �blank on the map� since the first expedition of Francis Edward Younghusband in 1887. Since Eric Shipton visited the area in 1937 few have returned. Rather than being called the Baltoro Muztagh the Chinese peaks are commonly called the Aghil Mountains although geographically they are the same sub-range.

Broad Peak (8047m)

Broad Peak is the third highest peak in the Karakoram after K2 and GI. As the name suggests, the peak is very broad from north to south and contains three sub-peaks (North, 7387m; Central, 8006m; and South-West, 7721m) in addition to the main summit (8051m). The main summit was first climbed by an Austrian expedition in 1957 via the West Flank which climbs from the Godwin Austen Glacier. Marcus Schmuck and Fritz Wintersteller reached the summit first followed by Kurt Diemberger and Hermann Buhl. The route is now normal route of ascent.

Gasherbrum I (8068m)

The six Gasherbrum Peaks rise in a semi-circle arrangement around the South Gasherbrum Glacier. This flows to meet the Abruzzi Glacier which extends east beyond the Upper Baltoro Glacier. Frequently climbed Gasherbrum II is the easiest 8000m peak in Pakistan and generally considered the third hardest 8000er after Shishapangma and Cho Oyu. The frequency of climbing in this area shouldn't disguise the fact that it is a long way from anywhere. William Martin Conway called Gasherbrum I the 'Hidden Peak' in 1892 due to its remoteness. In contrast to Gasherbrum II, Gasherbrum I is the world's least attempted 8000m peak. The peak holds particular significance for the fact that is was first 8000m mountain to be climbed in an Alpine style by Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler in 1975. Relatively few people try the other Gasherbrums, which are below 8000m. In stark contrast to Gasherbrum II, Gasherbrum V has only one ascent and Gasherbrum VI remains unclimbed.

Gasherbrum II (8032m)

Gasherbrum III (7952m)

Gasherbrum IV (7925m)

Map of Gasherbrum area

Besides the famous 8000m peaks the Baltoro Muztagh contains a number of rarely attempted 7000m peaks. Immediately east of Gasherbrum I are the Urdok Peaks.
Urdok I (Urdok Kangri) (7200m) lies southeast of Gasherbrum I and was first climbed in 1975 by an Austrian Expedition led by Hanns Schell. Having set up base camp on the South Gasherbrum Glacier they climbed Gasherbrum I via the �American Route� to camp III at (22300ft). From here they deviated to the summit on Urdok I. The team also climbed Gasherbrum I a week later. Urdok II (7422m) and Urdok III (6950m) remain unclimbed as far as I am aware.

SP Pages

K2 (8611m)
Gasherbrum I (8068m)
Broad Peak (8047m) + Trip Report
Gasherbrum II (8032m)
Gasherbrum III (7952m)
Gasherbrum IV (7925m)
Skil Brum (7360m)
Trango Towers (6286m)

External Links

Photo Documentation: Karakoram'94: The Baltoro Glacier trek to K2 Base camp

There are stacks of links on the pages above so please use these for the time being. I'll add some links here at some point.

The Indian Side

The Siachen Muztagh

This is one of the remotest sub-ranges of the Karakoram. It is almost impossible to visit the area due to it buffering the Indian side of Line of Control between Pakistan and India. The range lies to the North of the Siachen Glacier, one of the longest glacier outside the Polar regions.
The highest peak is the little known Teram Kangri I (7462m), first climbed in 1975 by an eighteen man Japanese expedition. From the Teram Glacier they climbed the south ridge to the summit of Teram Kangri II (7406m) before traversing to the main summit. It was again climbed in 1992 by an Indian army expedition.

External Links

Excellent info on the politics of the Siachen Glacier region is available here

Rimo Muztagh

Located in the far northwest corner of the Karakoram, the Rimo Muztagh is one of the remotest subranges. Despite containing high peaks such as Mamostong Kangri (7516m), Rimo I, II, II and IV (7385m, 7373m, 7232m, 7169m) and Padmanabh (7030m), the region receives few expeditions. This is largely due to its remoteness and the fact that it lies close to the militarily sensitive Siachen Glacier. Besides the afforementioned 7000m peaks there are numerous 6000m+ peaks awaiting the intrepid climber.
The Muztagh is bordered to the north by the Rimo Glacier which is the largest in the Karakoram to the East of the Siachen Glacier.

The Saser Muztagh

This is the eastern-most subrange of the Karakoram. The Eastern end, as with the Western end has some formidable peaks with the most impressive being the Saser Kangri massif. Peaks on the massif have nearly all been climbed with the exception of Saser Kangri II E (7511m), which is one of the highest unclimbed summits in the Karakoram.
Immediately north of the muztagh is Aksai Chin, a barren corner of the Tibetan plateau heavily disputed between India and China dispite the fact that this spot is isolated from India by the Karakoram and therefore practically useless to India.
The sub-range is bounded on the south, east, and northeast by the Shyok River, which bends sharply around the southeast corner of the range. Beyond this to the South are the Ladakh mountains. To the West are the South Saltoro (Kalais) Mountains on the Pakistan side of the border. The Thulam Puti River leading to the Saser La (5395m) mark the boundary northwest between the Saser and the Rimo Muztaghs.

Saser Kangri I is the highest peak in the Eastern Karakoram at 7672m. The mountain has now been climbed four times. The first two ascents were via the South ridge which was gained from the North Shukpa Kunchang Glacier to the east. An Indo-Tibetan border police expedition made the first ascent in 1973 with an Indian Army expedition making the second ascent in 1979. The latter two ascents have been from the Pukpoche Glacier via the North West Ridge and were first climbed in 1987 by an Indo-British military expedition and repeated by an Indian-Nepalese army expedition in 2005. Indian (1988) and Indo-Taiwanese (1990) expeditions claimed to have climbed the NW Ridge however the Himalayan Club, IMF and ITBP do not accept them.

Saser Kangri II has two summits which are the same altitude with a 1km ridge spanning between the two. The West summit was first climbed in 1985 by an Indo-Japanese expedition in 1985 via the NW ridge from the Sakang Glacier to the south.

Saser Kangri III was also first climbed by an Indo-Tibetan border police expedition in 1986. Saser Kangri IV (7410m) was first climbed by the Indo-British military expedition in 1987 immediately prior to ascending Saser Kangri I.

The Lesser Karakoram

South of the Muztaghs

The Masherbrum Mountains

Masherbrum (7821m)

The Masherbrum Mountains are located on the south side of the Baltoro Glacier. The subrange contains some of the grandest mountain scenery away from the main ridge line and some world-class granite. Masherbrum, the mountain that the subrange takes it's name from is the 22nd highest in the world (7821m) and one of the hardest 'big ones' in the Karakoram with only a few ascents. Other colosal peaks include Chogolisa (7665m), Baltoro Kangri (7312m) and K6 (7282m), the latter of which has recently been made available to climb again after politcal tensions put the mountain off-limits. In Laila Peak the Masherbrum Mountains have what is one of the most beatiful mountains in the world. There is also some of the best rock and mixed climbing in the Karakoram here. The Nangma Valley is home to Amin Brakk, the Great Tower (5800m), K6, Shingu Charpa, along with numerous other rock walls and towers. The Charakusa and Chogolisa Glaciers are also excellent. K7 is the Charakusa valley's most famous but Nayser Brakk (5200m), Beatrice (c.5800m) and Iqbal's Wall (c.5400m) are rapidly becoming established classics. New routes are being put up every year in these areas.

Chogolisa (7665m)

Baltoro Kangri (7312m)

Laila Peak (6200m)

Mitre Peak

Amin Brakk (5800m)

Shingu Charpa

SP Pages

Masherbrum (7821m)
Laila Peak (6200m)
Mitre Peak (6010m)
Amin Brakk (5800m)

External Links

Reports of a base Jump made after completing a new route on Amin Brakk are available here, here and here
Good first ascent info of Shingu Charpa is available here and here (This climb was nomiated for the Piolet D'or 2006)
There's also good good info on routes put on the Chogolisa Glacier here and here and on the Charakusa Glacier here

The Rakaposhi-Haramosh Mountains

These form the south-western corner of the Karakoram range and contain some of the highest mountains away from the main crest of range. The highest peak is Rakaposhi which forms the center piece of the Hunza valley. Many of the peaks are amongst the largest in the world with respect to the distances above local terrain.
The mountains stretch from the Hunza River near Gilgit in the east all the way to the Shigar River in the east near to Skardu. The range runs parallel with the Spatik-Sosbun mountains which are to the north and separated by the Barpo and Chogolungma Glaciers. The south of the range of marked by the Gilgit and Indus Rivers.

Diran (left, 7266m) and Rakaposhi (right, 7788m) rising above the Hunza Valley

SP Pages

Rakaposhi (7788m)

Spantik-Sosbun Mountains

This is a narrow 120km long subrange of which Spantik is the highest peak. The subrange runs along an east-west axis and is located south of the Hispar and Biafo glaciers and north of the Barpu and Chogo Lungma glaciers. South running parallel are the Rakaposhi-Haramosh Mountains. To the South-East the Braldu River separates the Spantik-Sosbun from the Mango Gusor Mountains.
Spantik is Pakistan's easiest 7000m peak attracting commercial expeditions on a yearly basis (see external links). The beautiful Bal Chhish peaks, which line the southern side of the Hispar Glacier also form part of the group.

Spantik (7020m)

P 6105