If you’re a mountaineer and have never been to the Karakoram range, it is like leaving the first chapter blank in the book of epic adventures. It’s even worse for climbers, to miss the most incredible saga, akin to scaling the mountain, only to return without conquering the peak.
Famously known as the home of K2, the second-highest mountain in the world, the Karakoram Range stands as a prominent mountain range. But beyond its iconic peak, this vast range boasts a number of staggering mountains, icy glaciers, and breathtaking vistas in its frozen wondrous world.
Imagine the monolith Broad Peak neighbouring the savage K2, along with the ethereal towering twins, Gasherbrum I and Gasherbrum II. All these mountains fall under the category of the highest mountains in the world. The great eight-thousanders standing together as icy crowns, glittering like diamonds in the frozen heart of the Karakoram range. For a mountaineer, this isn’t just a range; it’s a frosted realm where the dreams are tested against the wind’s icy blade.
If you ask me, when did I fall for the allure of the fascinating Karakoram range? It goes all the way back to my childhood when the little me used to hear bedtime stories from Gramps (my grandfather). Once, with a crackled voice, he narrated the unsuccessful ascent of Arthur Karr Gilkey on K2. I was so moved by his heroic sacrifice to avoid burdening his companions and abandoning himself in the forgotten treasures of K2, that it forever etched me into that place. That’s when I started digging more about K2 and the imperial range it nestles in. And hence, I end up exploring and standing face-to-face with some of its magnificent mountains.
This article reflects on my odyssey, a journey that traces how a childhood fascination, ignited by tales of icy giants and heroic sacrifices, matured into an unyielding passion and drew me through the Karakoram Range. This will be helpful for everyone, yearning to explore the substantial range.
About the Karakoram Range:
As someone with full marks in history, I have always been intrigued by the chronicles of a place. When it comes to the Karakoram range, how can I not have abundant knowledge about this remarkable expanse?
Karakoram, the name derives from the Turkic language, which translates to ‘Black gravel’. It was originally applied by the Central Asian to the name of pitch-dark Karakoram Pass. It’s not just the name of the pass anymore, but a call to adventure to a land of giants.
The great mountain system spans the borders of Pakistan, China, and India, with its northwestern edge stretching into the countries of Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The vast majority of it lies within the administrative territory of Gilgit-Baltistan, which falls under the jurisdiction of Pakistan.
While the world’s second-highest mountain, the Karakoram range, extends across nations, Pakistan’s threads shimmer the brightest. The reason is none other but Concordia, proudly known as the ‘Throne Room of the Mountain Gods’. Its a place where four colossal mountains standing all in their glory, feast the viewer with a fantastic panoramic view. It’s where reality transforms into a fairytale, painted in glacial blues and granite greys.
As I quote from Wikipedia, the vast range extends about 500 km in length. Being home to about 1300-1500 mountain peaks exceeding 5000 metres, 18 summits higher than 7,500 m, and the renowned four eight-thousanders kissing the clouds above its frozen dominion. The fascinating numbers and immersive topography are what make Karakoram heaven. What more could a mountaineer ask for?
My Expedition to Pakistan:
The Karakoram’s icy whispers didn’t spare me, too. And hence, I found myself flying from Italy to Islamabad, exhilarated while packing my bags for the expedition ahead. I was ready to plunge into the challenge, take the risk, and venture into the badlands. Throughout the domestic flight to Skardu, I was thrummed with chaotic energy and couldn’t stop dreaming about the place. The little me couldn’t wait to pay tribute to the courageous Arthur Gilkey, resting peacefully in the Gilkey memorial under the foot of notorious K2.
Skardu, what a beauty! An enchanting place with towering mountains, mythical landscapes, and idyllic valleys, looking just like a painted artwork. The bustling bazaar thrummed with life, the aroma of spices and chai, all against the stark beauty of the peaks. It was only the start of the expedition and, for sure, the best one.
The land of giants, Skardu, is the gateway to the Karakoram ranges, bringing us here. Our destination was 85.3 km away, still requiring a long way to go. After a 7-hour jeep ride from the city to the remote village of Askole, I was more closer than ever to the place with legendary tales. Waking up early after a camp night, our team of enthusiastic adventurers, porters and guides were ready to knock on the doors of Karakoram.
Trek to the Karakoram Range:
Next, it was the start of trek of a lifetime, that I didn’t know, would forever etch into my heart. The 7-day trek through rugged terrains, rough landscapes, steep paths, and fast-flowing streams each brought me closer to my heart’s haven. We spent three days battling the scorching heat while scaling boulders at the campsites of Joula, Paiyu and Urdukus. We had our first steps on one of the world’s largest non-polar glaciers, Baltoro Glacier. The majestic area spans over 63 km (39 mi) in length, according to Wikipedia.
Though, this isn’t the only glacier that blesses the feet of ambitious mountaineers. The Karakoram range is the most glaciated nonpolar place on Earth, with more than 15,000 square kilometres of land with a cold embrace. It’s even more than that of the Himalayas, with 8-10 percent of glaciated land. The frozen monarch of Siachen, the second-longest glacier, beckons the admirers to this range. Then there’s Biafo, the third-longest glacier outside the polar region, weaving a path in the enthralling world of the Karakoram range. This is one of the reasons why the Karakoram stands out as the mightiest and most impenetrable mountain range among others.
From Goro I, our nights became a symphony of fire and ice – battling the freezing winds while hurdled around the crackling campfires. The walks were turning challenging while our souls were more rejuvenated than ever. The spectacular sights of the mountains became an energy booster.
Glimpses of mountains sore our eyes, like Masherbrum (K1), the 22nd king of the world, loomed in the south, Muztagh tower – the icy mountain with a height of 7,276m in the northwest, the staggering Biarchedi peak, the spectacular Trango granite towers, the Uli Biaho Tower with a height of 6,417m, and more other peaks tower over you during the trek. These giants weren’t mere landmarks but a constant fuel for our weary legs.
Reaching the Legendary Concordia:
Finally, after traversing Goro I, and Goro II, there it was – Concordia. Not a mere picture on canvas nor a child’s fable from a bedtime story, this place was real! Real, and breathtaking!
Perched at 4,691m above sea level, the high-altitude land was more ethereal than any of us had imagined. The King of Mountains, K2, blessed our eyes with its wild and magisterial existence. While the team camped and took a sigh of relief at Concordia, I was fueled by my childhood ambition and went all the way to the foot of mighty K2.
As I stood next to the Savage Mountain, all the tales of past and future whispered before me. The brave souls who conquered it and the unfortunate ones who sacrificed their lives to the brutal mountain. All felt like a haunted melody echoing in the serene wilderness of the Karakoram. I paid tribute to the fallen heroes in Gilkey Memorial, who were once passionate mountaineers.
Standing dwarfed beneath the Karakoram’s icy giants, the journey that led me here still felt like a feverish dream. I wondered if Grampa had never told me that story and ignited my ambition, would my feet ever have ached on these glacial paths, and my breath tasted this thin, pristine air?
Conclusion:
I was more than grateful to be here, in the part of the world where legends are created, to leave my own trail amidst theirs on the glacial floors. The feeling is indescribable.
Our odyssey reached its culmination as we retraced our steps to where it had started. During the return journey, we explored yet another fascinating mountain – Skilbrum. If you want read that exhilarating experience and know more about the mountain, click here.
Although the expedition might have ended, the Karakoram’s icy realm would continue to fascinate me, its whispers would always carry in my heart. I am looking for another chance to head back and explore more of its frozen fantasy.
For everyone else, don’t be a mountaineer with an incomplete story. Answer the call of the Karakoram and leave your mark on the heart of legend!