K2 Base Camp & Gondogoro La Trek Forming

[Dogwap]

Hail all,

 

I will be doing the K2 Base Camp/Gondogoro La trek in early August with Adventure Travel out of Islamabad. I’m trying to recruit a few people for the 1 August departure because so far, I’m the only one signed up, and at least four people are needed for the trip to go.

 

I’m using this company because a few posters on Thorn Tree (Lonely Planet’s forum) have recommended them and so far my experience has been positive. Plus they are the least expensive outfit that I’ve found.

 

Still, this trip isn’t exactly cheap. The 20-day journey, beginning and ending in Islamabad costs about Euro 849 (approx. $1,110). But you can shave a couple of hundred dollars off the costs by joining the trek in Skardu.

 

The following is a brief description of the trek:

 

The journey starts in Islamabad on August 1st. Four days later, the group arrives at the trailhead (3,000M). From there we ascend the Baltoro Glacier for seven days, passing the Great Trango Tower, Masherbrum, Gasherbrum I - IV, Broad Peak, and finally K2. We’ll then spend two nights at the spectacular Concordia Campsite (4,650M), surrounded by hanging glaciers, vertical faces and the summits of four, 8,000M peaks. From Concordia, most parties retrace their route back to the trailhead. But we'll avoid backtracking by climbing over Gondogoro La and then out the Hushe Valley.

 

After a daytrip from Concordia to K2 Base Camp, we’ll head up the Vigne Glacier to our high camp at Ali (5,010M). Then after breaking camp around midnight, we hike on snow and ice, reaching Gondogoro La (5,940M) for sunrise. After a short break at the pass for photos and congratulations, we descend the steep Gondogoro Glacier to a slightly more comfortable campsite at 4,833M. A couple of days later we reach the trailhead at Hushe. A jeep then takes us down to Skardu where most people will catch a plane back to Islamabad.

 

All in all, the R/T journey from Islamabad will take 20 days with 12 days of actual walking. Since this is part of a longer overland journey for me, I’ll be joining and leaving the group at Skardu. This is a convenient option if you're traveling on the KKH to or from China.

 

The Gondogoro La trek is supposedly one of the most beautiful walks in the world. But it’s also pretty strenuous and experience with crampons is recommended. If you do a fast Google search on K2 or Gondogoro La you will find lots of details on the route. Some particularly good photos can be viewed here . People say that this area is even more scenic than the Kumbu (Everest) region in Nepal. If that’s true, the K2/Gondogoro La Trek will be one AMAZING TRIP!

 

If you’re interested, please contact Adventure Travel or me. Just for the record, I don't work for Adventure Travel.

 

See ya on the high road!

 

Steven

[gotterdamerung]

I was supposed to do this trek in 2002. You should be aware of State Department warnings against travel in this area.

 

Pakistan

January 29, 2004

 

This Travel Warning has been updated to remind U.S. citizens of ongoing security concerns in Pakistan . This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Pakistan dated April 17, 2003 .

 

The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to Pakistan due to ongoing concerns about the possibility of terrorist activity directed against American citizens and interests there. The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the U.S. Consulates in Karachi , Lahore , and Peshawar continue to operate at reduced staffing levels. Family members of official Americans assigned to all four posts in Pakistan were ordered to leave the country in March 2002 and have not been allowed to return.

 

Al-Qaida and Taliban elements continue to operate inside Pakistan , particularly along the porous border region. Their presence, coupled with that of indigenous sectarian and militant groups in Pakistan , requires that all Americans in or traveling through Pakistan take appropriate security measures. Continuing tensions in the Middle East also increase the possibility of violence. As security has tightened at official U.S. facilities, terrorists and their sympathizers have demonstrated the willingness and capability to attack more vulnerable targets, including facilities where Americans are generally known to congregate or visit, such as hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, or outdoor recreation events.

 

U.S. citizens who travel to, or remain in, Pakistan despite this Travel Warning should register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad or at the Consulates in Lahore, Peshawar, and Karachi in order to enroll in the emergency alert system (the warden network). Persons wishing to register at the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi should call that office to make arrangements for how to register given the special security measures in effect at that post. Information concerning updated travel and security information for Pakistan is issued periodically via the warden network. U.S. citizens in country should take appropriate individual precautions to ensure their security and safety. These measures include maintaining good situational awareness, avoiding crowds and demonstrations, keeping a low profile, varying times and routes for all required travel and ensuring travel documents and visas are valid.

 

From time to time, any post in Pakistan may temporarily suspend public services for security reasons. Official Americans, at any given time, may be prohibited from traveling to certain areas of Pakistan due to security concerns and therefore, may not be able to render immediate service to American citizens in distress. The Embassy and Consulate websites will have the latest information on more specific travel restrictions. Many areas of Pakistan such as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the international border and the area adjacent to the Line of Control in the disputed territory of Kashmir are restricted for non-Pakistanis. Travel to any restricted region requires official permission by the Government of Pakistan. Failure to obtain such permission in advance can result in arrest and detention by Pakistani authorities.

 

Contact information follows for all four posts in Pakistan:

 

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad is located in the Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5; telephone (92-51) 2080-0000; consular section telephone (92-51) 2080-2700; fax (92-51) 282-2632, website http://islamabad.usembassy.gov.

 

The U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, located at 8 Abdullah Haroon Road, closed its public operations indefinitely due to security concerns. U.S. citizens requiring emergency assistance should call the consular section in Karachi in order to make arrangements to access the Consulate. Their telephone is (92-21) 568-5170 (after hours: 92-21-568-1606); fax (92-21) 568-0496, website http://usembassy.state.gov/karachi.

 

The U.S. Consulate in Lahore is located on 50-Empress Road Sharah-E-Abdul Hameed Bin Badees, (Old Empress Road) near Shimla Road; telephone (92-42) 636-5530 during regular working hours; fax (92-42) 636-5177, website http://usembassy.state.gov/lahore.

 

The U.S. Consulate in Peshawar is located at 11 Hospital Road, Cantonment, Peshawar; telephone (92-91) 279-801 through 803; fax (92-91) 276-712, website http://Peshawar.usconsulate.gov.

 

For additional information, consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet for Pakistan and the latest Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, located at http://travel.state.gov. American citizens may also obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States or Canada, and 317-472-2328 from overseas.

 

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