Blogs
Askole: The Last Village Before K2 — Road, Altitude & Treks (2027)
Askole sits at roughly 3,040 m in the Braldu Valley — the last permanent village before the high Karakoram, and the trailhead for K2 Base Camp, Concordia, Gondogoro La, Trango and Snow Lake. The jeep road from Skardu, the season, the permits, and an honest account of the risks.
Broad Peak Central (8,011 m): The Eight-Thousander That Does Not Count (2027)
Broad Peak Central stands at about 8,011 m on the Baltoro Muztagh, barely 35 m below Broad Peak Main, yet it is not one of the fourteen eight-thousanders. Here is where it sits, the grim 1975 first ascent, the route from Askole, and what we can honestly organise.
Shipton Spire (about 5,885 m): The Hidden Big Wall Above the Trango Glacier
Shipton Spire is a granite tower of just under 6,000 m hidden in a side valley off the Trango Glacier above the Baltoro. Here is where it is, the three-day approach from Askole, every established route and its history, the June to September season, and an honest read on how hard it is - from a Balti team in Skardu.
Mustagh Pass (5,422 m): The Old Caravan Route Over the Baltoro Muztagh
The Old Mustagh Pass (about 5,422 m) crosses the Baltoro Muztagh north-east of the Trango Towers. Once the shortest caravan road from Yarkand to Skardu, closed by moving ice, crossed by Younghusband in 1887 and barely since. What the history is, and what you can honestly do on the Baltoro side today.
Winter Climbing in the Karakoram: K2's Winter Ascent and Winter in Skardu (2027)
K2 was first climbed in winter on 16 January 2021 at around -40 C. What a winter 8,000 m attempt in the Karakoram really involves, what winter closes, and what Skardu, Shigar and Khaplu are like in the coldest season.
Chogo Lungma Glacier & Arandu: Trekking Baltistan's Quietest Ice Highway
The Chogo Lungma is a roughly 40 km glacier at the head of the Basha Valley, and the trek from Arandu to Spantik Base Camp is the quietest big-glacier walk in Baltistan. Route, itinerary, season, difficulty and history, from a local Balti team in Skardu.
Diran Peak Expedition (7,266 m): Route, History and the 2027 Season
Diran, 7,266 m, is one of the few Karakoram seven-thousanders a fit alpinist can realistically climb. The normal route from Minapin, the 1968 first ascent, the real avalanche risk, season, permits and how we run it from Gilgit-Baltistan.
Istor-o-Nal (7,403 m): The Hindu Kush Giant Hiding Behind Tirich Mir
Istor-o-Nal is 7,403 m and the third-highest peak in the Hindu Kush, hidden behind Tirich Mir in Upper Chitral. The route from Shagrom, the Tirich Glacier base camp at about 4,700 m, the 1955 first ascent, season, difficulty and permits — straight from a local team.
Bagrot Valley: Gilgit's Green Karakoram Valley Under Rakaposhi and Diran (2027 Guide)
Bagrot Valley runs east off the Karakoram Highway 38 km from Gilgit, under Rakaposhi (7,788 m) and Diran (7,266 m). Route, Diran Base Camp trek, season, permits and the honest difficulty.
Malangutti Sar (7,207 m): Shimshal's Quiet Giant — Route, History and 2027 Expedition Guide
Malangutti Sar (7,207 m) rises above Shimshal in the Hispar Muztagh. First climbed in 1985 and barely touched since — the route, the history, the season, the real difficulty, and how we run it with a local team.
Attabad Lake, Hunza: The Complete Guide for 2027
Attabad Lake in Gojal, Upper Hunza: how a 2010 landslide created it, what you actually do there, the best months to go, and how to reach it from Gilgit, Karimabad or Skardu.