Thu.20th Aug. Day 20. Skardu to Islamabad

Breakfast in the garden at the K2 Motel, Skardu. By 9.30 we heard that our flight to Islamabad was actually going to happen - thus avoiding a 2 day drive down the Karakoram Highway.

Incredible view of Nanga Parbat -9th Highest mountain in the world.

Wed.19th Aug. Day 19. Askole to Skardu

For the drive back to Skardu we had not-enough jeeps and not-enough diesel
By getting past the landslide an hour out of Askole we met up with our missing jeeps -
- although we walked across.
Diesel ran out and after a short tow we found that a mixture of kerosene and engine oil is a perfectly good diesel substitute that got us over 120 km.
Back to Skardu and the K2 Motel. First shower in quite a while.

Tue.18th Aug. Day 18. Panmah River to Askole

A long day's walk - past the terminal moraine of the Biafo Glacier.
Excellent lunch stop right next to the river.
Then into Askole where we had a look round the village.
After tea, Jules, Paul & I went over the bridge to Korphe to see the school that Greg Mortensen sponsored and as described in '3 Cups of Tea'.

Mon.17th Aug. Day 17. Paiju to Panmah River campsite

A wet day with river crossings. Eventually back to the Panmah River campsite (excellent sit-down toilets) overlooked by Bakhor Das.

Sun.16th Aug. Day 16. Liligo to Paiju

Further on down the glacier past the Cathedral Group and the Trango Towers - seen here.
The glacier more chaotic in it's lower stretch.
After a week of clear blue skies the weather began to change for the 'wetter'.
At Paiju the other group camping there was an expedition of David Breashears'. He was travelling up the glacier taking new photos to compare with those taken in 1909 & 1911.
David made the Imax Movie on Everest in 1996 documenting the storm that killed many. He has summited Everest 5 times!

Sat.15th Aug. Day 15. Gore 1 to Liligo

Sunrise over Gasherbrum IV.
Ice pinnacles looking back up the Baltoro.
Always ice underfoot and stupendous crevasses.
Lunch stop at Urdukas.
Back to the rubble campsite at Liligo. There was a stream running through the campsite. Washing of shirts & socks was done!

Fri.14th Aug. Day 14. Concordia to Gore 1

We begin the long haul back down the 60+ km. of the Baltoro glacier.
Excellent crevasse with Baltoro Kangri (Golden Throne) 7312 m., 23990 ft behind.
A pack train of horses passing in front of Mustagh Tower. These animals are used to supply the many army camps in the area - the Kashmir issue with India still going on.
Our Camp at Gore 1 with it's great view of Masherbrum.
Avalanche coming down the Biarchedi Group.

Thu.13th Aug. Day 13. Concordia

Up at 3.00 am for a 3.30 start playing on the ice. We were meant to try and get across a river towards K2 but it was a bit more tricky than anticipated so we backed off and did a different walk later in the day.

Karim guided 4 of us up the Baltoro towards the Vigne Glacier. Spectacular views.

Karim, K2 and me.

Wed.12th Aug. Day 12. Gore 2 to Concordia ( 4600 m. - 15091 ft.)

The glacier was becoming less chaotic but more icy.
We got the best views of Mustagh Tower - 7273 m., 23862 ft. - first climbed in 1956 by Joe Brown et al.
As we approached Concordia, K2 slowly came into view past Marble Peak. At last we could see the whole Abruzzi Ridge.
Time for the tourist photos.
First of a series of fine sunsets and sunrises.

Tue.11th Aug. Day 11. Urdokas to Gore 2 ( 4500 m. - 14764 ft.)

First view in the morning was of the Gasherbrum Group with 2 mountains over 8000 m. This was our only glimpse of G1 or Hidden Peak ( 8068 m., 26470 ft.)
We got better and better views of Masherbrum, originally K1 and 22nd highest in the world at 7821 m., 25660 ft.
Porters and Gasherbrums.
Masherbrum from our camp at Gore 2.
Sunset on Gasherbrum IV.

Mon.10th Aug. Day 10. Liligo to Urdokas ( 4011 m. - 13160 ft.)

A beautiful morning. Greeted by views of the Cathedral Group and Lobsang Spires beyond.
As we moved up the valley we got this view of Broad Peak - originally K3 - 12th highest at 8051 m., 26414 ft.
At Urdokas looking back down the Baltoro with Mt. Paiju, Uli Biafo Towers and Trango Towers.
The camp site at Urdokas, several hundred feet above the glacier on terraces laid out by the Duke of Abruzzi in 1909.
Our porters. Trango group behind.
Evening light.

Sun.9th Aug. Day 9. Paiju to Liligo (3715 m. - 12188 ft.)

An hour's walk brought us to the Baltoro Glacier, a massive torrent pouring out of a cave at the base of it's snout.
The ice is covered by a layer of rubble and the whole place is chaotic and hard going.
Superb view of the Trango Towers group - Nameless Tower on the left and Great Trango in the middle.
Looking back at Paiju Peak - 6600 m., 21653 ft.
Ibrahim, Karim, myself, Iqbal (Karim's brother), Pakoor behind. Ibrahim & Iqbal were High Altitude Porters and had summited Gasherbrum 1 (Hidden Peak - 11th highest at 8068 m., 26470 ft.) a few days before.
Carlos Soria. 72 year old Spanish climber had also summited G1 - his 9th 8000er.