20-26 Aug 2013: Night of Hunza, Rush Lake Trek & Return by Batogah Top to Kaghan

[aesiege]

We climbed the glacier wall and had a look at the crevasses and debris all over the black one

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13564252335" title="02395 by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7108/13564252335_461cfa4713_o.jpg" width="820" height="1220" alt="02395"></a>

[aesiege]

The herds were on their way back home

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13564609074" title="02396 by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/13564609074_874c748fd3_c.jpg" width="800" height="539" alt="02396"></a>

[aesiege]

Last moments of light of my last camping day

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13564609924" title="02394 by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3809/13564609924_465007dd18_c.jpg" width="800" height="539" alt="02394"></a>

[aesiege]

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13564252705" title="02393 by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7338/13564252705_2238f424ed_c.jpg" width="800" height="539" alt="02393"></a>

[aesiege]

But the best was yet to come

It was dinner time and then the porters went to the huts while i was all alone in camping ground and the beautiful starry night was at my disposal.

When i came out for photography, Milkyway was at its full display since moon had not yet risen.

So, i took some shots of the galaxy with a small time lapse sequence and then started a very long star trail session.

Milkyway before moonrise

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13564317433" title="0015A by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/13564317433_68571952b1_c.jpg" width="800" height="539" alt="0015A"></a>

[aesiege]

Lighting up the Galaxy

Moonrise and its rays touching the tops of the snowy peaks

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13564253865" title="02339 by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2902/13564253865_66f283442f_c.jpg" width="800" height="539" alt="02339"></a>

[aesiege]

Situation after i finished the time lapse sequence of the galaxy

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13564611174" title="2106A by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7031/13564611174_27e767b536_o.jpg" width="820" height="1220" alt="2106A"></a>

[aesiege]

And the next 5.5 hours were spent to capture this one shot

Last shot of the Day 4 !!

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13434786605" title="02391A - Colors of Night Sky - Nagar Valley, Pakistan by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3820/13434786605_8c87c79bea_c.jpg" width="800" height="484" alt="02391A - Colors of Night Sky - Nagar Valley, Pakistan"></a>

[emmaar]

Aap kay MILKY WAY shots nay to Bhaand kay rakh dia Saab (H):-#
Khali kar dein aaj ye "SAARI ZASNBEEL"

[aesiege]

Welcome to Day 5

It was a lazy day ... trek was almost finished along with my trip for 2013.

We woke up late but had a great breakfast

Started the trek at 7 a.m. and reached Hopar village in 3.5 hrs. The day was very bright with pinching sunshine and glacier surface was getting slippery but it was a smooth crossing over both glaciers.

The only killer was very last climb of 30 min from glacier to Hopar village ... my porter was getting extra conscious to 'motivate' me to keep walking and i was smiling at his instructions but kept following what he said

So, in total i spent around 70 hours on the trek starting 12 pm on 21st Aug and returning 10:30 a.m. on 24th.

My driver was in Karimabad and his no. was in my mobile which had a dead battery and my battery charger was hit & trial thing ... i kept trying and it started to charge finally. Atlast i got the number and called him. He arrive around 1 p.m. and we left Hopar at 1:30 p.m.

Lunch was taken in Ali Abad and next stop was at Jaglot. Though we still had 2 hours of sunlight but decided not to take risk of reaching Chilas after sunset and instead we will leave early in the morning.

Finding a good hotel was failed attempt in Jaglot and we had to settle for a below average guest house for 500.

Night stay in guesthouse in Jaglot

[aesiege]

Aap kay MILKY WAY shots nay to Bhaand kay rakh dia Saab (H):-#
Khali kar dein aaj ye "SAARI ZASNBEEL"

Jaglot puhunch jaein gey aaj In Sha Allah

[aesiege]

First shot of the morning while starting the trek

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13565246295" title="02397 by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2828/13565246295_f8c5c84903_c.jpg" width="800" height="539" alt="02397"></a>

[aesiege]

Heading back towards Ultar

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13565308393" title="02398 by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7319/13565308393_a644c3e3d8_c.jpg" width="800" height="539" alt="02398"></a>

[aesiege]

Reached Baricho Kor in half hour

This is the starting point of the trek

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13565604854" title="02399 by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3680/13565604854_bed03fd6c5_c.jpg" width="800" height="547" alt="02399"></a>

[aesiege]

This is definitely the steepest climb i have done so far and Rush Lake to Phai Pheri descend was even steeper

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13565245685" title="02400 by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3668/13565245685_2f0b21d9a3_c.jpg" width="800" height="539" alt="02400"></a>

[aesiege]

Top ridge and the edge in the middle is the normal resting point

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13565307543" title="02401 by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2892/13565307543_f52ede35d6_c.jpg" width="800" height="539" alt="02401"></a>

[aesiege]

Complete ascend view

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13565244765" title="02402 by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/13565244765_8e2ef66183_o.jpg" width="820" height="1220" alt="02402"></a>

[aesiege]

Crossing Joott

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13565244145" title="02403 by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/13565244145_acfeb9f5ed_o.jpg" width="820" height="1220" alt="02403"></a>

[aesiege]

While taking this shot ....... Koi meri tasweer utarney ke liye bhi hona chahiye ... kyon Rashid bhai

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13565602594" title="02404 by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/13565602594_727ed8bd61_b.jpg" width="820" height="991" alt="02404"></a>

[aesiege]

A relatively clear view of Spantik and Hamdar on opposite side of glacier. I wanted to see Spantik at golden hour from Hamdar but may be some other time

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mobeenmazhar/13565305223" title="02405 by Mobeen Mazhar, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2840/13565305223_ed9bb0089a_c.jpg" width="800" height="539" alt="02405"></a>