Another solo trip - a tribute to KKH

[Wanderlust]

And last climb out of lake after which newly build KKH was waiting for me.

And here starts the well built section of KKH that will continue till Chinese border.

[Wanderlust]

Approaching Passu

[Wanderlust]

I reached Passu from Aliabad in 2 hours and 30 minutes. I was glad that these areas are still quiet and peaceful after so many years.....

[Wanderlust]

I reached Passu early compared to what I had scheduled and therefore decided to push for Khunjerab pass the same day. So pictures of the batura glacier, cathedral mountains etc were taken on the return lag.

Pushed the accelerator a bit hard (but safely) and was in Sost in 30-35 minutes. Wow Sost has not changed much since 1996....still a sleepy town..... people around watching my dirty car as its sound had disturbed the haamoshi.

In 1996, my friend and I had a night stopover in this town for a early morning visit to khunjerab pass. Jeep wala had informed us that we must be ready by 6am or it will not be possible for jeep to cross a couple of streams. We were also advised to wear warm clothes.....it was first week of Nov.

[Wanderlust]

Before resuming the journey to Khunjerab, I have to take lunch, offer namaz and look for a hotel for. I drove around, peeped into side streets but could not find a descend place to eat and stay.

This was the only dining spot with menu card painted on the front. Dodo is a noodle soap and like 20 years ago paalao was of yak meat.

[Wanderlust]

So my choice was only daal maash. I asked the old man to fry it....this resulted in overdose of "tumaatur" and it became sour daal maash. AlhumduLillah Allah ney paet bhur dia.

[Wanderlust]

And in surkari office there was a small mosque as well. Deferring hotel search until late in the afternoon, car started heading towards Khunjerab pass where first time in my life I met genuine thurkey at an altitude of 4,510m, thurkey who will pass any thurk competition with flying colors.

[Abdullahnoor007]

Wonderful. Great to see the newly built KKH in this area. Can you please provide the breakup of your journey from Aliabad to Khujerab as below?

Time Taken from:
Aliabad to Atabad Lake
Other side of Atabad Lake to Sost
Sost to Khunjerab

[Abdullahnoor007]

Waiting for the Tharak Story

[aghaabbas]

Excellent ...

[Wanderlust]

Wonderful. Great to see the newly built KKH in this area. Can you please provide the breakup of your journey from Aliabad to Khujerab as below?

Time Taken from:
Aliabad to Atabad Lake (less than 30 minutes)
Other side of Atabad Lake to Sost (less than 90 minutes)
Sost to Khunjerab (about 2 hours)

See above

[bahsan]

wow thumsup.....amazing........... m from abbottabad ... u didnt called me bro:P bata he daytay bahi apki kuch khidmat kar dayty

[sgk111]

Amazing travelogue.. really enjoyed it!! thanks

[smileb4u]

Excellent going so far, with beautiful clicks and narrations.

[Wanderlust]

wow thumsup.....amazing........... m from abbottabad ... u didnt called me bro:P bata he daytay bahi apki kuch khidmat kar dayty

Thank you bhai....next time!

[Wanderlust]

Amazing travelogue.. really enjoyed it!! thanks

Excellent going so far, with beautiful clicks and narrations.

Thanks for liking the travelogue.

[Wanderlust]

And in surkari office there was a small mosque as well. Deferring hotel search until late in the afternoon, car started heading towards Khunjerab pass where first time in my life I met genuine thurkey at an altitude of 4,510m, thurkey who will pass any thurk competition with flying colors.

Now there are tunnels where landsliding is an ongoing problem. I remember in 1996, jeep driver had stopped at 3 to 4 places trying to see the top of the mountains from the old windscreen of the jeep......just to ensure that there are no rolling stones speeding towards the eaten road.

It was indeed a wonderful experience.......best experience on KKH in 1996 Nov.

and in 2015 it is best "driving" experience ever.

InshAllah.... I will go there again.

[Wanderlust]

Road started climbing sharply and first sight of snow on KKH at a height of 3,500m +/-...wow!

[Wanderlust]

I was in Khunjerab National Park and there is a wildlife check post where I stopped for Rs. 40 entry ticket.

Last line of the signboard made my mouth watering.....my car was loaded with complete camping gear.....I don't need to go back to Sust in the evening where I could not find a descent hotel at noon time that day.

I was in relaxed mood then....I can spend a lot of time at Khunjerab now.

[Wanderlust]

Just besides wildlife checkpost is a police checkpost where I have to stop again for entry of my particulars.