The Big Day:
Today was the longest trekking day and toughest from all the trek days. We have to cover almost 1000 vertical meters to the pass. As our last day?s trek was very short ones. We have a detailed discussion with our guides to establish a high camp to reduce the fatigue of summit push but our guide didn?t allow us to think on it. Mainly it was due to the uncertain weather of moon soon here. Later it proved to be a good decision to remain camp at base camp. It was decided that we will left camp right before 4, O, clock of the morning. At night when we have slept , then the rain was falling. We haven?t any specific information that when it stops. It means we have a Half Sound Sleep for the night. Right at 3:00 we received a wake up call. We packed our luggage on last night before sleeping. So, we were ready just before 4:00 Of the morning. We did trek first hour in the darkness. Then a small fraction of light shown us that a dense and thick fog clouds was chasing to us. It was a alarming sign of weather. We pray to our Almighty to make the last push in favorable situation. The clouds chased us for a hour then the sunshine attacks on the clouds and we took a breath of relief. Todays trek started from hard snow which become a bit soft after sunrise. We covered meters after meters of altitude with great patience. Ascend heights after height, turns after turns and finally we saw our destination in fronty of us. No doubt the uptill now and days trek was demanding but we reached very easily near the destination but REMEMBER we reached very near to the destination not on the destination. We assume that almost 100 or 150 vertical meters will be left and we have done almost 900/1000 vertical meters in 4 hours. But last 100 meters then took another 4 hours. First we have to cross a crystal hard snow and steep ascend A real BP ascent. Used rope work there for some members to cross. Then the real challenge become to last push of the summit. We haven?t an option to look down to analyse the progress of the trek. Whenever we slip,we throw a couple of stones down and our team members were right below. In mid way find a place which was at an angle to see the land scape. Oh God what a place on which we are sitting or laying. What can we call the angle of inclination. One step then stop?analyse the position and then second step..stop and carry on until last step to the top. YES WE DID IT. Most of the portes were also first timer to this tp. One of them perfom Azan at the top and did a couple of Nawafil. We got some ice and melted it from burner and drink some neede water. I was the first to reach at the top. All the porter team again went down to provide some assistance to the team on the way. So, when after an hour team reached at the top, Me was at a right angle to capture their angles. Oh God at what way we have succeeded to come at the top.
I was able to provide the energy water to the team which was prepared by me to give them as a push energizer.
After the summit, we decided to leave the top for other side. Other side was a non ending glaciers and boulders. We trekked almost 6/7 hours but it couldn?t proved to be reached at a decided camp site. Rain fall added fuel to the fire. First we have established a shelter to wait for the stoppage of rain but it wasn?t fruitful. Then we decided and started under the heavy rains. This Terrains was an easy trap to get lost into it. So, team was keeping in touch with the front and back side members.
Some important facts of the summit push were as
- We haven?t found any drinkable water during the trek.So when we reached at the top, we need some drinkable drops for our throats. Then we got some water from melting ice.
- A couple of time falling rocks due to melting of ice from near by tops. Thanks to Almighty haven?t any damage despite the team was under the prone area.
- A couple of avalanche prone areas showing its after effects but not a fresh ones.
- A crystal Hard and very steep snow patch. Almost impossible to cross it without crampons. We used rope work to cross it. One of our members was worried not only the fact that it will be dangerous to cross but he was worried to see the small melting lakes much beneath the trek. ?from where he will be able to come out after a slip/slide from the patch?
- Steep gravel ascent of summit push. No trek at all. All climbing at steep ascent and we even found it difficult to find a place for steeping up. Even no chance for rope fixing as the gravel was free?free to fall on other members. If we do it a month before then certainly the snow will help us to fixing a rope for last push.
- After the pass crossing we have to pass one LIVE MUD glacier?Live means it was running under our feet. I asked tauqeer who have crossed it?.It is running . He said you have to run too. Thanks to Almighty for safe running and crossing.
- After pass crossing we have been caught under a heavy rain storm. So we have established a shelter in quite an emergency. Stayed half an hour under shelter but we have to go a long way ahead ,so decided to start the trek under heavy rain into the huge glaciers.
- Crossed a couple of flooded nalas as we were descending towards Chitral side.
- A lot of falling streams over kukush glacier.
DSC_1545 by hmrashid, on Flickr
