Hiking Trip to Mount Spantik, Skardu

[AbuJamal]

Dear Friends,

This Summer, I went on a hiking trip to the base camp of Mount Spantik (7,072m/23,000 feet) in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. Spantik lies in the Karakoram Range, at a distance of 3 days from Skardu. We were a group of two people, Ahsan and myself, Ahmadyar. The highest point that I was able to reach was about 5200 metres-a little below Camp 1. Ahsan was able to reach up to Camp 2, at a height of 6000 metres.

I shall let the pictures tell the rest of the story now.

Mount Spantik

[AbuJamal]

Leaving Lahore-My partner Ahsan (inside the vehicle) and myself (yellow t-shirt) at Shell, Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore

We left Lahore on May 29th at 7:30 pm and reached Skardu the following day at 5:30 pm (we stopped only for meals as the desire to reach Skardu was greater than the need to sleep or take rest). This is how Karakoram Highway looks like early in the morning. Our salute to Pakistan Army which has built this road and has always done great things for the nation.

[AbuJamal]

This place is called 'Hot Springs'. The water here is exteremely hot and has healing effect for people having problems of joints. The locals also come to sit in the water in the winter to stay warm.

This is the famous place where three of the highest mountain ranges in the world meet, i.e. Karakoram, Hindukush and Himalayas

Sadpara Lake, Skardu. The weather had turned chilly by then, hence I decided to put on another t-shirt.

Sunset at Skardu...

Our mule... I am extremely pleased with the performance of this vehile. We drove it non-stop and at very high sppeds and still the vehicle was too much for the drivers to handle

[majedkhan]

gr8 pics..........

[Mustang1]

Lovely...X-cellent ....& good phenomenon"Our Mule".

[AbuJamal]

After having a comfortable journey on the new Vigo, this was our mule for the next day :(, which carried us, our gear, our guide Ali), the cook (Shabbir) and our High Altitude Porter (Shakoor) to Arandu. The journey takes 6 hours (of which only the first hour is on road :))and follows an extremely dangerous trail-yet the driver was casually chatting with us and puffing on his cigarette.

Upon reaching Arandu-waiting for porters to carry our gear to the Camping Site where were supposed to spend the night

It started raining the following morning, but this is usual for the Northern Areas, so we started with our trek towards Munpekhora-our first stop-over.

Stopped for a cup of tea and some parathas at noon.

[AbuJamal]

Thanks Mustang and Majed Khan.

We reached Manpekhora around 2.30 (we had started walking at 9 am). This was the view. I must say that the pictures don't do even an inch of justice to the actual view. One has to be there to appreciate it.

[AbuJamal]

The people of Arandu take their cattle to Munpekhora for grazing. Arandu is the last village on the way to Mount Spantik.

This was our first view of Spantik-the mountain which we had come to climb.

The next day, we started walking towards Balocho, our third stop. This was a very steep trek over rock initially and on scree (glacier and mud) for the second half.

Taking a rest, Spantik in the background, breathtaking view all around.

It is deeper than it seems

We reached Balocho around 2.30 pm. The altitude here was 3900 metres. We both had a bad headache due to reduced oxygen in the air and we were too tired to take any photos, so went to sleep immediately after having lunch.

[HotEngine]

Nice pictures.

[imtishal]

@Abujamal

Magnificient.Specticular..
However, i see 'Warid' banner on ur 'mule'.were u sponsered by warid or u work there or there is some other story behind it.

[AbuJamal]

Thanks Hot Engine and Imtishal.

Yes, Ahsan and I both work for Warid-hence the banner on the mule :).

Now, on with the story, we started walking towards the Base Camp at 5 the next morning, as we had to trek on the glacier up to the Base Camp. It is easier to walk on snow at night and early morning as the snow is hard, and gets softer once the sun rises.

There are not too many photos of that day as the trek was very dangerous and long and we tried to remain focused on the task at hand.

[AbuJamal]

The last 30 minutes to the Base Camp involved a very steep climb. Here is a view from the Base Camp-the snow below is our path from Balocho.

There were three other expeditions at the Base Camp:

1. Japanese (7 climbers)
2. Spanish (2 climbers)
   3 French - Norwegian (2 climbers)

I must salute the foreigners who visit Pakistan despite the rise in extremism, terrorism and our negative image abroad. Tourism is one of the biggest industries in the world, whereas we are doing all in our power to keep tourists away from our beautiful country :(.

[sunny234]

awesome pictures.keep them coming.

[AbuJamal]

The Base Camp is located at 4300m.

The next day, we started towards the Base Camp. Here are a few pictures enroute.

You could probably make out Ahsan and the Spanish expedition in the photos below

[AbuJamal]

Thanks Sunny234. You must visit this side of the country too sometime.

Here are a few photos from the highest point that I could reach, i.e. about 70m short of Camp 1. Beyond this point, there was soft snow and too dangerous for a novice like me (this was my first Hiking Trip in my life). Ahsan and our High Altitude Porter (HAP) moved on and established Camp 1.

[AbuJamal]

Some more photos

[AbuJamal]

It snowed the next day which prompted Ahsan and our HAP Shakoor to return to Camp 1.

The Japanese expedition coming returning from Camp 1 to the Base Camp. The Japanese had brought HAPs from Nepal, called Sherpas. These guys were amazing climbers. There was only one Pakistani HAP, names Ahmad Hussain (also a part of the Japanese expedition), who was as good as them. The best thing about Ahmad Hassan was that he was extremely polite and courteous, something which we are beginning to see less and less in our society :(.

Our gang Shakoor, Ali and Shabbir - Looking sharp, boys!!!

[AbuJamal]

Ahsan and Shakoor went to Camp 1 the next day, and I accompanied them again up to the point where the snow started. Here are a few photos from that place.

[b4badar]

really a great job done by you people....
======SUBHAN ALLAH========

[sheraznizami]

Great Tour Guys, It needs much courage and stamina. Life time event. Well Planning made your hiking trip easier but its not so simple as it seems.