Thank you Porsche_maker, Libra, OffRoad, Saadisb, and Traveller, I am truly thankful for your comments and encouragement.
Libra Sb, I am honored by your comments and for visiting this thread. I am a great admirer of you and would vote for you if you run for President of the country.
OffRoad, you lead, I follow, my friend :). I have been following all your travels posted on this website for a long time. I must say that your trips are a great inspiration for everyone and encourage people to explore our beautiful country and engage in outdoor activities. You are one of the few people I know who even take their families out for camping, and I am trying to convince my wife through your posts also to go along with me to one of such trips :). Let's hope I succeed, inshAllah.
Porsche_Maker, you must visit our Northern Areas, no words can describe their beauty. These places have all the facilites and you can have a very comfortable and affordable stay, yet, you would be close to unspoiled natureal beauty.
Traveller, thanks for the encouragement. Do share the details of your trip. Which place are you planning going to? Let me know if you need any climbing equipment, or assistance in the Northern Areas. I have made some very nice friends, who rent out equipment, so you don't have to buy everything.
Saadisb and Porsche_maker The Vigo was the courtesy of our office. It dropped us at Skardu and went back as our trip was scheduled for 24 days. On our way back, the flight schedule was upset due to Monsoon rains, hence we had to come back by road, which was an adventure in itself.
Rashid Sb We didn't see any wildlife except for a few foxes. The locals say that there are Markhors in the Arandu area, but it stays at very high altitudes. I saw a few Marrkhor hunters climb and they had the stamina of a bull. I think they got their lungs replaced with that of the Markhor itself :). Even at the Base Camp, which was only 4,300m high, one runs out of breath only by walking a few steps and has to rest for a few minutes, whereas markhors are said to graze at heights not below 5,000m, which is very high for city people like us, who battle for saving their own life at that height :), but hats off to the Pakistani Army which is fighting the enemy in that area with little or no facilities and at minimal salaries. If you require any details, I can ask my Guide at Skardu who happens to know Markhor hunters.
