K2, also known as Mount Godwin-Austen or Chhogori, at 8,611 meters above sea level, is the second highest mountain in the world, after Mount Everest at 8,848 meters. It is located on the China–Pakistan border between Baltistan in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of northern Pakistan, and the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Xinjiang, China. K2 is the highest point of the Karakoram Range and the highest point in both Pakistan and Xinjiang.
K2 is known as the Savage Mountain after George Bell, a climber on the 1953 American Expedition, told reporters "It's a savage mountain that tries to kill you." Of the five highest mountains in the world, K2 is the deadliest where approximately one person dies on the mountain for every four who reach the summit. Other names for K2 are The King of Mountains and The Mountaineers' Mountain as well as The Mountain of Mountains after climber Reinhold Messner titled his book about K2 the same.
How Long Does it Take to Trek K2
The trek begins in the village of Askole and ends in the village of Hushe. The closest airport is in Skardu. If you don’t cross the Gondogoro La Pass, then the trek starts and ends in Askole.
Travelling from Islamabad to Skardu can be done via an overnight drive (included) or by a short flight combined with a shorter 4WD drive. This saves a day of driving on either side of the trek. If trekkers choose the flight option, then budget an additional $150 USD each way. To get from Skardu to the trailheads at Askole and Hushe, a transfer in a 4WD vehicle is necessary. Both journeys take around six hours.
Prices start from around $2,000 USD, depending on dates and itinerary, for a round trip from Islamabad. The price includes all accommodation, all meals on the trek, an English-speaking local guide and assistants throughout the trek, porters to carry equipment between camps, entrance fees to Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP) and all transport between destinations. Allow an extra $200-300 USD per person for tips.
The Best Time to Trek K2
The best time for the K2 base camp trek starts from mid-June to mid-September as well July and August being the optimum months. Before then, trekking is still possible, but until mid-June, excessive snow remains on passes and north-facing slopes, keeping any passes higher than 3,000m closed. Most passes, including the Gondogoro La, are closed by the end of September when heavy snow returns. The mountain rescue support teams near Gondogoro La departs in early September, so trekkers will have to cross the pass unsupported after this time, I mean by their own risk.
Pakistan’s restaurant industry has recently shaken up the local dining scene with a spate of exciting new diners and hip bars. Many additions to the city’s burgeoning culinary arena specialize in international cuisine, catering to the numerous diplomats employed in the city as well as adventurous foodies.
Things to Bring
Ice Screws
Rock Pitons
Countless Carabiners
Snow Stakes
Static Ropes
Korean Rope (about 6 KM)
Bamboo Stakes
Tents
Food ( Vinegar, Oil, Toilet Paper, Spaghetti, Sausages, Cheese, Canned Food, Water)
Oxygen cylinder
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