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K2 Photo Gallery - Khoburtse To Concordia On The Baltoro Glacier

Trek from Khoburtse to Concordia on the Baltoro Glacier with views of Gasherbrum IV, Masherbrum at sunset and sunrise, Paiju Peak and Choricho, Cathedral, Lobsang Spire, Muztagh Tower, Mitre peak, Broad Peak

01 Trekking From Khoburtse To Goro II We left Khoburtse and trekked along the rubble-strewn Baltoro Glacier. ‘This glacier is altogether the most inhospitable we have seen. Not only is its surface wholly stone-covered and horribly mounded, but its sides are steep and always difficult to traverse; they are exceptionally barren, with little grass and almost no fuel.’ - Climbing & Exploration in the Karakoram Himalayas by William Martin Conway (published 1894).

01 Trekking From Khoburtse To Goro II

02 Taking A break On The Trek From Khoburtse To Goro II - Sirdar Ali Naqi, Porter, Muhammad Siddiq, Muhammad Khan, Syed, Hayder Khan We stopped for a break on the trek from Khoburtse to Goro II: Sirdar Ali Naqi, Porter, Muhammad Siddiq, Muhammed Khan, Syed, and Hayder Khan.

02 Taking A break On The Trek From Khoburtse To Goro II - Sirdar Ali Naqi, Porter, Muhammad Siddiq, Muhammad Khan, Syed, Hayder Khan

03 Taking A break On The Trek From Khoburtse To Goro II - Sirdar Ali Naqi, Porter, Syed, Hayder Khan, Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Siddiq Taking a break on the trek from Khoburtse to Goro II - Sirdar Ali Naqi, Porter, Syed, Hayder Khan, Muhammed Khan, and Muhammad Siddiq.

03 Taking A break On The Trek From Khoburtse To Goro II - Sirdar Ali Naqi, Porter, Syed, Hayder Khan, Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Siddiq

04 Guide Iqbal and cook Ali On The Trek From Khoburtse To Goro II Guide Iqbal and cook Ali on the trek from Khoburtse to Goro II.

04 Guide Iqbal and cook Ali On The Trek From Khoburtse To Goro II

05 Jerome Ryan With Large Rock Resting Precariously On Ice Pedestal Jerome Ryan poses next to a large rock resting precariously on an ice pedestal. The ice melts in the sun around rocks but not under the rocks where there is shade.

05 Jerome Ryan With Large Rock Resting Precariously On Ice Pedestal

06 Pakistani Army - Horses Carry Army Supplies, Army Helicopter, Army Wire Snakes Along Baltoro Glacier The trekking trail is well maintained by the Pakistani Army. Because of the tension between Pakistan and India in these high mountains, the army has nine camps situated on the trekking route all the way to their high camp overlooking the Siachen Glacier. The supplies for all camps, except the last two, are carried by horse and mule trains using the trekking trail. For the two high camps helicopters are used. A black telephone wire snakes along the ground all along the trekking route from Thongol to Concordia and Gasherbrum Basecamp. It was strung in 1986, when the Indians strung a similar one up the Siachen Glacier. Just clip into the rope with your jumar and you're set (just kidding, you might choke the military conversation and remember they have guns and you don't). If you follow the wire, there are only three spots to be careful. The first is just before the Paiju campsite where the wire crosses the Braldu River to the army camp on the other side. You don't want to be rushed down the river to where you started your hike, now do you. The second is only a slight detour to the Goro I army camp, which is the headquarters (base camp so to speak) for the Baltoro Glacier camps. The third is at Concordia. Since there is no army camp at K2 base camp, if you follow the wire you will see Gasherbrum Base camp, not K2. Most people prefer K2, but it's up to you. Iqbal mentioned he had to use the wires in May a few years ago when there was still a lot of snow on the ground. They simply pulled the wire up from the snow and followed it.

06 Pakistani Army - Horses Carry Army Supplies, Army Helicopter, Army Wire Snakes Along Baltoro Glacier

07 Having Lunch On The Trek From Khoburtse To Goro II We trekked each day five to six hours over typically rough rocky glacier terrain. The increase in altitude was so gradual I didn't notice it very much. We stopped after about three hours for a snack lunch, cheese and biscuits, apricots and sometimes milk tea.

07 Having Lunch On The Trek From Khoburtse To Goro II

08 Gasherbrum IV Summit Pokes Out Of Clouds On Trek From Khoburtse To Goro II Up ahead, I kept my eye out for Gasherbrum IV, which poked its summit out of the clouds for a minute as I trekked from Khoburtse to Goro II.

08 Gasherbrum IV Summit Pokes Out Of Clouds On Trek From Khoburtse To Goro II

09 Small Glacier River Flows Next To Ice Mounds On Baltoro Glacier Between Khoburtse And Goro II A small beautiful green river flowed on the top of the Baltoro Glacier next to ice mounds between Khoburtse and Goro II.

09 Small Glacier River Flows Next To Ice Mounds On Baltoro Glacier Between Khoburtse And Goro II

10 Jerome Ryan And Goro II Camp On Baltoro Glacier We finished our trek from Khoburtse in cloudy weather at our camp of the night at Goro II (4320m).

10 Jerome Ryan And Goro II Camp On Baltoro Glacier

11 Masherbrum Coming Out Of The Late Afternoon Clouds From Goro II In the evening, however, the clouds started to lift and I got my first spectacular view of Masherbrum (7821m, the 24th highest peak in the world). ‘Towards sunset there was a clearing among the clouds, and, right opposite to use across the glacier, the veil was swiftly drawn aside and disclosed the glorious form of Masherbrum (25,676 feet), his summit rocks golden in the sunlight, and grand skirts of snow sweeping down to the glacier beneath. The highest point stood out like a jutting buttress and looked inaccessible from this side.’ – Climbing & Exploration in the Karakoram Himalayas by William Martin Conway (published 1894).

11 Masherbrum Coming Out Of The Late Afternoon Clouds From Goro II

12 Masherbrum Shines In Late Afternoon Sun From Goro II Originally called K1, Masherbrum is a spectacular rock and ice peak, rising to the south of the Baltoro Glacier.

12 Masherbrum Shines In Late Afternoon Sun From Goro II

13 Masherbrum Close Up In Late Afternoon Sun From Goro II The summit of Masherbrum's sheer north face is a perfect pyramid, with steep narrow ridges rising suddenly to a sharp pinnacle. It was first climbed via the south west face on July 6, 1960 by George Bell and Willi Unsoeld on an American - Pakistani expedition. Two few days later on July 8, expedition leader Nick Clinch and Pakistani Captain Jawed Akhter Khan also reached the summit.

13 Masherbrum Close Up In Late Afternoon Sun From Goro II

14 Gasherbrum IV Summit Peaks Out Of Clouds At Sunset From Goro II Gasherbrum IV is a sensational sunset mountain. The summit started to poke out of the clouds, seen from Goro II.

14 Gasherbrum IV Summit Peaks Out Of Clouds At Sunset From Goro II

15 Masherbrum Close Up At Sunrise From Goro II The next morning dawned clear with the first rays of the sun hitting Masherbrum with its ice cream cone top glistening in the sun.

15 Masherbrum Close Up At Sunrise From Goro II

16 Masherbrum Just After Sunrise From Goro II Masherbrum shines in the early morning sun from Goro II.

16 Masherbrum Just After Sunrise From Goro II

17 Yermanendu Kangri, Masherbrum, Mandu Peak Just After Sunrise From Goro II Masherbrum marks the high point of an east-west running ridge that includes Yermanendu Kangri (7163m) on the left and Mandu Peak (7127m) on the right.

17 Yermanendu Kangri, Masherbrum, Mandu Peak Just After Sunrise From Goro II

18 Masherbrum Close Up Early Morning From Goro II Slowly the sun started to silhouette the west ridge of Masherbrum in the early morning from Goro II.

18 Masherbrum Close Up Early Morning From Goro II

19 Paiju Peak, Choricho, Uli Biaho, Trango Towers, Cathedral, Lobsang Spire From Goro II Early Morning Looking back down the Baltoro Glacier from Goro II, the sun shone on Paiju Peak and Choricho, Uli Biaho, Trango Towers, Cathedral and Lobsang Spire.

19 Paiju Peak, Choricho, Uli Biaho, Trango Towers, Cathedral, Lobsang Spire From Goro II Early Morning

20 Paiju Peak And Choricho From Goro II Early Morning Paiju Peak and Choricho shine in the early morning sun from Goro II.

20 Paiju Peak And Choricho From Goro II Early Morning

21 Cathedral From Goro II Cathedral shines in the early morning sun from Goro II.

21 Cathedral From Goro II

22 Lobsang Spire Close Up From Goro II The Lobsang Spire shines in the early morning sun from Goro II.

22 Lobsang Spire Close Up From Goro II

23 Gasherbrum IV, Gasherbrum II, Gasherbrum VII, Gasherbrum Twins, Gasherbrum V and Gasherbrum VI From Goro II When I looked ahead on the Baltoro Glacier, I could see the sun coming over the top of Gasherbrum IV (7925m) with Gasherbrum II peaking out to its right. After the col (6493m) the ridge rises to the Gasherbrum VII (6955m), the Gasherbrum Twins (6882m), Gasherbrum V (7147m) and further to the right Gasherbrum VI (7003m).

23 Gasherbrum IV, Gasherbrum II, Gasherbrum VII, Gasherbrum Twins, Gasherbrum V and Gasherbrum VI From Goro II

24 Gasherbrum IV and Gasherbrum II Close Up From Goro II Early Morning The sun shines over the top of Gasherbrum IV (7925m) with Gasherbrum II peaking out to its right, seen in the early morning from Goro II.

24 Gasherbrum IV and Gasherbrum II Close Up From Goro II Early Morning

25 Porter Muhammad Siddiq, Sirdar Ali Naqi, and Porter Syed On Trail From Goro II to Concordia After a beautiful sunrise at Goro II, we started our trek towards Concordia. Here porter Muhammad Siddiq, sirdar Ali Naqi, and porter Syed walk along the rubble-strewn Baltoro Glacier.

25 Porter Muhammad Siddiq, Sirdar Ali Naqi, and Porter Syed On Trail From Goro II to Concordia

26 Looking Up Younghusband Biango Glacier To Muztagh Tower From Baltoro Glacier The Muztagh Tower came into view soon after leaving Goro II at the head of the Younghusband / Biango Glacier.

26 Looking Up Younghusband Biango Glacier To Muztagh Tower From Baltoro Glacier

27 Muztagh Tower From Baltoro Glacier On Trek From Goro II to Concordia Taken from the upper Baltoro Glacier, the twin summits of Muztagh Tower (7274m) are perfectly aligned and the mountain is seen as a slender tooth, looking impregnable. A similar photo by Vittorio Sella in 1909 inspired two expeditions to race for the first ascent in 1956.In reality both teams found their routes less steep than Sella's view had suggested.

27 Muztagh Tower From Baltoro Glacier On Trek From Goro II to Concordia

28 Muztagh Tower Summit Area Close Up From Baltoro Glacier On Trek From Goro II to Concordia Joe Brown and Ian McNaught-Davis climbed from the west side of the peak and reached the west summit of Muztagh Tower (7270m) on July 6, 1956. Tom Patey and John Hartog repeated the ascent the next day, also reaching the slightly higher east summit (7274m). A few days later a French Team of Guido Magnone, Robert Paragot, André Contamine, and Paul Keller climbed the mountain from the east.

28 Muztagh Tower Summit Area Close Up From Baltoro Glacier On Trek From Goro II to Concordia

29 Jerome Ryan Trekking On Baltoro Glacier From Goro II to Concordia With Muztagh Tower Behind Jerome Ryan treks along the upper Baltoro Glacier between Goro II and Concordia with Muztagh Tower behind.

29 Jerome Ryan Trekking On Baltoro Glacier From Goro II to Concordia With Muztagh Tower Behind

30 Mitre Peak With Gasherbrum VI Behind From Baltoro Glacier Between Goro II and Concordia A nice silhouette of the U shaped Mitre Peak (6025m) came into view as I trekked from Goro II towards Concordia, with Gasherbrum VI to the left..

30 Mitre Peak With Gasherbrum VI Behind From Baltoro Glacier Between Goro II and Concordia

31 Biarchedi Glacier Up To Ghandogoro Ri From Baltoro Glacier Between Goro II and Concordia I looked to the right as I trekked towards Concordia and could see the Biarchedi Glacier leading up to the long ridge to the partially cloud covered Ghandogoro Ri (6810m).

31 Biarchedi Glacier Up To Ghandogoro Ri From Baltoro Glacier Between Goro II and Concordia

32 Gasherbrum IV From Baltoro Glacier Between Goro II and Concordia I continued up the Baltoro Glacier towards Concordia with Gasherbrum IV (colloquially called G4) dead ahead. The slightly taller Gasherbrum II (G2, 8035m) looms over G4's shoulder.

32 Gasherbrum IV From Baltoro Glacier Between Goro II and Concordia

33 Gasherbrum IV And Gasherbrum II Close Up From Baltoro Glacier Between Goro II and Concordia Gasherbrum IV would probably be a more popular climbing mountain if it was 75m taller. At 7925m, it is the 17th highest mountain in the world. Gasherbrum II (G2, 8035m) pokes out to the right of Gasherbrum IV.

33 Gasherbrum IV And Gasherbrum II Close Up From Baltoro Glacier Between Goro II and Concordia

34 Gasherbrum IV, Gasherbrum VII, Gasherbrum Twins, Gasherbrum V From Baltoro Glacier Between Goro II and Concordia The view ahead from the Baltoro Glacier as I neared Concordia included Gasherbrum IV, Gasherbrum II, Gasherbrum VII, Gasherbrum Twins, and Gasherbrum V.

34 Gasherbrum IV, Gasherbrum VII, Gasherbrum Twins, Gasherbrum V From Baltoro Glacier Between Goro II and Concordia

35 Broad Peak Central And Main Summits From Baltoro Glacier Between Goro II and Concordia Broad Peak (8047m) came into view before reaching Concordia. The Central Summit is on the left and the Main summit is on the far right. Its name was originally set as K3, right after the famed K2. But when Sir Martin Conway saw the peak in close detail, with its summit over a mile long, he named it ‘Broad Peak’ which has stuck to this day.

35 Broad Peak Central And Main Summits From Baltoro Glacier Between Goro II and Concordia

36 Porters Nearing Concordia With Gasherbrum IV Towering Overhead My porters are nearing Concordia with Gasherbrum IV towering overhead.

36 Porters Nearing Concordia With Gasherbrum IV Towering Overhead


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