PHOTO DOCUMENTATION: KARAKORAM

PHOTO DOCUMENTATION: KARAKORAM'94: THE BALTORO GLACIER TREK TO K2 BASE CAMP

Klaus Dierks

Karakorum_K2-Big_1.jpg (235835 bytes)
© Dr. Klaus Dierks 2004: Photo: K2 - Chogori: On the Trek from Concordia to K2 Base Camp

From June to August 1994 we undertook a trekking expedition to the Karakoram. We trekked as individual travellers, my wife, Karen Dierks, née Von Bremen and myself, from Ashkole in the Braldo River valley along the Baltoro Glacier - the longest glacier on earth outside the polar areas - to Concordia which is surrounded by several peaks higher than 8 000 m altitude and where several Karakoram glaciers are meeting. From Concordia we visited the K2 Base Camp at an altitude of roughly 5 000 m. On our way back to Gilgit we visited the Hunza Valley up to the border of the Peoples Republic of Cina at the Khunjerab Pass 4 602 m.

Point of exit for our trip to K2 was Skardu in the Indus Valley. We reached Skardu by air from Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The flight from Islamabad to Skardu along the Nanga Parbat 8 126 m and the Karakoram Range is surely one of the - if not the most exiting flight on earth. In the Indus Valley the wings of the Boeing 737 are sometimes nearly touching the rock faces, glaciers and ice pinnacles of the Karakoram on both sides. The plane is flying through the Indus River gorge and near Skardu has to circle down in several narrow circles around the Skardu Fort because no direct approach to Skardu Airport is possible.

FLIGHT FROM GILGIT TO ISLAMABAD

Flight from Gilgit to Islamabad: View to the North into the Karakoram Range with Rakaposhi 7 788 m in the Hunza Valley (Left) and Haramosh 7 397 m (Right)
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Flight from Gilgit to Islamabad: View to the East to Nanga Parbat 8 126 m
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

SKARDU - THE CAPITAL OF BALTISTAN AND POINT OF EXIT INTO THE KARAKORAM

Skardu 2 290 m at the Indus River is the Capital of Baltistan: View to the East in Direction Shigar Valley and Karakoram Main Range
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Skardu at the Indus River: View to the West with the Skardu Fortress on Rock Buttress in the Background (Left Photo)
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Skardu Main Street: View to the East: Baltistan was once Buddhist Territory, but is now since more than 600 Years Islamic Territory (Shiite Religion)
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Skardu's Karpochu Fort was built by Ali Sher Khan Anchan on the East End of the 300 m high Karpochu Rock in the 17th Century. In the early 1800s the Sikhs took an Interest in Ladakh and Baltistan. Using as Excuse a Quarrel between Raja Ahmad Shah and his Son, whom he had disinherited, an Army of 21 000 Hindu Dogra Tribesmen in the Service of Sikh Raja Gulab Singh of Kashmir, worked its Way down the Indus and in 1840 laid Siege to Skardu's Fort. After two Weeks Ahmad Shah was tricked out and captured, and his Son was installed as Puppet Raja in a cruel Dogra Reign
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Karpochu Fort: View to the East in Direction Shigar Valley and Karakoram
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Karpochu Fort: View to the West in Direction Haramosh
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Karpochu Fort: View to the South in Direction Satpara Lake and the more than 5 000 m high Deosai Plains in the South of the Indus River
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Satpara Lake: View to the South in Direction of the Deosai Plains
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

View from the Satpara Lake to the Northwest in Direction Indus Valley
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Sitting Buddha Sakyamuni of Satpara carved on a big rust-brown Rock: Perhaps 7th Century: Buddhism came to Baltistan in the 3rd Century with Gandharan Missionaries and again when Baltistan was Part of the Tibetan Empire in the 8th and 9th Centuries. Islam arrived in the 14 th Century via Kashmir
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

FROM SKARDU TO THE SHIGAR AND BRALDU VALLEYS TO PAIJU - BEGINNING OF THE BALTORO GLACIER

View into the lush and yawning Shigar Valley with the Shigar Village on the Right Side of the Photo (with an old Royal Palace of the Shigar Rajas who rivalled the Skardu Rajas): In the Background the Mango Gusor Range
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Bauma Lungma Village in the Shigar Valley
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

At Dassu Village 2 440 m the Braldu River which comes from the Baltoro Glacier joins the Shigar River: Here starts our Trek to the Base Camp of K2
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

The Trek along the wild Braldu River Gorge - with the Threat of continuous Stone Avalanches which could sweep one into the Gorge - is one of the most dangerous Sections on the Trek to the Base Camp of K2
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

The Village of Askole 3 050 m is the last Human Settlement on our Way to K2
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

The Braldu River between Askole and the Biafo Glacier (Korophon Camp Site): View to the East
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

At the End of the Biafo Glacier - one of the largest Glaciers in the Karakoram - The Braldu River joins the Biafo River: View to the West
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Crossing the Biafo Glacier: View to the West
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

After crossing the Biafo Glacier we had to climb this steep Rock Face in order to reach the Flying Fox over the Dumordo River (Photo was taken after we had negotiated this Rock Face, one of the most dangerous Sections on the whole Trek to K2 Base Camp): View to the East
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Negotiating the steep Dumordo Rock Face: View to the East
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Climbing down through a Rockfall threatened Gully in the Dumordo Rock Face to the Flying Fox over the Dumordo River
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

The Flying Fox over the Dumordo River: The small Basket to the left carries one over the torrential Glacier Waters of the Dumordo River
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

My Wife Karen Dierks, née Von Bremen, crossed in the Flying Fox the Dumordo River
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

One of the many Glacier Streams which had to be negotiated between Bardimal 3 253 m and Paiju 3 368 m: View to the North to the high Peaks of the Karakoram at the Baltoro Glacier
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

View east of the Camping Site at Paiju to the Beginning of the Baltoro Glacier and the mighty 6 000 m and 7 000 m high Granite Towers of the Karakoram north of the Baltoro Glacier: The River which leaves the Glacier is one of the Main Tributaries of the Braldu River: Biaho Lungma
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

FROM PAIJU ALONG THE 78 Km LONG BALTORO GLACIER TO CONCORDIA AND THE BASE CAMP OF K2 (CHOGORI OR MOUNT GODWIN AUSTEN)

View from the Beginning of the Baltoro Glacier to the North to the Uli Biaho Glacier and the Uli Biaho 6 417 m (Left) and the Uli Biaho Tower (Granite) 6 109 m (Right)
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Beginning of the Baltoro Glacier: View to the East in Direction Broad Peak and K2
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Our Porters on the Baltoro Glacier: We had on our Trekking Expedition one Guide (Shah Jahan), one Assistant Guide, one Cook and 18 Porters
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

View from the Baltoro Glacier to the Trango Towers in the North: The Granite Towers range between 6 239 m and 6 763 m (Right)
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

View from the Baltoro Glacier to the Cathedral Peak 5 828 m (Right) and the Biale 6 729 m (Left) in the East
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

View from the Baltoro Glacier our Way back to the West to the Uli Biaho 6 417 m (Left) and the Uli Biaho Tower 6 109 m (Right)
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Liligo Camp Site 3 715 m: View from the Baltoro Glacier to the South on the Liligo Glacier, which is one of the few Glaciers in the World which is still considerably growing every Year
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Urdukas Camp Site 4 010 m: View from the Baltoro Glacier to the South on the Mandu Glacier with Masherbrum (K1) 7 821 m (Left) and the four Urdukas Peaks to the Right (from Left To Right: Urdukas I 6 320m; II 6 280 m; III 6 130 m and IV 5 900 m)
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Urdukas Camp Site: View to the West to the Trango Towers and Uli Biaho: One of our Porters at his Evening Prayer
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Between Urdukas and Gore II Camp Site we trekked via Lhungka, Biange and Gore I entirely on the Baltoro Glacier: View to the Southwest to the Masherbrum (Burning Face in the Balti Language) or K1 (7 821 m) in the Background
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Near Lhungka we met the German Mountaineer Michael Wehrli, who just had successfully climbed K2, probably the youngest Mountaineer (24 Years old in July 1994) ever on Top of K2: View to the Southwest to the Masherbrum
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Between Gore I and Gore II on the Baltoro Glacier: View to the West in Direction Biale, Trango Towers and Uli Biaho: Lunch Rest on the right Photo
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Our Camp at Gore II on the Baltoro Glacier: View to the West in Direction Biale, Trango Towers and Uli Biaho
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

On the Baltoro Glacier: Between Gore I and Gore II: View to the North to the Muztagh Tower 7 284 m: Muztagh Tower forms the Boundary with the Peoples Republic of China
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

On the Baltoro Glacier: View to the Southwest in Direction Masherbrum: Between Gore II and Concordia
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

On the Baltoro Glacier: Doksam: View to the Northeast to the Cristal Peak 6 252 m (left) and Marble Peak 6 256 m (right): Behind this Mountain Range is the Broad Peak and K2: Between Gore II and Concordia
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

The Broad Peak (8 051 m right Peak and 8 006 m left Peak) is appearing at the End of the Baltoro Valley in the North: We areapproaching Concordia where seven Glaciers (Baltoro, Godwin Austen, Broad Peak and Vigne Glaciers are the four largest) meeting (Concordia: "Place de la Concorde") and which is surrounded by some of the mightiest Mountains on Earth
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Broad Peak from Concordia 4 720 m
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Chogori (K2 or Mount Godwin Austen) 8 611 m from Concordia 4 720 m: My Wife and myself reached Concordia on July 31th, 1994, exactly 40 Years after the First Climb of K2 by the two Italian Mountaineers: Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli onJuly 31th, 1954
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Concordia Camp: View to the Southwest, to the Mitre Range 6 025 m
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Some of our 18 Porters at getting paid-off at Concordia Camp: View to the Southwest, to the Mitre Range (left Photos) and to the West in Direction Masherbrum (right Photo)
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Concordia Camp: View to the North, to K2: With my Wife, Karen Dierks, née Von Bremen, and our Guide, Shah Jahan, in the left Middle of Photo
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Our Trek from Concordia Camp to the Base Camp of K2 crosses the Godwin Austen Glacier: View to the North
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Karakorum_K2-Big_1.jpg (235835 bytes)

K2 - Chogori - Mount Godwin Austen: 8 611 m: The Second Highest Peak in the World: Mountain of all Mountains: The most difficult of all Peaks higher than 8 000 m: On our Way to the Base Camp of K2: View to the North: The Ridge on the Right-Hand Side is the Abruzzi Ridge which leads the Normal Way to the Top
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Gaherbrum II 8 034 m from Concordia: Gasherbrum I 8 068 m is hidden behind Gasherbrun II and not visible from Concordia: Therefore he is also called "Hidden Peak"
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

View from Concordia to the South to the Junction betweween Vigne Glacier (left) and Baltoro (right) with Vigne 6 874 m and Chogolisa 7 668 m in the Background: At the Chogolisa the Austrian Mountaineer Hermann Buhl who was the First One to stand on Top of Nanga Parbat in July 1954, lost his Life in 1957
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

View from Concordia to K2: "Namibia on the Roof of the World"
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

View from Concordia to Broad Peak
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

FROM SKARDU ALONG THE INDUS GORGE TO GILGIT AND THE HUNZA VALLEY

The Indus River Gorge west of Skardu near Rondu: View to the West
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

The Indus River Gorge west of Skardu near Strongling: View to the West to the Haramosh Range 7 397 m
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

The Junction of the Indus River with the Gilgit River (east where the Hunza River meets the Gilgit River): View to the South into the Indus Valley to Nanga Parbat 8 126 m
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

The Hunza Valley near Ghulmet with Rakaposhi 7 790 m in the Background: View to the Northeast
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

The Hunza Valley near Aliabad with Rakaposhi 7 790 m in the Background: View to the Southeast
Copyright of Photos: Dr. Klaus Dierks

The Hunza Valley near Baltit, the Capital of Hunza: View to the North in Direction Sust and Khunjerab Pass
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

Khunjerab Pass 4 602 m forms the Border between the Hunza Valley in Pakistan and the Peoples Republic of China: View to the South into the Hunza Valley in Direction Sust
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks

The Khunjerab Pass: View to the West
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks