Snowlake Trek

Dates:

01 August to 24 August, 2013 & 2014

Private trips:

We can offer this program with the highest quality ground services and our full-time local staff for any date of your choosing, for single persons to groups up to 15 members, and with a variety of options and add-ons. Contact us for full details.

Price:

US$3750

Inclusions:

All services Islamabad - Islamabad

Positions Open:

12 for each trek

Trek Overview

Depending on the condition of the 4WD access tracks to the trail heads, this journey can be anywhere up to 220kms in length, with up to 160kms of that on glaciers or above the ice line. Along this highway of ice you will pass some of the world's finest and remote mountain scenery; awe-inspiring pinnacles of rock, hanging glaciers of ice, flowered meadows, and deep dark gorges. On the glacier itself an unknown world of ice pinnacles, deep caves and blue crevasses. And peppered throughout its length, melt lakes that freeze during the night, and perfectly rounded boulders strewn in a seemingly orderly fashion along the moraines. This is a place beyond description, and rated by nearly all those that travel its length as the most beautiful and stunning mountain area they have seen in their lives.

Our 24 day program through this wonderland is classified as an expedition trek. As well as the walking there may be an option for an attempt on Workmans Peak (5870m) at the top of Hispar Pass or other smaller peaks nearby. The view from her summit, across the lake and towards K2 and the other 8000m giants, is another highlight of this extra-ordinary trip.

This is an action packed and complete itinerary encompassing everything you could ever desire from a mountain experience. A technical skills and climbing component can be built into the program, there is sightseeing time in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, a flight across the spectacular Karakorum Himalaya and under the summit of Nanga Parbat, a bus journey up the Karakorum Highway, wild 4WD journeys up the Braldu Gorge, time in the fabled Hunza Valley, and visits to remote and nearly medieval villages that see few, if any westerners. There is also the chance to sight some of the areas rare wildlife. Due mainly to its remoteness Snow Lake has become one of the last strongholds for the Himalayan Brown Bear, the Ibex, and the ultra elusive Snow Leopard.

There is no fixed itinerary, we leave civilization on around day 5 and walk back into it sometime in the middle of the fourth week. While we will constantly draw on our past and significant experience on this route, it should be remembered that conditions in this kind of an environment change constantly, and all team members must be flexible in their outlook.

While this is a demanding and extended duration trip, it is suitable for first time trekkers who wish to pursue a significant mountain experience as opposed to a hill trek or base camp trip in Nepal or the lower Karakorum.