"Baltistan and Beyond! Trav ..." a Pakistan Travel Page by lachydragon

In June 2001 I embarked on my first overseas trip. Having finished my sencondary schooling and keen to take a break for a year before starting on univiersity, I had the most fantastic opportunity leap up.

A good friend of my dad who has travelled widely and used to work for Australia's national airline - Qantas, asked Dad if he would be keen to do a trip into Northern Pakistan!

Dad then suggested that I come along too. So at age 18, having lived in Australia all my life I was about to embark on my first overseas trip into Northern Pakistan - not every traveller's number 1 destination and certainly the 'deep end' for a first-time traveller.

But my Pakistan advernture was not to be that simple! I have always enjoyed the outdoors, having been brought up camping and bushwalking with my family. In the back of my mind I had always entertained the notion of a grand trek (something like a Himalayan adventure through Nepal and Bhutan). Upon closer inspection I found that the North-Eastern corner of Pakistan (in the unique region of Baltistan) lies the mighty K2 and 8 other peaks over 8000 metres!

In what was to be the best decision of my life, I shared my new found geographical knowledge with my good friend Ray.

So, with my curiosity and Ray's grandiose notions of mountain trekking, I set off for a month in Pakistan, taking me from the 38 degree heat and dust of Islamabad, into the rugged beauty of Skardu, and them by Jeep to the tiny village of Thongol. From Thongol I began the most amazing 15 days of my life as I trekked along the Baltoro Glacier to the Mighty K2 and then crossing the 5500m snow-pass of Gondogoro La at something well-below zero degrees! (armed with ice-axe, harness, crampons and a decent block of chocolate!)

I have so far created an Islamabad, Skardu and Hushe page for my trip. The Skardu page has travelogues for the trekking trip and is where you can find all my mountain photos from Baltistan, please check them out if that kind of thing interests you!

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Take Care,
Lachy