The Gondogoro La and mighty peaks of the Karakoram

There is no better place in the world than the Gondogoro La or the Gondogoro Pass. Located at an altitude of 19,500 feet (5,940 metres) near the Vigne Glacier, this spectacular mountain pass provides the most spectacular panoramic view of spectacular and awesome peaks than anywhere in the world. Once atop the pass, one has a lifetime view of all the 8,000 metres and above peaks of the mighty Karakoram mountain range. These peaks include K2 – the second highest peak after the Everest, the Broad Peak, the four Gasherbrums, or almost all the Eight Thousanders of Pakistan besides the Trinity Peak, Laila Peak and a multitude of other awesome pinnacles that rise close to the heavens above.

K-2 
No pharaoh created this pyramid. Towering 8,611 meters Mount Godwin Austin (K2) is a symbol of God's uncontested supremacy

To reach the pass, one has to start a dangerous, yet exciting and adventurous trek from the famous Concordia. The pass opened up for mountaineers and trekker in 1986 when a route was established connecting connects Concordia and the upper Baltoro Glacier to the Hushe Valley over the Gondogoro Pass. The trek to the top of the Gondogoro La includes some 50-60 degree ice and snow slopes climbs that require the use of an ice axe, crampons, harness, helmet, ropes and carabineers. The difficulty of the reaching up to the top of the pass requires Class 4 climbing expertise as its North side is a 50-degree snow slope with avalanche danger requiring fixed ropes. The south side is a continuous 50-degree slope with rock-fall and avalanche danger that requires fixing as much as 300m of rope. Crossing this pass requires good judgement, commitment, top fitness, prior acclimatisation and basic mountaineering skills of all members.

Concordia - a spectacular view of the K-2 and Broad Peak

Starting from Concordia, the next destination is the famous Ali Camp situated atop the Vigne Glacier. After crossing the Vigne Glacier, one reaches the bottom of the Gondogoro La, from where a hair-raising trekking up commences. Once the ascent to Gondogoro La starts, one enters into a world of mighty giants surrounding the trekkers in complete silence or the whistling fast blowing winds. The first peak to appear with its razor sharp edges is the K-2. Thereafter, it is peak after peak that overawes the trekkers and records an un-erasable scenery in their memories forever.


Herein under is the pictorial representation of the trekking expedition from Concordia to the Gondogoro La and the beautiful scenes that were shot en route by Asif Saeed, the young adventurer and photographer, whose coverage of unexplored lakes of Pakistan I shared awhile ago in my post "The spectacular virgin lakes of Pakistan."

Ali Camp on the Vigne Glacier

Laila Peak and Gondogoro Glacier 

Laila Peak - 6,096 Metres

Gondogoro Glacier 

Gondogoro Glacier from the top

Gondogoro Peak

Broad Peak - 8,051 Metres (12th highest peak of the world)

Gasherbrum-IV and Mitre Peak 

Sunrise at Gasherbrum IV-7,925 Metres (17th highest feature in the world) 

Gasherbrum IV at sunset

Masherbrum - 7,821 (22nd highest peak of the world)

The mighty Trango Towers - 6286 Metres (world's tallest verticals)

The Golden Twins 

The Golden Peak (also known as Spantik Peak) - 7,027 Metres

Hispang Camp 

LadyFinger Peak - 6,000 Metres

Mustagh Tower - 7,273 Metres 

Piyu-and-Uli_Bhaio-peaks

And finally the joy and thumbs for a successful trek to the roof of the world:

These pictures provide a pictorial view of the Gondogoro La. The following video would add up to these and will provide a live coverage the Karakorams from K-2 to Gondogoro Pass.

Note: Click on bold words for detailed account/references

Reference / Related:

Eight Thousanders of Pakistan (JahoJalal)

K-2 The savage mountain (Pakistanpaedia)

Trango Towers (Pakistanpaedia)

Gondogoro Pass (Wikipedia)

Photos Courtesy: Asif Saeed
Video Courtesy: hackneyal68