2. K2 Trek in Pakistan
  3. Ahsan's Pictures

Chapter 8 - Landslides and a Beautiful Oasis on the Mountainside - The walk to Urdukas

We were now going to move up to Urdukas at 13,100 feet. Onoly a short walk of about 3-4 hours from Khorbutse, this campsite was a gem. In the middle of this bleak and majestic Baltoro, here was a a spot of greenery clinging to the side of the mountain hundreds of feet above the glacier. We were grateful that we had the rest of the day to soak in the scenery. That night however we were reminded that beauty and danger in the Karakoram are never too far apart. There was a thundering sound and we could hear a landslide it seemed right above us. But nothing happened and next morning we had all forgotten about it. As we were walking out, we again heard another thunder and saw a portion of the glacier dissapear into the glacial lake. Just a day before we had walked on the trail on its edge which had now slid under water. By this time altitude was taking a toll on other teams but we were thankfully immune.3 people from another trek had turned back and another had to be evacuated out because of suspected kidney stones. A grim reminder that anything can happen. in such a remote place.
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  • Asif, the other assistant cook is all excited to set out for Urdukas. Asif is in college and does this as a summer job to make money. He is sporting EX59 patch that Erin Moore designed for the expedition. Everyone seemed to put it on different things, but I have to admit I liked his idea.

    Asif, the other assistant cook is all excited to set out for Urdukas. Asif is in college and does this as a summer job to make money. He is sporting EX59 patch that Erin Moore designed for the expedition. Everyone seemed to put it on different things, but I have to admit I liked his idea.

  • The walk out of Khorbutse started off with a hike up the hill before we started to head for Urdukas about 3-4 hours away. This was going to be a short day and we were looking forward to it.

    The walk out of Khorbutse started off with a hike up the hill before we started to head for Urdukas about 3-4 hours away. This was going to be a short day and we were looking forward to it.

  • We run into a team heading back to Askole. I asked the guide to unfurl his flag which was for MQM, a political party in Pakistan.

    We run into a team heading back to Askole. I asked the guide to unfurl his flag which was for MQM, a political party in Pakistan.

  • We cross one of the smaller glaciers merging with the Baltoro. Jeff looks like he is almost under the glacier but it is almost a thousand feet higher.

    We cross one of the smaller glaciers merging with the Baltoro. Jeff looks like he is almost under the glacier but it is almost a thousand feet higher.

  • Wildflowers in the rocks.

    Wildflowers in the rocks.

  • The edge of the tributary glacier towering over us.

    The edge of the tributary glacier towering over us.

  • A wall of rock making an abstract pattern.

    A wall of rock making an abstract pattern.

  • Jeff crosses one of the icy stretches. You had to watch yourself on the white patches but in most places there would be enough gravel embedded that it would not be slippery. I saw Meesha, Iza and Anisa all take a fall right after I slid.

    Jeff crosses one of the icy stretches. You had to watch yourself on the white patches but in most places there would be enough gravel embedded that it would not be slippery. I saw Meesha, Iza and Anisa all take a fall right after I slid.

  • Navigating the tributary glacier.

    Navigating the tributary glacier.

  • Murad's favourite resting position. This way he had the backpack as something to rest on. His positive spirit was a huge morale booster for the entire group. He would joke, cajole, set up a good pace and keep us all moving along.

    Murad's favourite resting position. This way he had the backpack as something to rest on. His positive spirit was a huge morale booster for the entire group. He would joke, cajole, set up a good pace and keep us all moving along.

  • Looking across the Baltoro to the other side where the Dunge Glacier came down to join in.

    Looking across the Baltoro to the other side where the Dunge Glacier came down to join in.

  • A downhill spot through a boulder field.

    A downhill spot through a boulder field.

  • Safely on the other side of the tributary glacier.

    Safely on the other side of the tributary glacier.

  • Crossing the second tributary glacier with the icy piled high waiting to flow down.

    Crossing the second tributary glacier with the icy piled high waiting to flow down.

  • An unidentified flowering shrub of the Baltoro.

    An unidentified flowering shrub of the Baltoro.

  • A flurry of flowers.

    A flurry of flowers.

  • Jeff spies te Urdukas camp in the distance. Must be an hour away! That or they keep moving it further as we got closer.

    Jeff spies te Urdukas camp in the distance. Must be an hour away! That or they keep moving it further as we got closer.

  • Anisa navigating around a glacial lake.

    Anisa navigating around a glacial lake.

  • Descending down to the lip of the lake.

    Descending down to the lip of the lake.

  • Matthew walks down. He had a good even walking pace and nobody minded walking behind him.

    Matthew walks down. He had a good even walking pace and nobody minded walking behind him.

  • Jeff beside a more unusual one of the glacial pool that had vegetation in it. Most of the other pools had such a high mineral content that nothing grew.

    Jeff beside a more unusual one of the glacial pool that had vegetation in it. Most of the other pools had such a high mineral content that nothing grew.

  • More flowers...must be getting closer to Urdukas.

    More flowers...must be getting closer to Urdukas.

  • One of the resting donkeys.

    One of the resting donkeys.

  • Three of the resting humans. Ignacio, Erin and Adil settle down on the giant rock at the Urdukas campground.

    Three of the resting humans. Ignacio, Erin and Adil settle down on the giant rock at the Urdukas campground.

  • Erin looking up at the mountains around. Every day, we would say, "wow, this is really cool", and then the next day, it would be something even cooler. Erin Moore was one of my star rowers when I coached the St. Louis Rowing Club and is just like family.

    Erin looking up at the mountains around. Every day, we would say, "wow, this is really cool", and then the next day, it would be something even cooler. Erin Moore was one of my star rowers when I coached the St. Louis Rowing Club and is just like family.

  • Ignacio with the Biale glacier behind him. Ignacio Foulkes was Adil's friend from Warwick and flew in from Mexico City. He was a great guy to have in our group with such a positive attitude.

    Ignacio with the Biale glacier behind him. Ignacio Foulkes was Adil's friend from Warwick and flew in from Mexico City. He was a great guy to have in our group with such a positive attitude.

  • A bird soars around camp. Never figured out what kind of bird it was.

    A bird soars around camp. Never figured out what kind of bird it was.

  • The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming! We got endless entertainment watching the Russian group roll in. They all carried 30 kg packs and had only a handful of porters. Apparently they were trying to do an expedition on the cheap. Their plan was to go towards K2 and detour over the Khalkal Glacier, over the Khalkal Pass then onto the Savoi Glacier skirting K2. They gave up in Concordia and took the shortcut back over the Gondogoro La Pass.

    The Russians are coming! The Russians are coming! We got endless entertainment watching the Russian group roll in. They all carried 30 kg packs and had only a handful of porters. Apparently they were trying to do an expedition on the cheap. Their plan was to go towards K2 and detour over the Khalkal Glacier, over the Khalkal Pass then onto the Savoi Glacier skirting K2. They gave up in Concordia and took the shortcut back over the Gondogoro La Pass.

  • Tanya likes the view.

    Tanya likes the view.

  • Emergency horse shoe adjustment...all you need is a rock and a hammer.

    Emergency horse shoe adjustment...all you need is a rock and a hammer.

  • Our favourite russian. He always had the shorts on. Iza was tasked to find out why he wore the shorts, but she chickened out.

    Our favourite russian. He always had the shorts on. Iza was tasked to find out why he wore the shorts, but she chickened out.

  • Ayub decided to put out dining table outside which was perfect. You couldn't ask for a better setting than Urdukas. The flies had disappeared by this time too. One of the other trekking parties came over to tell me how they liked our outdoor eating area but they were not allowed to change their setup. Some of the porters rest on the pulpit rock.

    Ayub decided to put out dining table outside which was perfect. You couldn't ask for a better setting than Urdukas. The flies had disappeared by this time too. One of the other trekking parties came over to tell me how they liked our outdoor eating area but they were not allowed to change their setup. Some of the porters rest on the pulpit rock.

  • The pulpit rock with some of our porters.

    The pulpit rock with some of our porters.

  • The view looking back over the way we came.

    The view looking back over the way we came.

  • The Urdukas campsite perched high above the glacier.

    The Urdukas campsite perched high above the glacier.

  • Our kitchen and mess tents.

    Our kitchen and mess tents.

  • Rich and Tanya picked a choice spot.

    Rich and Tanya picked a choice spot.

  • This was certainly one of our favourite campsites.

    This was certainly one of our favourite campsites.

  • Rich takes the opportunity to wash his socks. Someone had pulled a pipe from the glacial stream.

    Rich takes the opportunity to wash his socks. Someone had pulled a pipe from the glacial stream.

  • Biale Glacier and Biale Peak behind the giant rock at Urdukas.

    Biale Glacier and Biale Peak behind the giant rock at Urdukas.

  • Another card game in the bright sun. While were sitting there we heard a bang and the Pink kitchen Tent bulged out the sides in places. It seemed the pressure cooker seal gave way and the lid went flying around the inside of the tent with Khalil and Asif and Zahoor running to get out of the way. Nobody was hurt by the boiling water and the heavy lid but it could have been bad.

    Another card game in the bright sun. While were sitting there we heard a bang and the Pink kitchen Tent bulged out the sides in places. It seemed the pressure cooker seal gave way and the lid went flying around the inside of the tent with Khalil and Asif and Zahoor running to get out of the way. Nobody was hurt by the boiling water and the heavy lid but it could have been bad.

  • Another group of porters find a rock lower down.

    Another group of porters find a rock lower down.

  • A view of the valley from a little higher up where I climbed with my tripod. It turned out that I was not the only one lugging around a tripod since Andy from the British trekking group had identical equipment.

    A view of the valley from a little higher up where I climbed with my tripod. It turned out that I was not the only one lugging around a tripod since Andy from the British trekking group had identical equipment.

  • The Brits practicing with ropes. They were planning to go back through the Gondogora La. A pass with some very steep sections for descent. We had decided against that given that we would have some young people with us. It was all for the better since we heard there were some close calls on descent for one of the groups.

    The Brits practicing with ropes. They were planning to go back through the Gondogora La. A pass with some very steep sections for descent. We had decided against that given that we would have some young people with us. It was all for the better since we heard there were some close calls on descent for one of the groups.

  • Looking towards Gore II, our next campsite.

    Looking towards Gore II, our next campsite.

  • The Biale Glacier flanked by the Cathedral on one side and the Lobsang Spires on the other with Biale Peak straight behind.

    The Biale Glacier flanked by the Cathedral on one side and the Lobsang Spires on the other with Biale Peak straight behind.

  • Looking towards Concordia. We were hoping to see Gasherbrum IV.

    Looking towards Concordia. We were hoping to see Gasherbrum IV.

  • One of the mountain streams tumbles down.

    One of the mountain streams tumbles down.

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