2. K2 Trek in Pakistan
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Day 4 - Korophon to Sam Tsok

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This is what the majority of the trail looked like today. A packed dirt floor, a layer of loose, dry dirt, and then a bunch of loose stones strewn on top.
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This is what the majority of the trail looked like today. A packed dirt floor, a layer of loose, dry dirt, and then a bunch of loose stones strewn on top.

Day 4 Korophon Sam TsokExpedition 592010Expedition0439

  • This is what the majority of the trail looked like today. A packed dirt floor, a layer of loose, dry dirt, and then a bunch of loose stones strewn on top.
  • We leave early in the morning. We leave the tents and the rest of camp set up, as the porters take everything down, pack it, pass us on the trail, then set it all up again at the next camp site before we even show up.
  • Plants are becoming fewer and farther between, and my wildflower pictures are a poor replacement for the calendar-worthy pictures on Matthew's missing camera.
  • There are a number of Pakistan Army posts along the route, as ownership of Kashmir is contested between Pakistan and India. Communication between posts is maintained, in part, by this hundred mile long cable. In most places it runs next to the path, and is a good landmark if you lose the trail. There are Army commandos whose only job is to run the trail between camps, maintaining the cable.
  • The trail here is increasingly sandwiched between the steep mountains on one side and the river on the other.
  • Iza enjoys a short rest break. We would take breaks every hour or so at this point, for between 5-10 minutes at a time. Ayub, our guide, was constantly on top of the schedule.
  • Here the path is just built on the rock face. It's disconcerting as gravel you knock off the path tumbles down the cliff to the river below. On the way back down, the part shown here had collapsed down the hillsideand we had to take a steeper trail higher up.
  • Misha walks among giant, very cool looking boulders.
  • Adil enjoys a nice rest break. He and Ignacio are often at the front of the group, leading the charge. Sometimes out of sight.
  • Ignacio enjoys some GORP, made specially for Anisa, which features cheerios and cocoa puffs instead of granola. Halfway through the trip she decides she doesn't like it and doesn't eat any more. The rest of us are still stuck with cereal trail mix.
  • Matthew gets water from his hydration pack. The hydration packs ended up being a hugely important thing for everyone. Most people had either 2 or 3 liter packs, and they were invariably drained by the end of the day. It's hard to stay hydrated in the high desert.
  • Our plan for lunch is to stop at a camp called Jula, run by the MGPO (Mountain & Glacier Protection Organization), which has running water and marginally nice toilet facilities. But to get to Jula, the trail diverts up a tributary river after following the main Braldu, and continues up that tributary until it is narrow enough to cross by bridge, then you have to follow the tributary back out to the main river. Jula is on that return leg out.
  • On the way to the bridge, Anisa finds a fantastic hollowed out rock formation. There were remains of a camp fire inside, indicating it is occasionally used for shelter.
  • Anisa crosses the bridge to Jula. This, our second bridge crossing, is similar to the first, just old wooden planks tied together with steel cable.
  • Anisa makes it back to dry land.
  • Dad enjoys video taping the river crossings.
  • After finishing his video, Dad is the last across the bridge. They tell you to keep your eyes ahead, people usually only fall off the bridge if they start watching the river, and get hypnotized by the rapids.
  • This is our last bridge crossing for the trip. At least until the way back down.
  • Once we get past the bridge, the trail follows the river for a ways. The river also happened to be in flood, meaning the rapids were quite close, and we were often getting sprayed.
  • Matthew strolls into Jula for lunch.
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