The K2 West Face: Honoring the Historic 1981 First Ascent of K2 by Nazir Sabir and Ohtani
“Then l thought we humans are often on the mercy of the forces of nature and we can only beg to be allowed to creep up the slopes of these heavenly places to merely spend few moments up there. It is very ignorant of the egoistic individuals to refer to conquering any mountain. These places […]
Honoring Unsung Local Heroes: Meherban Karim and Jehan Baig of Shimshal Valley
K2 8611m, also called savage mountain, South Face view from Concordia On the 17th anniversary of the 2008 K2 Tragedy, we pay tribute to the legacy of two brave Pakistani mountaineers whose lives were lost on the world’s most perilous mountain, far from the recognition they rightfully deserved. Shimshal Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan — Tucked away in […]
Karakoram Climbing Season Kicks Off Amid Geopolitical Tensions
June 25, 2025 | Concordia, Karakoram The climbing season in the Karakoram region is gaining momentum as numerous mountaineers, porters, and expedition teams converge upon the Baltoro area, targeting the towering 8000-meter peaks—K2, Broad Peak, and Gasherbrum I-II—that dominate the landscape. As July approaches, the Concordia camp is bustling with international climbers, trekking groups, and […]
Climbing Permits in Pakistan’s Karakoram-Himalaya Region
The court case concerning the hike in trek and mountaineering permit fees in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has put the region`s tourism industry on an unstable footing, Dawn News. Even though tour operators may have welcomed the court ruling that halted the significant fee increase with approval, the ensuing uncertainty has created a state of indecision for […]
The K2 Betrayal: When Hunza Tigers Missed the First Ascent of K2
The mountaineering community has overlooked the significant roles played by indigenous climbers, such as the Sherpas, Hunzokutz, and Baltis, during the Himalayan and Karakoram expeditions. Unlike many Western climbers who sought national prestige and global recognition in the race to be the first to summit, mountain communities in the Karakoram and Himalayas participated in early […]