There are four basic styles of trekking in Pakistan. The one
you choose depends on your experience and finance. Back packing is cheap but for most people do
not fit for long treks. Self organized be difficult and time consuming to
without a fair command on language.
Going through a local agent is more reliable removes the need of some
equipment without taking with it all of your flexibility, but it can be
expensive. Trekking with an
international adventure travel company is very expensive, catering for those
with little experience or time.
Whatever style you
chose, remembering that each trekking or mountaineering represent another wedge
of destruction of fragile environment and culture and step-lightly.
Talking of stepping lightly a word of warning,
Most of Karakurum Glaciers re cover in gravel and boulders, and some are deeply
crevassed, particularly where two glaciers are met or where glacier is surging
forward. Other glaciers may be smoother and less cover in rocks, particularly
high up, and some are like kilometers wide, motorways of ice with only small
crevasses. In August you reach patches of permanent snow starting between 4500
and 500 metres; here the glaciers become very dangerous as the crevasses are
hidden. Trekkers who venture this for must walk in single file, probing
forcefully in front with walking stick to find the crevasses. It is better to
rope up at least the first two or three in line. Mid-afternoon is most
dangerous time, when the snow is at its softest. Someone in the group should be
trained crevasses rescue.
Also a world of
warning about bridges; some are washed away each season and only the local know
which are in place and safe. If you are trekking unguided, be sure to ask
frequently about the condition of the path and bridges ahead.
Nowadays
trekking without guide has been easier than earlier, because you find someone
in every village who can speak little English to clear the message.
Backpacking
The cheapest way
to trek is to do by yourself; find the cheapest flight to Pakistan, travel by
public transport to the beginning of your trek, then put your kit in bag and
set off without guide and porters, like in Nepal where it is possible to live
off the land and sleeping and eating in village guest houses, but trekking in
Pakistan is different from it. Most of the trekking here is higher than the
permanent villages, so there are no shops tea houses, or hotels along the
trails. This means you must carry everything with you and that unless you are particularly
fit and experienced trekkers aware of your own capabilities your range is
reduced to a few days. Backpacking does, though, provide maximum flexibility.
You can go everywhere you like or slowly as you wish.
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