Hike Askole - Johla

There are various groups of different sizes in Askole preparing for the start of a trek or expedition to some of the local eight-thousands – ranging from a few tourists with a guide and a few porters to medium to large expeditions.

In places where the expeditions are about to go into the mountains camp, sit a group of local men trying to get a job of porter and earn some money in a very short season, which prevails here. There are sometimes small skirmishes that are resolved by local police with long chopsticks.

Just a few minutes after leaving Askole opens a beautiful view of Korphe oasis lying on the opposite bank of the river.

Above the oasis Korphe rises picturesque, still partly green and „only“ 5,000 meters above sea level high massif. A little foretaste of what will be coming on.

The path itself is very comfortable and wide at the beginning. You can see here also jeep tracks, so it is possible to get away a little further than to Askole.

The way continues through as if a broad upland plain in three thousand meters above sea level. Oasis Askole slowly disappears in the distance and there are scattered large boulders fallen from the surrounding mountain slopes on the barren plain.

After about an hour walk you come to confluence. The thing is that there is also an alternative stream flowing from the glacier Biafo, which erodes here the rock shoulder. It is the first place where the path is not easy. There is usually first official short rest after overcoming this passage.

Then begins more tiring and less interesting part of the hike in the rubble from a huge moraine of glacier Biafo. Finally, after 5 hours and chamois skip of one of many streams you come to camp Korophon. Some tourists also accommodate here, but most groups continue after lunch on to a bigger camp in Johla.

Water from glacier Biafo gave life to otherwise barren landscape. The path lead through local vegetation with views of the monumental moraine Biafa.

The path continues further above already wide riverbed to the interesting place, where they had to shoot the trail to the rocky arm.

After a while you reach a confluence of river Biaho Lungma (running from the Baltoro glacier) with Dumordo flowing from the large side valley. Locals call the river „Stupid“ river as it flowing in wide riverbed changes every year, a simple bridge cannot be made over it and it is necessary to go far into the side valley.

It is really necessary to go more than three kilometers into the interior of the side valley before you come to a narrow place over which there is the bridge to the other side. From here you will come to the camp Johla (3 150m asl.) lying on the tactical place at a small creek with a view of the interesting top Bakhordas.