Pakistan

Hike Paiyu - Urdukas

Entrance to Baltoro glacier

Petr Liška
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Hike Paiyu - Urdukas
Inserted: 10.06.2013
© gigaplaces.com
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Gondogoro trek 3: The third day of Gondogoro trek you enter to a huge front moraine of Baltoro glacier and continue along the endless debris on its surface to the outlook camp Urdukas (about 18km). Guides wish here rather cloudy weather than azure sky since the heat can be devastating during this 11-hour walk. But the views of the surrounding mountains are beautiful.
 

Look back to the Paiyu camp

A few minutes after the beginning of the walk it is worth to turn back and enjoy the view of the valley. Paiyu (sometimes also written as Paiju) camp is hidden on the tactical green spot near the stream.

 

Look back to the Paiyu camp
Author: © gigaplaces.com

Front moraine of Baltoro glacier

Just a short walk behind the camp already begin the views of the huge front moraine of Baltoro glacier towering above the valley bottom by more than one hundred meters. River flows from the very bottom of the glacial cave. Only daredevil would set off to explore it.

 

Front moraine of Baltoro glacier
Author: Petr Liška © gigaplaces.com

View from the front moraine

After hour and a half of walk from the camp Paiyu you finally ascend to the frontal moraine, which serves as a very nice outlook point as well. From here starts the endless path up and down through debris up to Concordia. As the glacier is constantly moving, the path is a little different every year.

View from the front moraine
Author: © gigaplaces.com

Glacier Uli Biaho

Just a little bit behind the front moraine connects from the side valley smaller glacier Uli Biaho. Perhaps thanks to him Baltoro slowed down its melting. On the horizon you can see Trango Towers.

 

Glacier Uli Biaho
Author: Petr Liška © gigaplaces.com

Valley of Uli Biaho

After a moment it is possible to see to the valley of Uli Biaho quite well. Paiyu peak (6610 m asl) dominates all the tops.

Valley of Uli Biaho
Author: © gigaplaces.com

Great Trango Tower

The biggest attractions in this part of the trek are beautiful views of the Trango Towers. Its vertical walls are a strong challenge for the best climbers in the world.

Great Trango Tower
Author: Petr Liška © gigaplaces.com

Glacial river

After four hours journey you arrive to the intersection of glaciers Baltoro and Trango. There are a lot of lakes and glacial streams in these places. The peaks in outlook are Biale (6729 m asl) and Cathedral (5866 m asl).

Glacial river
Author: © gigaplaces.com

Glacial lakes

Lake lined with surrounding peaks are very photogenic. But it is wise to be careful and not to fall into any of them – it would be very difficult get back on the scree icy slopes.

Glacial lakes
Author: © gigaplaces.com

View of Baltoro

After two hours of wandering from lakes you ascend quite high above the glacier and the view of the rocky towers is impressive.

View of Baltoro
Author: Petr Liška © gigaplaces.com

Vertical walls

Mountains are smoothed by the glacier to absolutely perpendicular wa­lls.

Vertical walls
Author: © gigaplaces.com

Cathedral Peak

Another beautiful peak lining Baltoro glacier is Cathedral Peak.

Cathedral Peak
Author: © gigaplaces.com

Small side glaciers

There are just small side valleys on the right, also glaciated. View to this side is not very good, because you walk close to the rock wall.

Small side glaciers
Author: © gigaplaces.com

Urdukas in sight

After more than ten hours walk from Paiyu is Urdukas camp finally in sight. Relatively high above the glacier /so the last ascent at the very end of a busy day/ by the small glacier providing drinking water there plenty of places for tents on the rocky terraces.

Urdukas in sight
Author: Jiří Klečák © gigaplaces.com

In Urdukas camp

Kemp Urdukas is basically just a couple of nice platforms for the tents located high in the hillside above the glacier. Porters are singing and dancing here in the evening and enjoying the end of a busy day.

In Urdukas camp
Author: Jiří Klečák © gigaplaces.com
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Libor Svoboda
22.12.2018 03:54
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