| The Pakistan Gasherbrum – II Golden Jubilee Expedition
2006 launched jointly by Pakistan Army and Alpine Club of Pakistan to celebrate
the golden jubilee of the first ascent of the fifth highest mountain of
Pakistan Gasherbrum – II (8035 metre) left the last village Askole
on 10 July for its 11 days trek to their 5300 metre high Base Camp on the
upper Baltoro glacier. During the trek the expedition will halt at Paiyu,
a prominent landmark prior to their embarking on the Baltoro glacier. After
Urdukas the expedition will be trekking on the glacial moraines and will
reach the famous 4900 metre high famous glacial junction Concordia at the
confluence of Godwin Austen and Baltoro glaciers. The expedition expects
to reach the 5200 metre high Base camp situated on the glacier.
The nine member expedition is being led by Lt Col Amjad Wali, Commandant
Army High Altitude School, Rattu, Northern Areas and includes Major Muhammad
Babar Khan, Capt Asif Wali, N/Sub Sher Dullah Khan and L/Nk Haji Akbar,
Muhamamd Taqi, Hussain Parwana, Ali Muhammad and Mumtaz Ahmed.
The expedition expects to arrive at the Base Camp on stay at the Base
camp to acclimatize and climb on the higher camps for over five weeks.
It expects to establish an Advance Base camp ( m) four high altitude camps
ie, Camp I ( m), Camp II ( m) Camp III ( m) and Camp IV ( m) before attempting
the summit around third week of Aug.
The Expedition was seen off at Askole by Lt Col (Retd) Manzoor Hussain
Executive Vice President Alpine Club of Pakistan who wished the expedition
good luck on their climbing mission. He said that this year is of special
significance in the international mountaineering community as fifty years
back this Gasherbrum II was climbed for the first time. To commemorate
the occasion a large number of mountaineers from the world over have converged
on to this peak with aim to plant their country’s flag on the Gasherbrum
II summit. Pakistan also decided to launch this expedition to plant Pakistan
flag on the summit along with other nations to mark the occasion. Applauding
the climbing strength of the team, the Alpine Club official hoped that
by the Grace of Almighty the expedition would be able to meet success
on their climbing mission. He also prayed for good weather during the
expedition.
All members of the expedition were in good health and on the occasion
vowed to climb the peak and meet the national aspirations in the field
of mountaineering on the occasion. |
