Trekking in Pakistan with Andreu Borràs

Trekking

Over the past few weeks, we have been trekking through Pakistan with a small group of adventure-seeking Mallorcans. This was our first visit to the country, giving us the chance to explore some of the most remote and spectacular parts of the Karakoram mountain range.

The Karakoram stretches across northern Pakistan and, together with the Himalayas, is home to some of the world’s highest mountains, including five of the planet’s fourteen eight-thousanders.

Undoubtedly the most spectacular and best known is K2 (or Chhogori in Balti), the world’s second-highest mountain, standing at 8,611 metres.

Over twelve days of trekking, we made our way up the Baltoro Glacier, one of the longest in the world, to Concordia, known as “the throne room of the mountain gods”. This is where the Baltoro and Godwin-Austen glaciers meet, in an awe-inspiring setting surrounded by the Gasherbrum peaks, Broad Peak and K2.

The highlight of the trek was crossing the Gondogoro La pass, at an altitude of over 5,580 metres, before beginning our descent and gradually making our way back to civilisation through the Hushe Valley.

Throughout the trek, I wore my Bestard Trek Mid boots, which have accompanied me on my Himalayan treks over the past few years, particularly in Nepal. I have now completed five treks above 5,000 metres in them, and this trip was another opportunity to put them to the test on terrain as demanding as the Karakoram.

I would particularly highlight their comfort, flexibility and versatility, as well as their reliable grip across a wide range of terrain. This was essential on such long days and on surfaces as varied as those we encountered on the Baltoro.

A spectacular trek that would not have been possible without the Pakistani porters and support staff who, day after day, set up and dismantle our camps, cook our meals, carry all our equipment and make an adventure like this possible.