Concordia & Beyond in The Karakoram.

Concordia is in the Karakoram mountain range of Pakistan. It is a wider area where glaciers coming down from K2 meet those from the Gasherbrums and Chogolisa. Sir Martin Conway, the famous explorer and alpinist, placed the name Concordia. It is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular places on the planet, and here you can stand within 24 kilometres of no fewer than four eight-thousanders and ten of the world’s thirty highest peaks! All trekking groups camp here at approximately 4500 metres on a moraine ridge surrounded by jagged peaks, including Gasherbrum IV, Mitre Peak, Chogolisa, Crystal Peak, Marble Peak, Baltoro Kangri, Broad Peak and K2. The best view of K2 is from Concordia and beyond.

A Panoramic View of Four of the World’s Fourteen 8,000m Peaks.

Four of the world’s 14 eight-thousanders are located in the Karakoram mountain range: K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I and Gasherbrum II. Above is a panoramic view of the latter 2 (yellow and 1 white colour) from a 4,570m / 15,000ft lookout near Urdukus campsite. K2, the world 2nd highest, can be view ed from Concordia, a campsite two days away from Urdukus.

Snow and ice from the four feed into the Baltoro Glacier, one of the longest outside the polar region, which has many tributary glaciers such as the Mandu Glacier.

Concordia & Beyond (1 of 2).

If weather cooperates, one can peek at K2 from the comfort of one’s tent at Concordia (4,600m / 15,092ft), the confluence of the Baltoro Glacier and Godwin Austen Glacier, the getaway to K2 base camp. And watch sunrise over K2’s peak at one’s leisure in the early morning.

The best view, however, is found beyond Concordia, from Broad Peak base camp. A night stay at Broad peak base camp provides a close up view of K2. Following day, walk to K2 base camp via Gilky memorial where the Godwin Austen Glacier reaches the base of K2.

Concordia & Beyond (2 of 2)

A bonus is to view, at the same time, both Broad Peak and K2, two of world’s 14 Eight- thousanders. Strong winds near the top of K2 mean constant “local clouds” forming and going with long tails. Near Concordia and Goro II, glacial bumps (or “male glaciers” as our guide calls them) have interesting formations. While they look like the opposite of crevasses, they are just debris-free glacier ice between lateral and medial glaciers.

 

 

Spur Route

The Abruzzi Spur Route (Southeast Ridge) to K2 Summit.

Some topographical features, e.g. The House Chimney between Camp I and Camp II; The Black Pyramid between Camp II and III; and The Bottleneck beyond Camp IV that sits on The Shoulder and can be placed higher to reduce the summit day’s elevation gain.

There are six established routes to K2 summit on Pakistani side and more than 70% of all climbers use the Abruzzi Spur route for their summiting attempts.

K2 is more deadly and difficult than Everest. Less than 400 made to the top of K2 vs. more than 5,000 to Everest. And almost 1⁄4 of K2 climbers would perish, either during ascent or on descent, vs. 4% fatality rate of Everest.

Major technical challenges and dangers involve the difficult climbs over, 

• Base Camp 5,000m
• Summit – 8,611m 
• Bottleneck.

The Abruzzi

• Godwin Austen Glacier
• Camp I – 6,000m
• Camp II-6,700m House Chimney
• Camp IV – 7,950m Shoulder.

The End-to-End of the Baltoro Glacier

The mighty Baltoro Glacier that ends in Paiju has its head (source) from the glacier ice under Baltoro Kangri near Concordia.

It can be seen at the confluence of the Vigne Glacier and Upper Baltoro Glacier on a trail
toward Gasherbrum IV and Gasherbrum II base camp.

While the North Chogolisa Glacier feeds into Baltoro Glacier, Vigne Valley has access to Gondogoro La (pass) via Ali Camp.

We know Concordia and the Karakoram mountains of Pakistan inside out. Trango Adventure is an authorised tour operator, and we have been offering trekking in the Karakoram region of Pakistan since 1979. The Karakoram mountain region offers a classic trekking experience with the view of four of the world 8,000 meters peaks, including k2, the second-highest peak on earth. You will trek past the famous Trango towers, Cathedral and Lobsang and stand close to four of the world’s highest peaks, K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum I and Gasherbrum II.

Do you want to know more about Trango Adventure’s trips to Concordia and beyond?. Just give our adventure-loving team a call at +92 (0) 5815 453144 or the United Kingdom 0044 (0) 1344 231118.

Read more about our K2 and Concordia trekking holidays.