WE CROSSED MORE WILDERNESS, MORE RIVERS AND DID MORE REAL CLIMBING THAN IN ALL MY PREVIOUS BIG MOUNTAIN TRIPS COMBINED – COMPARED TO ANY OTHER EXPEDITION, THERE’S A LOT MORE ‘EXPEDITION’ IN IT.
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ALL OUR HIGH ALTITUDE CLIMBING TRIPS TO THE NORTH SIDE OF K2 AND THE KARAKORUM START & FINISH IN CHENGDU.
THIS ITINERARY IS INDICITIVE ONLY DUE TO POSSIBLE CHANGES IN LOGISTICS, SCHEDULES & ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES
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01
ARRIVE
CHENGDU
BE PREPARED TO BE SURPRISED. CHENGDU IS FAR MORE RELAXED AND LIVABLE WITH IT’S TEMPERATE CLIMATE, GREEN AREAS, FOOD & EASY GOING LIFESTYLE THAN THE REST OF CHINA.
02-04
PREACCLIMATION
KANGDING
COMPLETELY UNIQUE TO FEEDING THE RAT EXPEDITIONS, OUR ON-MOUNTAIN ACCLIMATION PROGRAM CONSISTS OF MONITORED ALTITUDE GAIN & LOSS AMONGST TIBETAN TOWNS. WE VERY COMFORTABLY DRIVE AND HIKE TO HIGH POINTS ACCORDING TO A SCHEDULE WE HAVE USED FOR 20 YEARS WITH OUTSTANDING SUCCESS
05-14
PREACCLIMATION
EASTERN TIBET
SPENDING 100% OF OUR TIME AT GENUINE ALTITUDE IS THE ONLY PROVEN WAY TO ACCLIMATIZE AND ALLOWS US TO ACCLIMATE IN A WAY IMPOSSIBLE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD. THIS IS EFFECTIVELY THE ACCLIMATION USED ON COUNTLESS OTHER EXPEDITIONS MINUS THE NEGATIVES OF SPARTAN CONDITIONS AND EXERTION. ALL OF THESE DAYS ARE SPENT AMONGST 5000-7000m PEAKS.
15-16
TRANSIT
YILIK VIA KASHGAR
WE EXIT TIBET AND ARRIVE IN XINJIANG IN JUST OVER A DAY THEN TRANSIT TO THE ROADHEAD A DAY LATER. WE FLY DIRECT INTO THE MIDDLE OF CENTRAL ASIA DURING THE IMPORTANT RECOVERY PHASE, BUT NOW IT’S FAST NEW HIGHWAYS VIA OASIS TOWNS OUT TO THE TRAILHEAD, ALONG THE ‘SILK ROAD’ OF THE SOUTHERN TAKLAMAKAN BEFORE HEADING INTO THE MOUNTAINS
17-20
THE APPROACH
ARGHIL & SHAKSGAM
NO MATTER HOW MUCH TIME YOU’VE SPENT ON THE BALTORO OR KHUMBU, NOTHING COMPARES TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE KARAKORAM. THE APPROACH TO K2’S NORTH SIDE IS EXTRAORDINARY AND YOU REALIZE YOU’RE NOT ON A REGULAR 8000m TRIP. LEAVING THE ROAD HEAD IT WILL BE JUST CLIMBERS AND A CARAVAN OF CAMELS. THE TRAIL IS FAINT, CAMPS STUNNINGLY REMOTE AND THE RIVERS WIDE DOWN THE MASSIVE ERODED VALLEYS.
21-22
REST
SUGHET JANGAL
WHERE MOST 8000m BASECAMPS ARE RECENT, SUGHET JANGAL HAS BEEN ON THE NOMADIC ROUTE FROM ACROSS THE RISE AND FALL OF DYNASTIES, AS A GREEN PLAIN BY THE SHAKSGAM RIVER, IT’S HOME TO ANIMALS AND A PASTURE OF THE HERDERS WE HAVE TRAVELLED WITH.AS WE ACCLIMATED IN TIBET WE CAN DO HALF-DAY HIKES TO AROUND 6000m FOR OUR REACCLIMATION.
23-27
THE GLACIER
ESTABLISH HIGH CAMP
K2 NORTH SIDE IS A PRISTINE LOCATION WITH RUNNING WATER, NO SANITATION PROBLEMS AND A COMPLETE AND UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW OF THE ROUTE. ONCE SETTLED, BASECAMP IS THE OPERATIONS BASE FOR SERIOUS BUSINESS OF CLIMBING K2
28-50
CLIMBING
K2 NORTH RIDGE
We will work with you to create a personalized plan to help you achieve your financial goals.
51-55
RETURN
SUGHET JANGAL TO KASHGAR
THE NEXT 3 WEEKS IS THE HIGHLY REFINED LIVING PATTERN 8000m CLIMBING IS KNOWN FOR. OUR PREACCLIMATION MEANS WE STEP OFF THE GLACIER WITH THE ABILITY TO ACCLIMATE ON THE ROUTE. STEEP AND DIRECT, K2’S NORTH RIDGE LOSES NOTHING ON WANDERING ROUTES. WE CLIMB UNTIL MAKING A LOGICAL HIGHPOINT AND DESCENT, THEN RETURN TO SUGHET JANGALTO ARRANGE THINGS FOR THE RETURN.
56-57
DECOMPRESS
KASHGAR
WE LEAVE WHEN THE CAMELS RETURN FOR US. STOPS ENROUTE ARE FUNCTIONAL AND MINIMAL WITH PLENTY OF TIME TO SLEEP. KASHGAR AFTER WEEKS IN THE WILDERNESS IS A PLACE TO EAT, DECOMPRESS AND REINTEGRATE. THE AMBIENCE IS EXOTIC AND THIS IS NOT THE CHINA YOU SEE ON THE NEWS
58
TRANSIT
CHENGDU/FLY OUT
KASHGAR IS NOW A SHORT HOP TO MAJOR INTERNATIONAL HUBS, AND THE LAST VIEWS OF THE KARAKORAM AS YOU TAKE OFF IS OFTEN WHERE THE NEXT TRIP STARTS TO FORM.