THE NORTH SIDE OF THE KARAKORUM IS AS DIFFERENT FROM THE PAKISTAN SIDE AS THE BALTORO IS FROM THE KHUMBU.
IF YOU THINK OF THE HIMALAYAN DIVIDE AS GETTING DRIER FROM EAST TO WEST, WITH ORCHID FORESTS TO 4500m IN ARUNACHAL, THE NORTH SIDE OF K2 IS AT THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM.
THE START OF THE RAIN SHADOW THAT EXTENDS 600km, ANY WATER ON THE NORTH SIDE COMES FROM OVERFLOW PRECIPITATION FROM THE BALTORO AND GLACIAL MELT – MAKING IT DUSTY. THERE’S RELATIVELY LITTLE ICE COVERAGE, MEANING THE VALLEY FLOORS CAN BE GREEN, FED WITH THE HUGE SEASONAL WATER LEVEL RISES, SO ANIMALS ARE SUSTAINABLE OUT THERE PART OF THE YEAR, FURTHER FERTILIZING SOME AREAS.
BEING DRIER & RECEIVING LESS DIRECT SUN IT’S RELATIVELY COOLER, FELT MORE SO AS THE NEW ACCESS ROUTE MEANS A LATER SEASON.
CULTURALLY, THE NORTH HAS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT POPULATION. THE UYGERS, CHINESE & KYRGYZ HAVE DIFFERENT LIFESTYLES TO THE BALTIS, HUNZAKUTS & OTHER GROUPS IN PAKISTAN, USING LAND DIFFERENTLY & DIFFERENT ECONOMIES. WHEREAS THE BALTORO IS A MAJOR SOURCE OF INCOME FOR PAKISTANS NORTHERN AREAS IN SEVERAL WAYS, THE UPPER WATERWAYS ON THE NORTHSIDE OF THE KARAKORUM ARE LEFT AS BARELY VISITED WILDERNESS.
THERE IS A MILITARY PRESENCE ON THE NORTH SIDE BUT IT’S NOWHERE NEAR AS ACTIVE AS IN PAKISTAN. CHECKPOINTS ARE MORE RELAXED, THERE’S NO HELICOPTERS OVERHEAD & BEYOND THE ROADS THERE’S NO REMINDER OF THEM.
