Gasherbrum I Expedition – Pakistan

General overview

Climb this Karakorum 8,000 metre by itself or in combination the Gasherbrum II. At 8,080 m (26,510 ft.) Gasherbrum 1 (aka Hidden Peak) is the 11th highest mountain on Earth. Gasherbrum 2 is 8,035 m (26,362 ft.) is the world’s 13th highest mountain.They are the most remote 8,000 metre peaks.

Expert leader Dan Mazur has led G1, Broad Peak, K2 and over a dozen Everest expeditions successfully to the summit. The expedition includes travel within the Karakorum, food, accommodations, staff, personal climbing Sherpas, and group equipment. Test yourself at high elevation without the crowd, and experience these two hidden gems in the world’s most astonishing landscapes.

Our “full-service” expedition includes:

1. British, American, and European leader/coordinator
2. Expert climbing Sherpas for the group (personal Sherpas available upon request)
3. Full service trek to base camp with all teahouses and all meals
4. All internal/domestic flights (weather dependent) buses, jeeps, porters
5. 50 Kg (110 lbs.) personal baggage transport
6. Personal equipment check
7. Meeting you at the airport and airport transfer to the hotel
8. Round trip flight from Islamabad – Skardu – Islamabad (if flight not possible due to weather, then transit by road)
9. Porter and donkey transport of all equipment to and from basecamp
10. Skillful base camp cooks
11. Three meals each day, on trek, in basecamp, and at high altitude above basecamp
12. Group emergency equipment, medical equipment and satellite phone
13. Private tents in basecamp (no sharing)
14. Comfortable base camp with dining mess tent, tables and chairs, showers, bathroom, and solar charger
15. Guided training on cliffs and glaciers around basecamp
16. All ropes, tents and high-altitude climbing equipment.
17. Full high-altitude service to the summit and back
18. All permit fees and liaison officers
19. Two nights stay in Islamabad hotel on arrival and two nights prior to departure in a double room. Private rooms are available for a small additional fee.

What is not included?

Add on High Attitude Support:

• Private Sherpa (personal guide-porter) – Carries up to 20 kg (44bs) of your personal equipment, climbs with you, melts water, cooks, and will be with you every step of the way.
• Personal equipment carriage service – Sherpa carries up to 10kg (22lbs) of personal equipment up and down the mountain between camps

Oxygen: You should consider whether or not you wish to use supplemental oxygen, which is optional on G1.

We recommend a three-bottle set for G1. The price includes three large 4-litre Russian Oxygen bottles, masks, regulators, and hoses, as well as a carriage to the high camps by porters. Extra bottles are available for an additional fee. We have a 30% buy-back policy on masks, regulators, and unused oxygen bottles in good condition.

Oxygen supplies may be purchased separately. The same buy-back policy applies. The following may be purchased individually:

• Mask and Hoses which are guaranteed to be in proper working order and match the bottles and regulator.
• Regulator for high-altitude oxygen bottle
• 4 litre Russian Oxygen bottle for high-altitude climbing

Please book oxygen/supplies well in advance.

Our “basic-service” expedition includes

• British, American, or European leader/coordinator
• All internal/domestic flights (weather dependent), buses, jeeps, and porters
• 50 Kg personal baggage transport to base camp
• Three meals each day while travelling to/from base camp and while on basecamp
• Permit fees and liaison officers
• Group emergency equipment and satellite phone
• Two nights stay in Islamabad hotel on arrival and two nights before departure in a double room. Private rooms are available for a small additional fee.

Itinerary

• Day 1 – Arrive Islamabad. Meet our staff at the airport. They will bring you to the hotel.
• Day 2 – Guided sightseeing and shopping in Islamabad (508 metres / 1,667 ft.).
• Day 3 – Fly to Skardu, and transfer to Skardu hotel.
• Day 4 – Skardu sightseeing. Hotel. (2,230 metres / 7,316 feet)
• Day 5 – Skardu – Briefing at the Department of Tourism. Final preparations. Hotel.
• Day 6 – Drive by Jeep to Askole, a lovely little farming village. Camp. (3,039 metres / 9,970 feet).
• Day 7 – Trek to Jhola. (3,170 metres / 10,400 feet). We enter Karakoram National Park trek past a slope filled with garnets, and cross a lovely bridge.
• Day 8 – Trek to Paiyu. (3,666 metres / 12,028 feet). Trek to this famous forest in the Baltoro Valley.
• Day 9 – Rest Day in Paiyu. On this day, porters will bake all of their bread for the upcoming trek.
• Day 10 – Trek to Khuburtse. (3,800 metres / 12,467 feet). A fabulous campsite near a lake on the edge of the Baltoro Glacier.
• Day 11 – Trek to Urdukas. (3,950 metres / 12,959 feet). Camp amongst the grass and lovely giant boulders, with amazing views of the Great Trango Towers.
• Day 12 – Goro II. (4,300 metres / 14,108 feet). Camp on the flat stones on the surface of the Baltoro Glacier with lovely views of the mightiest peaks all around, like Masherbrum, Cathedral, etc.
• Day 13 – Concordia. (4,550 metres / 14,928 feet). Concordia must be the most famous campsite in all of Karkakoram. Incredible views of K2, Mitre Peak, Gasherbrum 4, and many more.
• Day 14 – Trek To Gasherbrum Basecamp (5,150 metres / 16,896 ft.). Set up base camp.
• Day 15 – Rest In base camp: Sherpa Prayer Ceremony (Puja): our Nepali Sherpas conduct a colourful ceremony, putting up prayer flags.
• Day 16 – Gear Check and Ice Training near base camp. Leader and Sherpas recheck all of your gear, and we review and practice fixed rope climbing techniques and glacier travel.
• Day 17 – Walk to Camp 1 at (5,950 metres / 19,521 ft.). The walk to Camp 1 is on the beautiful Gasherbrum Glacier. Return to base camp.
• Day 18 – Walk to Camp 1 at (5,950 metres / 19,521 ft.). Sleep in Camp 1.
• Day 19 – Explore the route to Camp 2. Sleep in Camp 1.
• Day 20 – Climb to Camp 2. Sleep in Camp 2. (6,400 metres / 20,997 ft.)
• Day 21 – Explore the route to Camp 3. Descend to Camp 1.
• Day 22 – Descend to Base Camp.
• Day 23 – Rest in base camp.
• Day 24 – Walk to Camp 1 at (5,950 metres / 19,521 ft.). Sleep in Camp 1.
• Day 25 – Climb to Camp 2. Sleep in Camp 2. (6,400 metres / 20,997 ft.)
• Day 26 – Climb to Camp 3. Sleep in Camp 3. (7,300 metres / 23,950 ft.).
• Day 27 – Descend to Camp 1.
• Day 28 – Descend to Base Camp.
• Day 29 – Rest in base camp.
• Day 30 – Rest in base camp.
• Day 31 – Walk to Camp 1 at (5,950 metres / 19,521 ft.). Sleep in Camp 1.
• Day 32 – Climb to Camp 2. Sleep in Camp 2. (6,400 metres / 20,997 ft.)
• Day 33 – Climb to Camp 3. Sleep in Camp 3. (7,300 metres / 23,950 ft.).
• Day 34 – Attempt Summit (8,068 metres / 26,469 ft.). Return to Camp 3.
• Day 35 – Extra day for additional summit attempt.
• Day 36 – Descend to Camp 1.
• Day 37 – Descend to base camp.
• Day 37 – Descend to base camp. Pack up and prepare for departure.
• Day 38 – Follow the Upper Baltoro Glacier to Ali Camp (4,800 metres/15,748 ft.)
• Day 39 – Cross the Gondogoro La (5,585 metres / 18,323 ft.). Descend to Huisprung (4,600 metres / 15,088 ft.). Camp near a lovely lake.
• Day 40 – Trek down the Gondogoro Valley to Saitcho (3,350 metres / 10,991 ft.)
• Day 41 – Last day of trekking to Hushe Village (3,050 metres / 10,0007ft.). Drive beside the Hushe River and follow the Shyock and Indus rivers to Skardu (2,230 metres / 7,316 ft.).
• Day 42 – De-briefing at the Tourism Department. Showers, laundry, shopping. Hotel
• Day 43 – Islamabad / Chilas. Hotel
• Day 44 – Final paperwork, shopping, farewell dinner in Islamabad. Hotel
• Day 45 – Fly Home (Extra days may be added for additional summit attempts).
• Day 38 – Rest in base camp.
• Day 39 – Rest in base camp.
• Day 40 – Rest in base camp.
• • Day 41 – Walk to Camp 1 at (5,950 metres / 19,521 ft.). Sleep in Camp 1.
• Day 42 – Climb to Camp 2. Sleep in Camp 2. (6,900 metres / 22,630 ft.)
• Day 43 – Climb to Camp 3. Sleep in Camp 3. (7,400 metres / 24,278 ft.).
• Day 44 – Attempt Summit (8,035 metres / 26,362 ft.). Return to Camp 3.
• Day 45 – Extra day for additional summit attempt.
• Day 46 – Descend to Camp 1.
• Day 47 – Descend to base camp. Pack up and prepare for departure.
• Day 48 – Follow the Upper Baltoro Glacier to Ali Camp (4,800 metres/15,748 ft.)
• Day 49 – Cross the Gondogoro La (5,585 metres / 18,323 ft.). Descend to Huisprung (4,600 metres / 15,088 ft.). Camp near a lovely lake.
• Day 50 – Trek down the Gondogoro Valley to Saitcho (3,350 metres / 10,991 ft.)
• Day 51 – Last day of trekking to Hushe Village (3,050 metres / 10,0007ft.). Drive beside the Hushe River and follow the Shyock and Indus rivers to Skardu (2,230 metres / 7,316 ft.).
• Day 52 – De-briefing at the Tourism Department. Showers, laundry, shopping. Hotel
• Day 53 – Islamabad / Chilas. Hotel
• Day 54 – Final paperwork, shopping, farewell dinner in Islamabad. Hotel
• Day 55 – Fly Home (Extra days may be added for additional summit attempts).

Good to know

Leadership

Leadership: Dan Mazur is a relaxed, friendly, well-organised, and highly skilled professional with over 20 years of experience leading people to the summits of Everest, K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum, Cho Oyu, Lhotse, Manaslu, and Shishapangma.

Sherpas: We employ some of Nepal, Tibet, and the Karakorum’s best local mountaineers and Sherpas to assist team members in realizing their summit goals. Our friendly and loyal high-altitude climbing staff has supported teams to the summits of more than ten of the highest peaks in the Himalayas.