Snowlake and Hispar La Trek

Trip Overview

The Biafo and Hispar Glaciers form the longest glacial system in the world outside the Polar Regions. Together they create a vast natural highway stretching for over 80 miles and linking Baltistan with the villages of the Hunza Valley. At the heart of this system lies the Great Snow Lake, an immense basin of snow and ice from which these two huge glaciers radiate.
The route commences just beyond the village of Askole, a key staging post for treks and expeditions going to K2 and Concordia. Until we reach the village of Hispar on the final day of the trek, this will be the last habitation we see. For a week or so we follow the Biafo, trekking on the glacier itself and in the pleasant ablation valleys which nestle in its lateral moraines. We pass many famous peaks including the Latoks and Baintha Brakk (7285m), better known as The Ogre, a name given to it by Conway on account of its menacing appearance. After a week of fantastic trekking we finally reach the vast white expanse of Snow Lake.
It would be difficult to imagine a more sensational location than the Hispar La, and a camp on the highest point of the pass is mandatory requirement of any trek in this region. As we reach the crest of the pass a phenomenal panorama opens up before us. To the east lies the vast white expanse of the Sim Gang basin. To the west the Golden Peaks of Hunza and the Hindu Kush, stretching away in the distance towards Tirich Mir (7780m). As we descend the Hispar Glacier even greater peaks come into view. Kunyang Chhish (7852), Kanjut Sar (7760m) and Disteghil Sar (7884m) provide the awesome backdrop as we complete our traverse to Gilgit and the spectacular mountain flight back up to Islamabad.