Chinese K2 (BC North), Shaksgam Valley - Chinese Karakoram
September 1, 2016
The incredible Western China - Xinjiang home of the Karakoram Mountains and the mighty K2
Xinjiang and on the horizon the Tien Shan Mountains of Kirgistsan
Western China - Xinjiang
The incredible Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Tien Shan Mountains of China
Tien Shan Mountains of China
Tian Shan Mountains of China
Tian Shan Mountains of China
The Tian Shan Mountain Range of China
Tian Shan Mountains
Tian Shan
Beautiful mountains near Urumchi. Bogda Peak or Bogda Feng is the highest mountain in the Bogda Shan range, in the eastern Tian Shan mountains, China, at 5,445 m and the northernmost 5,000 m or higher peak in Eurasia.
The Xinjang - Tibet Highway
Kunlun Mountains and the "Kashgar - Tibet" Highway
Kunlun Mountains
The Kunlun Mountains
The Xinjiang - Tibet Highway
The road from Mazar to Ilik though north Karakoram Mountains
The north Karakoram
Yarkand River in Ilik
The Karakoram around Ilik
Ilik - the camels arrived
Start of our trek - the north Karakoram mountains
The awesome deep gorges of Northern Karakoram
The camel caravan in the river bed of North Karakoram mountains
The gorges of the north Karakoram - near Aghil Pass
Near the Aghil Pass
The approach to the Aghil Pass
The approach to the Aghil PAss
The approach to the Aghil Pass
The last camp before the Aghil Pass
Aghil Pass
The high Karakoram from the Aghil Pass
The view from the top of Aghil Pass towards the Shagskam River Valley and the main Karakoram Range
Descending the Aghil Pass
The Shagskam River Valley
Preparing to cross the Shakgskam River
Our caravan in the Shakskam River valley
Shagskam River Valley
Shagskam River Valley
These mountains make you feel so small
Crossing one of the main channels of the Shagskam River
In the summer, the entire valley is filled with water
The view of the Shagskam River Valley that we followed to get to K2
The Shagskam River Valley
View of the Chinese Base Camp - the last non glacier camp before K2 glacier
K2 - the steep north ridge
The Chinese BC and K2 (on the left)
Looking west down the Shagskam River valley - the area is closed to trekking by the Chinese army
Sarpo Lago River valley
K2 - 4km of rock
North Ridge of K2
The confluence of the Shagskam and the Sarpo Lago RIvers
Approaching the K2 Glacier
K2 Glacier and K2
K2 Glacier
K2 Glacier and Italian BC, K2 in the distance
The Italian BC on the K2 Glacier
K2 - the north face and the north ridge
The Italian BC on the K2 Glacier
A side glacier flowing into the K2 Glacier
K2 and a side glacier
Mountains along the K2 Glacier
Skyang Kangri 7545m at the end of the side glacier flowing to the main K2 North Glacier
Skyang Kangri and K2
Skyang Kangri 7545m
Skyang Kangri 7545m
K2, Pakistan is on the other side
Unnamed peaks 7174m and 7152m. On the right, Peak 6639m
Unnamed peaks 7174m and 7152m.
The memorial to disappeared climbers of K2 north
At the memorial to the climbers who died on K2’s North Face
Looking down the Sarpo Lago River valley
Crevasse Glacier
The lower section of The Crown is visible on the right
Looking up to the Sarpo Lago Glacier
Skamri Glacier Valley
Peaks above Skamri Glacier
Approaching Aghil Pass
Aghil Pass
We stopped for tea at a local herder’s hut
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A chronological archive of trip reports, photo essays, and route notes across decades.
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- The Yukon and the Alaska Highway
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2021
- The Rockies of Alberta, Western BC and the Yukon
- Columbia Icefield from the Air
- Waterton Lakes National Park
- Colombia
- Los Nevados National Park Colombia
- Colombia Tayrona National Park
- Colombia Teyuna - Ciudad Perdida Trek (The Lost City)
- Mexico Pico de Orizaba 5,630m
- Mexico - Sierra Negra 4,650m and Izaccihuatl 5,350m
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2020
2019
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 1: Chame to Kagbeni via Thorong La Pass
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 2: Kagbeni to Lo Mantang
- The Grand Mustang Circuit - Part 3: Lo Mantang to TeriLa Pass
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- Камча́тка, Russia - The Tolbachik Volcano Circuit and Volcano Bezimienny
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2018
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- Langtang Trek - Tilman Pass
- Langtang Trek - Ganjala Pass
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- Slot Canyons - USA, Arizona
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- Zion National Park and Cedar Breaks - USA, Utah
- Norway
- Poland - The Slav and Viking Festival in Wolin
- Iceland
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- Bolivia - Tiwanaku and La Paz
- Togo and Benin
- Benin - Egungun Masquerade
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2016
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