DAY 01 | : | Leh – Mancarmo (4- 5 hrs) In the early morning hours we leave for Stok by jeep. Upon arrival our pony man will load our big backpacks on the horses and with our small daypacks we head off for Mancarmo. On our first day we will walk by fascinating rock formations, and it is a good chance spotting Bharal (blue sheep) along the way. In wintertime and early spring snowleopards also come down to hunt in the valley. Stok. In the afternoon we will arrive in Mancarmo, a pasture ground for animals belonging to villagers from Mancarmo is probably on one of the highest grassing grounds in the world at 4300m. Here we will pitch our tents for the night and the cook will serve us a nice meal. |
DAY 03 | : | Base Camp – Summit – Base Camp Depending on weather and snow conditions, we leave in the middle of night, around 1:00 am. Usually the sky is more clear and the snow harder and easier to walk upon in night/morning when it is colder. Waking up, we just have a cup of tea, bring our lunch bags, and head off into the night, hopefully clear with stars and a moon that will guide us in its silver glow. It is a strenuous walk, and in the last part we will most likely use ice axes, crampons and maybe a rope, depending upon snow conditions. However, by the time we come close to the top, which usually takes 7-8 hrs, you will forget about the hardship as you are surrounded by one of the most beautiful sights in the Himalayas. In good weather, the early morning sun will bring its golden rays over the Saser group in the Great Karakoram Range, where K2 lies. To bring good fortune, we leave our Khatag – a religious scarf on the peak, which is covered in prayer flags. Leaving the peak, we go down to Base Camp in about 3-4 hrs. By the time we arrive, the only thing running in our mind is diving into our sleeping bags for a welcomed rest. |
