After waiting for two days in Islamabad for a flight to Skardu our team opted for the two day journey on the infamous Karakoram highway. We boarded our bus at 2am Sunday morning and the adventure began!
The highway was built in the 1960's and is probably one of the most incredible feats of design and execution given its location and the constant changing landscape though which it winds. After a few hours we entered the canyon that winds along the Indus river and the real knuckle biting began. If the actual highway was not enough we were also aware that we were traveling through somewhat unstable territory politically even though we were assured that it was perfectly safe...I decided to go incognito just in case...
Apparently our driver thought he was in training for the Indy 500 and proceeded to make record time along our chosen route.... caffeine propelled him along..
After a few too many near misses I was voted to commandeer our own transportation and we found the perfect vehicle
A quick inspection showed it was deserted
Like bees on honey we were on it!
After only 1/2 a mile we were pulled over at a check point by the colonel himself
He asked me to exit the vehicle slowly
We told him we are just trying to get to K2 base camp explaining our predicament... after exchanging a few pleasantries he bid us farewell
The next guys were not so lucky...
We got a smaller sleeker ride and we were off again.
The rest of the drive was uneventful and we spent the night in Chilas right along the banks of the Indus. Today 10 hours further put us in Skardu
We will spend a rest day here tomorrow before taking an 8 hour jeep ride to Askole on Wed.
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