I deliberately avoid looking up photographs of a place I intend to visit because I genuinely want to experience the wonder of seeing it for the first time. This is particularly difficult in the modern era, when images of tourist destinations are regularly posted on social media, sometimes raising unrealistic expectations that lead to disappointment upon arrival. That was different in my situation with Rakaposhi, though. When travelling between Gilgit City and Hunza, I made multiple stops at the Rakaposhi vantage point, where I first saw the peak's spectacular beauty. Yet, this encounter did not make me ready for the bizarre event that was in store for me in the Rakaposhi base camp.
The Karakoram Range's Rakaposhi is regarded as one of the most stunning mountains in the world. It is Pakistan's 12th highest mountain and the 27th highest summit in the world, with a height of 7,788 metres. It is the only mountain in the world with a distance between the base camp and the summit of more than 5,000 metres. Despite the fact that there are several ways to climb Rakaposhi, none of them is simple. The western routes are lengthy, the northern routes are steep and tricky, and the southern and eastern routes have a significant avalanche danger. Fewer than 10 missions have been successful in reaching the mountain's peak.
A town in the Nagar Valley called Minapin, located 100 kilometres north of Gilgit City, is where the trip to the base camp begins. One of Gilgit Baltistan's ten districts, Nagar is home to various well-liked tourist features, like as peaks, glaciers, lakes, and mountain passes.
The three-hour drive to Hapakun, a meadow that serves as a midway campground or rest spot, begins from the hamlet itself. The trek begins with a rocky, zigzag trail up the mountainside and ends in a wooded region that is more flat. We passed through a little community that the people use to access the mountain for work and other errands.
I went on the journey for the first time in October since the hectic tourist season had ended and the fall foliage was at its prime. We were all ready for the return leg of the trek after I had a little sleep, ate lunch, and filled my water bottle with the glacier water that was pouring.
The trek got much steeper and prettier after Hapakun. The Rakaposhi, which had not been seen throughout the entire trek, was exposed in all its glory beyond the Minapin Glacier as we went over the top of the ridge, right before the base camp.The encampment was cleared after this stroll. At 3,500 metres, Tagafari's base camp is located, meaning there are more than 5,000 metres between it and the summit. It's crucial to take stops and acclimatise to the changes in altitude because the entire walk entails a quick ascent of 1,500 metres.
By chance, I happened to be at the base of the Rakaposhi on a brilliant full moon night. The mountain gleamed in the moonlight, and the sky was clear. Winter was coming, and despite wearing gloves, my hands were still icy. I decided to start a tiny fire to keep the cold at bay. I sat for a time and focused on the peak.
The following morning at six in the morning, I left. I headed to the viewpoint that had astounded me the day before and hiked up the path that we had used to get to Tagafari. I watched in silence as the night's shadows disappeared to make way for the sun's first rays. After much waiting, the sun finally made touch with the majestic peak as it peeked over the opposing mountain. I had an almost 360-degree vista of mountains in all directions.
We travelled to the glacier later that morning to do some exploring. When traversing the glacier, it is essential to have a local guide at your side because it is simple to underestimate the thickness of the ice and end up in a crevasse. The Minapin Glacier was particularly magnificent, in my opinion. Despite the fact that it has shrunk in recent years, it is still a sight to behold.
I would strongly advise going camping for at least a day because the experience at the base camp was incredible. As opposed to the challenging ascent, the descent from basecamp is a breeze. But, I would still advise taking pauses because spending many hours down a steep slope puts a lot of strain on the knees, particularly for people who are not used to it.
I think everyone who is in good condition and is able to travel should visit Rakaposhi Base Camp. For those who have never hiked before, the ascent is challenging, but it is extremely feasible if done gently. The native guides and porters are very courteous and helpful.
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