The shining mountain on the Karakoram range is
just the second highest peak amongst the
Gasherbrum Peaks
with an altitude of 8,035m/26,361ft. The first
ascent made by Austrians led by Fritz Moravec
along with Joseph Larch and Hans Willenpart on
8th July, 1956. They set up a base camp on the
south Gasherbrum glacier. Camp 1 was set up at
6,005m/19,700ft. It was here that the party was
forced to stay for ten days because of a severe
storm. Consequently, they lost a large supply
store in an avalanche. After setting up a few
more camps, Fritz Moravec, Joseph Larch, and
Hansenpart set up a bivouac below
7,620m/25,000ft. Inspite of frostbites suffered
in the bivouac, the three reached he summit of
Gasherbrum II on 8th July and came back without
meeting any further accident.
The climb on this peak is both on rock and ice.
A high level of technical skill, physical
fitness and acclimatization is required. The
approach to basecamp is via Skardu and takes
about a week's trekking on Baltoro Glacier. An
expedition to Gasherbrum II provides a more
complete mountaineering experience than the
commonly guided Tibetan 8000m peaks (Shishapangma
& Cho Oyu) which can be reached by jeep
roads.The walk to Gasherbrum II base camp along
the Baltoro glacier has been described as one of
the best treks in the world.
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