The precariously dangerous Ultar Peak is another
attraction for adventuring moun taineers.
With a height ofabout 7388 meters Ultar Peak has
taken many lives of mountaineers. Indeed, it
portrays the most challenging of climbs which
many have tried and failed. It can be reached
from Hunza, (Kareemabad) where irrigation canals
can be seen carrying the grey glacial water from
the Ultar stream and Glacier, descending from
Ultar Peak, which towers dramatically above the
Baltit Fort. The runoff from its glacier is
carefully directed into centuries-old irrigation
canals thus, forming a whole capillary system of
them for every shallow terrace.
The glacial water from Ultar carries brightly
reflecting mica and other minerals, locally
called "water flowers",
which give theliquid a glittering life of its
own even as it quietly slips by in an irrigation
canal miles away from the steep 'Ultar Nala'.
Near Kareemabad and Baltit you can see
Bubelimating ("Bubela's Peak"), a granite
pinnacle and next to it is the rounded Ultar
Peak which frustrated all climbers. The narrow
gorge of Ultar conceals pastures and a glacier
that cannot be seen from the valley floor. The
walk up Ultar's steep nala can be an
unforgettable experience. Nonetheless, Ultar
seems to be a peculiar crucible for the
foreigners who approach it.
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