Everest K2 Kangchenjunga and other Peaks

K2 Trek Log Page 3 of 3: Retreat from Concordia All the photos were taken from the video. Click them for a full size picture.
29th August 2001: The group split this morning with everyone but Jim and me going up to Ali camp on their way to the Gondogoro La. We had a cook and some porters and Aslem the guide so we were well catered for. The only thing that we were missing were spoons. Not a great loss and we managed ok but thought enviously about the main group with spoons to spare. I was really looking forward to the adventure of the pass but I was just not fit enough and even heading down was hard going. Jim seemed to be going better than me and I trailed along at the back of our small group. The Baltoro is not a flat glacier and there were many hillocks to climb, each one knocking the stuffing our of me. We passed Goro 2 and kept going to Goro 1 which was a similar camp on the rubble of the glacier.	Ice Canyon near Concordia
30th August 2001: Another seemingly long slog over glacial rubble. We had lunch below our outward camp at Udurkus then carried on down to Kherbutse where we made camp. It was very different being there with such a small group. The excitement, noise and numbers of the outward trek had gone and it was very peaceful. We were happy to be sleeping off the glacier and although I was still finding it tough I was beginning to enjoy it again.	Glacial Rubble
31st August 2001: Feeling better today and was able to enjoy the walk although I still regretted not being able to go over the pass. These treks always have the possibility that not everything will go as planned. We walked on down to Paiju. As we were getting lower it was getting warmer again but the afternoon clouded in and we had a few showers and welcome cool. The camp was packed this time and we had to camp in a windy spot on the edge of the camp. There were the usual festivities among those groups going up so we wandered over after eating and compared notes with other trekkers. By this point I was glad we were heading down even though my cold was abating.	Small camp at Kherbutse
1st September 2001: Another long hot haul back down the Braldu Valley. As we had set out quite early the creek that we had to de-boot to cross on the way up was still low enough to hop across, as its upper reaches would still have been frozen. The main river was also lower and we did not need to climb the small cliff to get round the block up. Lunch was a perfect shady spot among the only trees to be seen.The afternoons walk was not so long but we were glad to get to the Drumodo River and Jola camp. We actually had a wash here and did some washing.	Shady Lunch
2nd September 2001: This was to be our last days walking and it was just a long slog in the heat. We started early to avoid the worst of it but we were soon toiling in the oppressive heat. It was refreshing to see the green of Askole again after all the hard rock and ice. The final haul from here to the end of the trek at Tongol seemed to go on for ever but we got in about 1430. About an hour later we were into the land cruiser for the drive out.There was only one washout this time, the other three had been repaired, and this involved crossing a raging torrent on two split logs. The next jeep took us to the nights camp at about 1730.We camped in a school ground and had the best feed for a week as there was food on the jeep. We had chicken and a delicious melon which we ate on the school porch and watched the moon rise over the surrounding hills.	Askole
3rd September 2001: It was a long drive in the jeep, on which I accidentally left my trekking pole, back to Skardu and then to the K2 Motel where we met up with the rest of the group. We then had the tipping ceremony and said goodbye to the staff. Next we drove of to our nights accommodation which was in the form of a dilapidated theme park called Shangrila. The showers were cold but at least we could get clean. Whilst I was showering the wind blew the window in which smashed on the floor. Good to be back in civilization!	Camp at the School
4th September 2001: Awoke to a rainy day which meant the flight back to Islamabad was cancelled and it was back into the dreaded bouncing bus for two days. The road was washed away at one point which caused our driver some anxiety as he studied the road for about half an hour before driving across to the the cheers of all on the bus.There were some good views of Nanga Parbat on the way to Chilias where we stayed in the Indus View Hotel again. There was warm water here but no power so it was showers by candle light. Had a jolly evening with some of the local beverage.	Washaway
5th September 2001: We were up at 0500 for the gruelling bus trip back to Rawalpindi. We were in a better bus with better suspension so it was not too bad except for the doubtful choice of music being played by some of my fellow trekkers. I plugged into my own music but it was swamped by the bus's PA system. We had our final dinner by the pool in the hotel. These are always a happy occasions, tinged with sadness that it is all over.
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