Blankonthemap
INFO N°31
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Trekking - 17 juillet 2009
Olivier
Galibert dans les pas de Bill Tilman
When I created trekking-au-pakistan,
I wished sharing all emotions felt during
the discovery of this wonderfull country,
as well on the geographical as human. Exploration
continues this year. For one month, I will
visit some foreign valleys of this so complex
Karakoram range.
The program is to trek in the high valley
of Bar, right under Hunza. Sharp-edged peaks,
big walls, with several glaciers which fall
down from Batura Wall. 4 to 6 days to survey
the glacier of Toltar, Baltar, Kurkugi, Satmaro.
A fast ride to Shimshal, toward maybe Schpooden
pass (5150 Mr)between the the Zagarben valley
and the road of Shimshal Pass: trek 3 to 4
days.
One month is short, for the continuation
I will concentrate on more modest routes.
Avgarch: A spectacular panorama on the
Baltoro and Passu glaciers, and the occasion
to make a turn with my friends from Passu,
Zakir and Mr. Aman.
The valley of Gurpi: Parallel with Ultar
Meadows. On the chart it is a perfect
circus with Ultar Peak (7388m) culminates
in top.
The valley of Manougha: return to the
foot of gigantic Rakaposhi by this route.
Of course, these ways will be published
and yours are welcome on the website. One
of the next chapters of the Pakistani Northern
adventure should be written with Bruno Collard,
creator of Blank One The Map. We keep in mind
to discover the history of these men and these
mountains which fascinate us so much. Inch
Allah !
Olivier Galibert
Bill Tilman
To explore these valleys reveal
the exact spirit which animated the pioneers,
of Bill Tilman for example. The valley of
Chalt was tardily maps in year 1947 by famous
Bill Tilman, story writted in its excellent
book entitled " Tow mountains and a river",
this a short summary:
When H. W Tilman had put the final point
at the book of its famous " Everest 1938
", he went far from civilization. And
no one didn't know during several months which
it had become. The key of the mystery is here:
In June and July 1947, with three companions,
he tries to climb Rakaposhi (7.788 Mr.). Fresh
snow, avalanches, cornices, and finally, on
the north-western edge, rock difficulties
without hope, ruin the expedition. Tilman
then, from there go meet its old friend Eric
Shipton in Chinese Turkestan. Both tried to
climb Mustagh Ata (7.433 Mr.), " Father
of the icy mountains ", which draw up
at the Pamir borders its giant pyramid. New
failure.
At least, Tilman maked a rich travel of
discoveries. Lastly, it takes back another
road which without visa, in Afghanistan where
it stops as spy by strange civils servant,
and finally slackened, anxious and dissatisfied.
This book is the account of this not banal
adventure. Rich with the most degree of Tilman
skills: feel landscape, capacity of evocation,
tireless humour, sympathy to most of humanity.
This book reinforce its incomparable reputation
of traveller, writer and storyteller.
The occasion to recall excellent website
devoted to this famous exploring mountaineer:
Do not hesitate to visit Olivier Galibert
web site and especially to leave there rich
comments and experiments about trekking in
the Karakoram range ! Wish a goof journey
to Olivier.
Northern Kashmir is an isolated and contrasted area, deserted
and arctic, largely admired and always jealoused on. This site
is an invitation through time and one of the most beautiful mountain
areas, to dream, one might want to dream of the last unknown soil
of the world. If this could be of use to you for any details or
future expeditions to Kashmir, it would be my greates award and
please feel free to contact me on this subject.