BIAFO GLACIER PAKISTAN
PAKISTAN BEAUTIFUL
BIAFO GLACIER
The
Biafo Glacier is a 63 km long glacier in the Karakoram Mountains of
Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan which meets the 49 km long Hispar(Nagar)
Glacier at an altitude of 5,128 m at Hispar La (Pass) to create the
world's longest glacial system outside the polar regions. This highway
of ice connects two ancient mountain kingdoms, Nagar in the west with
Baltistan in the east. The traverse uses 51 of the Biafo Glacier's 63 km and all of the Hispar Glacier to form a 100 km glacial route.
The Biafo Glacier presents a trekker with several days of very
strenuous, often hectic boulder hopping, with spectacular views
throughout and Snow Lake near the high point. Snow Lake, consisting of
parts of the upper Biafo Glacier and its tributary glacier Sim Gang, is
one of the world's largest basins of snow or ice in the world outside of
the polar regions, up to 1,600 m ) in depth.
The Biafo Glacier is
the world's third longest glacier outside of the polar regions, second
only to the 70 km (43 mi) Siachen Glacier disputed between Pakistan and
India and Tajikistan's 77 km (48 mi) long Fedchenko Glacier.
Campsites along the Biafo are located off of the glacier, adjacent to
the lateral moraines and steep mountainsides. The first three (heading
up from the last village before the glacier, the thousand-year-old
Askole village) are beautiful sites with flowing water nearby. Mango and
Namla, the first two campsites, are often covered in flowers and Namla
has an amazing waterfall very near the camping area. Baintha, the third
camp site, is often used as a rest day. A large green meadow, it has a
few running streams near the camp and many places to spend the day rock
climbing or rappelling.
Evidence of wildlife can be seen throughout
the trek. The Ibex and the Markhor Mountain Goat can be found and the
area is famous for brown bears and snow leopards, although sightings are
rare.
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