Manual for beginner mountaineers in the Hunza Valley
in full Karakorum , which is actually a extension of the himalayan range , it is almost inevitable that the desire for adventure is activated. In the hunza valley there are plenty of reasons to give your body what it asks for and you can start with something as easy as visiting Eagle's Nest which, as its name indicates (eagles nest), is nothing more than a place on top of a mountain , frequented in the past by eagles, but where we are currently only going to find a hotel.
However, from there you can see one of the best and most privileged views over the impressive Hunza valley , its fields and the Karakoram mountains that surround it.
If the weather and above all the clouds allow it, you can watch the sunset from that point it will become one of those unforgettable moments that will never be erased from our memory.
Pakistan It is still a paradise for climbers due to its wide range of mountains to climb. And the connoisseurs assure that one of the most beautiful is the Rakaposhi , which is also in the area.
A small town in Kakakórum
One of the most accessible adventures to any climbing fan, but who does not dare to undertake its 7,778 meters of height, is visit your base camp with an excursion from the small village of Minapin.
are needed between five and six hours to arrive and, although the path is always uphill, the environment that is covered more than compensates for the effort.
In addition, one can hide that he has run out of breath by stopping to contemplate the capricious forms of the glaciers and impressive mountains snow covered.
If you travel on your own, overnight at Rakaposhi base camp is not difficult , as long as it is organized before arrival, for example, in the same town of Minapin, and a local guides who take care of all the logistical issues such as food and the tent.
Rakaposhi Mountain and Hunza Valley
If you want to visit a glacier lazy, without doing an exhausting trek, It always remains to peek at the Hopper , a particular glacier to be covered with a layer of blackish dust from the dark rock mountains of karakoram , name that means “black ghost”. Starting in March, you can see that tongue of ice wedged between the bare mountains, without vegetation.
It is not a region of glaciers pristine that dazzles with its striking whites and a wide range of magically blue colors, but if you walk a bit along the glacier, you can look at all those dazzling hues.
There is more risk, however, if you cross the Hussaini cable-stayed bridge , a precarious footbridge about 700 meters long that joins the two paths of the hunza river with metal ropes and planks with a significant distance between them.
It is a basic infrastructure but very common in the area, where due to the numerous rivers and deep valleys You can see these bridges, as well as "cable cars" made with the help of pulleys and iron stools.
This type of structure is very common in the area.
They seem clearly made by some DIY virtuoso, but both one infrastructure and the other they greatly facilitate people's day in these remote regions.
The previous Hussaini suspension bridge, still in more unstable conditions, was replaced by the one that can be seen today and which has become an attraction for tourists who come to the Hunza Valley.
And it is not advisable to underestimate the risk: it is advisable to abstain from anyone who suffers from the slightest vertigo or feels some type of apprehension about heights, since it is about seven to nine meters high , depending on the season of the year.
And to complete the beginner level adventures the Khunjerabad pass is worth the trip to reach the border between ** China and Pakistan **, which is almost 5,000 meters above sea level.
The Hunza Valley, a display of spectacular landscapes
It is the only road that can be reached by vehicle between the two nations, currently more united by the **Chinese economic initiative Belt and Road Initiative**, a program that involves Beijing's multimillion-dollar investments in Pakistani infrastructure so that Chinese products reach the world's markets more quickly. rest of the world.
Pakistanis claim that this border crossing is the highest in the world . It consists of an imposing gate in a valley surrounded by mountain peaks, with soldiers from each country stationed on each side of the fence. It only opens when a vehicle or person on foot crosses it.
The drive through the narrow roads to visit this peculiar border is more than compensated with spectacular scenery display that can only be seen, felt and breathed in the mountains of Karakoram.
Glaciers and stunning snow-capped mountains