Baltoro Glacier, Glacier in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.
Baltoro Glacier is a glacier in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, extending more than 60 kilometers through the Karakoram mountains. The ice sheet runs between steep rock walls and forms one of the longest glacier highways outside the polar regions, surrounded by tall peaks and side valleys.
Since the early 20th century the glacier valley has served as the main access route for climbers heading toward the highest peaks in the region. European expeditions first mapped the route in the early 1900s, laying the groundwork for later summit attempts.
The local population names the glacier after old mountain traditions in their language, and to this day experienced porters from nearby villages accompany expeditions across the ice. These guides know the changing conditions from decades of experience and pass their knowledge of safe routes within their families.
Travelers need official permission from Pakistani authorities and should plan their expedition for the months between June and September when temperatures make crossing the ice easier. The trek across the glacier takes several days and requires equipment for extreme altitudes.
At the junction with the Godwin-Austen Glacier a natural plaza called Concordia forms, where the highest concentration of peaks above 7000 meters shapes the landscape. This spot is often described as an amphitheater of ice and rock, with mountains rising in a wide circle around the flat glacier surface.
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