Istor-o-Nal, Mountain summit in Upper Chitral District, Pakistan.
Istor-o-Nal is a mountain summit reaching 7,403 meters in the Hindu Kush range, positioned northeast of Tirich Mir. The peak forms part of a larger cluster of high mountains in the area near Shagrom village.
The first ascent took place on June 8, 1955, when Americans Joseph Murphy and Thomas Mutch, along with Pakistani Major Ken Bankwala, climbed the west ridge to the summit. This climb marked an important moment in exploring the high mountain region.
The name comes from the Chitrali language, where Istor means horse and reflects the local way of speaking in the region. Visitors notice this connection to local culture when locals explain the mountain's name and its meaning.
The best climbing season runs from June through September when weather conditions are most favorable for mountaineering. Access begins from Shagrom village, which serves as the starting point for expeditions.
The mountain is part of a massive formation containing eleven peaks above 7,000 meters, with two summits never climbed. The unclimbed North East Peak and East Peak remain untouched, attracting mountaineers seeking new challenges.
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