When we were traveling on the KKH (Karakorum Highway) in Pakistan on April 26th, 2011, we got to see the Nanga Parbat – at 8,125 meters the ninth highest peak on earth. At that time, we drove on one of the highest trunk roads in the world to Skardu and Gilgit in the direction of China. It was an adventurous journey with fantastic views of eight-thousanders and views of the river Indus, which rushed through the valley far below.

A few days ago, on the way into the Gastern valley, this trip on the KKH came to mind. The gravel road was in better condition than the KKH, which had suffered from numerous landslides; but the narrow and dark tunnels hewn out of the rock and the rushing river Kander reminded us of this journey along the Karakoram mountains. The road through the Gastern valley is around 3,000 meters lower than the KKH; and the mountains in the Karakoram are about the same number of meters higher. But here, too, the peaks were snow-covered and towered into a steel-blue sky.

We wound our way to the very back of the valley, parked at the Heimritz mountain inn, which unfortunately was closed. So we strapped our backpacks on our backs and started our hike. It was one through a fantastically beautiful landscape. One that is on our doorstep…

PS. If you want to know more about the Gasterntal and the hiking opportunities, then please read here.