Relief as final transit permit is approved.

Relief as the transit permit to move to basecamp.

Stopover in Skardu was wonderful, a fantastic opportunity to get up close with the locals in the town and capital of Skardu District, in Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan. Skardu is in the 10 kilometres wide by 40 kilometres  long Skardu Valley, at the confluence of the Indus and the Shigar River.Skardu is at an altitude of nearly 2,500 metres (8,202 feet) . The town is surrounded by grey-brown coloured mountains, which hide the 8,000 metre peaks of the nearby Karakoram range. There are three lakes in the vicinity: Upper Kachura lake, Lower Kachura Lake, and Sadpara Lake. This small village placed at the end of civilisation for mountaineers on route to Broadpeak K2 Gashu brum 1 & 2. The locals here have embraced the mountaineers over the years as they realise its importance as it boosts the economy. Freely waking around were met with a very friendly wave & salam malaiku (hello) as both sides of the main street approx 1km long trading chemists ,drapery, elecectical,fresh fruit stalls motor mechanics and butchers with freshly hanging meat as seam to operate seamlessly.

Yesturday the final provisions for base camp and high camps were bought locally , spending the evening putting rice potato veg meat snacks teas coffees & so much more were all stored safely in large blue barrels. Similarly the tents Gas & cooking equipment along with our oxygen & masks of high altitude were all tested and assembled. Today once clearance came through the jeeps loaded with the hard wear left for the famous road from Skardu to Askole and in the morning early we also will follow on the 6 hour journey. Form Askole were operating self sufficient camping & cooking as we move up the 80km trek on the Baltoro glacier to our final destination K2 base camp.

Once their ill give an update.

In shallah