The last day in Skardu was spent shopping in the morning followed by a good walk up the nearest local berg. We aimed for a big black rock tower, although we knew we could never make it. We had our first deception that we all get in the Himalayas - it was deceptively large. After climbing to 3500m , 1250 above Skardu it looked even further away than when we had begun. It was still a good 1000 very steep meters above when we turned back arriving at night. A pleasant walk in the Karakorums!

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To the north we got views of the "foothills' , five to six thousand meter peaks on the way to the Baltoro, and below a very scenic Green Skardu.

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"Nath - how about some Absolute Wilderness stew"                                                                              "yeah Nath , then apples on cream rice for dessert"

 Absolute Wilderness specialize in creating 100% freeze dried high performance meals for outdoor athletes and enthusiasts. One of the perennial high altitude problems is the lack of appetite - The palatability, nutrition, light weight and ease of use of Absolute Wilderness products will sustain us in that harsh top of the World environment.  Here multiple World multi-sport champion Nathan Fa'avae demonstrates his culinary abilities to me - "just add water and eat!!"

Visit Absolute Wilderness on Facebook or visit them at www.absolutewilderness.co.nz/

Its been a fairly quiet March training wise - mainly cycling and walking but I did get out a few times. Here I am hiking up to Mt Angelus summit and back in the Nelson lakes last Thursday. Great weather for a 10 hour day.

Nathan Dahlberg, Broad Peak, World Record, Mountaineer, Cyclist, Outdoors, Adventure, Mountians, Climbing, Hiking, Biking, Tour De France, Absolute Fitness, Kathmandu, broadpeak, Exploring, 8000m

30 years ago I read this book , the 1981 Epic of New Zealander's  Peter Hillary (Sir Ed's son) and Graeme Dingle as they made the first ever traverse of the Himalayas. there journey ended on the Baltoro glacier at Concordia  right below K2 and Broad Peak. Ever since seeing the photos of Concordia and its surrounds all those years ago there rested in my mind the idea of going there. The vision has expanded - little would've I have imagined back than the idea of trying to climb one of the giants yet alone taking a bicycle up there!!