The Lucky Team
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The team arrived back in Islamabad yesterday - the lucky team I've called it as two of us survived almost uninjured very long falls , myself down 30 meters of rock and Dimitar some 300m down snow and ice. 

Climbing conditions in the Karakorums were extremely bad and dangerous. Heavy snow falls in the winter combined with an intense monsoon meant lots of treacherous snow. Unfortunately I managed to lose my backpack containing my sleeping bag, tent, warm clothing and passport off of a cliff during my fall putting me out of the climb. I was stuck at camp with the bike for 5 straight days of snowfall.

Zdeno with Dimitar pushed on to the end. But eventually they conceded defeat and it was on the down climb that the fixed rope Dimitar was on suddenly vanished, presumably cut in an avalanche, and he went hurtling down the snow slope.

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These are some initial photos on the walk out - in the next days I will write a fuller report, download and post some of the main photos. 
For now , greetings from Islamabad , Pakistan where I am waiting for a New Passport.

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Nathan DahlbergCycling, Climbing, World Record, Nathan Fa'avae, Nathan Dahlberg, Nelson Weekly, National Park, Nelson Live, Sponsorship, Mountaineering, Mountain Biking, Reinhold Messner, Training, Kathmandu, Pomotion, Pakistan, Performance, Full Moon, Manawatu, Tour De France, Absolute Wilderness, Nathan, New Zealand, Palmerston North, Nelson Comment
A short walk in the Karakorums

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!

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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Nathan DahlbergSkardu, Himalayas, Broadpeak, Nathan Dahlberg, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Manawatu, Cycling, Athlete, Nelson, Outdoors, Climbing, TrainingComment
Greetings from Skardu
Greetings from Skardu

Greetings from Skardu, 2300m gateway to the Karakorums. Had a very long trip over the past 2 days to get here, however it was made up by the incredible scenery of the northern areas of Pakistan.

Massive river gorges and rapids below us. Lofty mountains above culminating in the massive massifs of Nanga prabat, Rakaposhi, Diran and Harmosh. The seven and eight thousand meter peaks have a very distinct character of there own looking more like clouds than mountains.

Rakaposhi was especially spectacular, a white pyramid glinting in the sun soaring above a thundercloud. There's been a succession of heavy snow years here culminating in a huge snow winter just past that defies both El Nino and climatologists - its continuing to snow at the at base camp.

We have our final day in Skardu tomorrow then the week long trek to base camp. From then, 5 weeks of no contact with the outside world will begin - except for the odd satellite phone message.
 

A final big thanks to all those that helped make this possible, family friends and sponsors.

Nathan DahlbergComment