50 Rupee Note & K2

K2 is the world’s second highest mountain, but far more dangerous than Everest. And this picture, taken near the base camp, is easily the toughest one that I have ever taken for the currency project. The walk to and from K2 base camp is widely known as one of the toughest commercially available treks, nearly 200 miles! I had to walk for two weeks next to the world’s highest mountains, on the one of the world’s largest and most dangerous glaciers, 12-15 miles every single day, up to an elevation of nearly 5400 meters.

Once the group arrived at Concordia, the confluence point of the Baltoro glacier and Godwin-Austen glacier, where we were to stay for two nights, I could barely see K2 amongst the clouds. Many porters even warned sometimes K2 isn’t visible for weeks because it attracts so many clouds. The first evening showed some promise, with clouds briefly appearing to give way, but when we woke up in the morning, we woke up to rain hitting the roof of our tents, and with clouds covering every mountain around us. We spent the day walking to the base camp, where, even though the weather had cleared up, the peaks of K2 and other mountains were hidden. It was only when we were walking back to Concordia that clouds finally departed and I was able to take this picture of the 50 rupee note with K2.

Taking this picture delayed my return to Concordia and we had to cross over from one glacier to another in pitch darkness, walking carefully on ice without crampons and holding hands to form a chain. One bad step and any one of us could have slipped into a crevasse below. If there was one moment where I was genuinely afraid for mine and everyone’s safety during this whole trek, this was it. If you ever do go, make sure to avoid night trekking!

Categories Pakistan
Date 29 July 2019
Place Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
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