A Photo Gallery of Trek to Ratti Gali Lake by Asad Mehmood.

Trek starts from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad to Diwarian to Ratti Gali Lake.

You can read complete trek details here: Trek to Dawarian or Rattigali Lake

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Paswar Peak at k2 base camp

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Those mountains lover who have a their small camping spot of Urdukas may have seen the Trango Tower massif across the mighty Baltoro Glacier on the way to the elevated giants of K-2, the Gasherbrums, or Broad Peak. The east face of Great Trango Tower and Nameless Tower are among the major upright faces of the world. It are wasn’t opened until 1975 climbing after being closed for several years and in 1976 Nameless Tower was climbed for the first time by a strong British team on their second try. In 1977 the peak of Great Trango Tower’s was first climbed by Galen Rowell, John Roskelly, Kim Schmitz, and Dennis Hennek by the easiest route ups the western side. Great Trango is somewhat a large mountain with three main peaks, all over 6000 meters. In 1984, the 5000 foot Norwegian Buttress was the first route established on the massive East Face, which led to the first ascent of the East Summit (6231 meters).

Climbs:

Nameless has 8 ways to its top all on its Southeast and Southwest faces. Great Trango Towers has 2 big-wall ways up its East/Northeast Face. Some alpine ways go up the Northwest and West sides of Great Trango. Nameless Tower is more featured than Great Trango with more cracks and possible lines. Routes on Nameless are approached from either the Trango or Dungee Glaciers, while Great Trango’s wall routes are appoached from the Dungee Glacier. Great Trango’s approach is more serious and dangerous than the Nameless approaches.

In 1999 for the first time the West peak of Great Trango and the Trango Pulpit both were climbed. The West peak was climbed by two separate teams, one American and one Russian, almost all together, by equivalent routes. The American team of Alex Lowe, Jared Ogden, and Mark Synnott climbed a long, bold, highly technical line which they called “Parallel Worlds.” They reported complexities up to 5.11 and A4. The Russian team of Potan’kin Igor, Alexandr Odintsov, Ivan Samoilenko and Yuri Koshelenko climbed a uniformly proud route (Eclissi) and meet similar technical challenges. Both climbs were chosen for the impressive Piolet D’or award in 1999. The Pulpit was climbed by a Norwegian team.

Climate:

Normally the weather was suitable for our recent 1992 expedition in June and July. It never got extremely windy and the storms were normally mild, though at times they got fierce. Later in the season is also measured suitable (August, September), but the frequency of floods increases later in the season making some of the approaches too risky. This area of the Himalaya sees very little monsoon action.

Permit For Climbing:

A permit for climbing in Pakistan is needed from the Pakistan Ministry of Tourism. There should be 4 persons for the pemit, who all must be registered at time of applying for the permit, though these names can be changed later. Changes to the permit must be finalized 4 months earlier to arrival in Pakistan. The application wants to comprise such particulars like exact dates of arrival and departure, members including specified leader, set aside members, general size, particulars of travel to and from the peak, information on the peak desired, and details of the leader and expedition members. A visa is also required. Obtain the visa after permit application is approved.

Trango Tower is the most adventurous and also the most dangerous spot to climb. This mountain is the challenge for all those mountain lovers who love to do different dangerous and thrilling adventure.

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By Zahrah Nasir

Certainly not everyone’s idea of a travel destination, the ancient city of Kabul weaves a magnetic spell around those who dare to tread the merciless dust of its ravaged streets, which are rising from the ashes they have been buried under for the last 30 years and counting. Nothing is like as it first seemed, other than the wide smiles of returning refugees struggling to make new lives. And the survivors who think they have already seen and felt the worst. They hopefully seek a better future though they’re unlikely to resurrect the fondly remembered days of ‘hippidom’ — the days when caravans of young westerners travelled these historic highways and byways on their overland route to India.

Façades of once proud buildings waiting for the Afghan version of ‘Spaghetti Westerns’ to be filmed still line the roads of outlying city districts whilst pretentiously arrogant villas a la’ Pakistan rub cement shoulders in more desirable locations where each and every square inch of land is an exorbitantly priced commodity.

Yet, despite the rattling echo of bullets slashing through the clear night air as they are wont to do, the near-enough-to-touch stars are just as big as they ever were, Chicken Street with its tourist trap stores is still sharply operational, the traditional tea of welcome still flows endlessly and the aroma of fresh tandoori nan and fragrantly hot kebabs hangs lusciously heavy on every corner in town and the people talk… how they talk and smile and extend the handshake of friendship.

“Eat with us” called a group of young women wearing jeans, long shirts and hijab. “Come home with us; spend the night so we can talk. We are all students at the university except for this one here, she is our professor.”

I regret having to refuse in the face of such open hospitality.

My taxi whizzes dangerously, seemingly sideways through one of the three daily traffic jams. So often the rush grinds to a frozen halt when convoys of foreign troops in armoured vehicles ominously dominate the tarmac and every other form of transport must momentarily breathe in, become invisible. Just in case a bomb goes off, a suicidal maniac decides to hit, a sniper fire. Then, just as suddenly as they appear, the menace is gone and the very air is allowed to heave a huge sigh of relief until next time.

The worlds have always collided in Kabul, the tribes congregated, traders traded, invaders have occupied, merged or been driven out and nothing much has altered in this respect but life, particularly picnics, continue as usual.

Babar lived and picnicked here, created the extraordinary Bagh-e-Babar, now completely renovated including a magnificent outdoor swimming pool and his tomb in this Mughul garden is a place of pilgrimage for historians, the garden itself a beautiful picnic spot for Kabulis by the score.

Kargha Lake, a manmade attraction nestled against the foothills of the Paghman Mountains just outside Kabul wasn’t around when Babar ruled the roost, is one of the most popular picnic spots to be found and hundreds of people throng to its shores at weekends and on holidays. Families brew tea on primus stoves, heat up pilau, children fly kites, adults try their hand at fishing, and elders tell tales of the pre-ward days.

These days, though, the nomads have a hard time clinging on to survival. Numbers and herds diminished, traditional migration routes and grazing mined or devastated by drought. They are increasingly being forced to try and settle down in one place that goes against their ancestral custom and culture. Once open borders are now closed to them, lands of plenty become scarce and the colourful clothes of their women transformed into upper class fashion statements. Every Kabuli wedding party inevitable sports a few well-to-do imitation nomads…the real thing wouldn’t be allowed!

Kabul, with its five-star and no star hotels and restaurants, its smiling people and a ubiquitous sense of mystery and danger, has always lain at the fascinatingly addictive crossroads of empires…. it always will.

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By Umair Hasan

We recently did the Musa ka Musalla trek in Kaghan valley. Musa ka Musalla peak stands at an altitude of 4100m at the junction of Siran and Kaghan valleys. We did the trek from Balakot (Naddi Bangla) side with camping on the lush green meadows of Bagheer(3900m). Fresh water is available here at a short walking distance. From Bagheer, one can reach the top of Musalla in 5-6 hrs via Thandigali to get fascinating panoramic views of the entire area on a clear day.

We have identified 4 different approaches for Musa ka Musalla from where it can be accessed…

1. From Mandakuch/Jacha village. One can reach here through Mansehra/Shinkiari. The trek to the top takes 7-8 hours from there.

2. From Naddi Bangla. One can reach here from Balakot on a jeep road. From here one can take a) Bagheer meadows route towards Northeast of Naddi Bangla b) Maidan route towards Northwest. Both the approaches converge at Thandigali where one can also camp.

3. From Kund Bangla / Shaheed Pani. There are forest rest houses on both the places and they can be reached via Masehra/Shinkiari. This is the longest path but is less hectic in terms of ascend.

4. From Sharan. It can be reached through Paras. This is the most difficult option in terms of steepness.

Some of the trek pictures are below

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You will not be dissatisfied when you come to ski Big Mountain, situated about four miles northwest of Whitefish, Montana, just west of Glacier National Park in the Flathead National Forest. The Whitefish Mountain Resort also has dramatic sights overlooking Whitefish Lake and the Flathead Valley. Whitefish Mountain has 3,000 acres of good ski trails with slopes for skiers at each level of expertise, from beginner to double diamond specialist trails as well as tree skiing. Since skiers are not restricted to ski trails, Whitefish Mountain is a huge place for skiers who desire to ski off trail.

The Hell Roaring Basin area of Big Mountain is not for learners but is a beloved of some advanced skiers. As a skier nears the bottom, the trees are quite thick and therefore not recommended for anyone who cannot make tight turns in deep snow. At the intermediate level, one of the benchmark runs you will not want to miss is called Inspiration that begins from the Summit House that lets you ski with giant slalom turns at comfortable speeds those winds down the front face of Big Mountain. Skiing is available on all sides of the mountain.

Snowboarders have their own ski lift and terrain park known as the Fish Bowl, a play on words with the name of their hometown of Whitefish. The terrain park Includes rails and boxes for learners, intermediates and freestyle snow boarders. The 2009-2010 season features 2 progressive hip jumps for those that like to fly. Big Mountain is the residence of champions as well as great ski practice for the average skier.

There are quite a small number of activities at the Whitefish Ski Lodge in addition to snow skiing. These comprise night skiing, dog sledding, sleigh rides and ski sailing. Dog sledding is free for the kids. You can also have a change of pace with guided snowmobile visits that cover hundreds of groomed trails in the limited area. A free transport runs from the town of Whitefish to the base of the mountain. Get pleasure from the affability of Whitefish shops and restaurants. They swank about not having any chain stores in Whitefish. It is true; everything is exclusive with no big city image to support.

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If a usual hotel on dry land appears a little boring, then Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida U.S.A is the only place for you. Jules is the unique undersea hotel. But don’t be fooled into thinking this is just a trick. If you want to get into this hotel then you’re going to have to scuba dive 21 feet under the surface of the sea.

Jules’ Undersea Lodge, named after the author of the famed maritime story 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, is the world’s first underwater hotel. At first built in the early 1970s as a groundbreaking research lab off the shore of Puerto Rico, the Lodge has been in business in Key Largo, Florida since relocating there and opening its hatch to the public in 1986.

Honestly a pioneering concept, Jules’ Undersea Lodge claimed status as the world’s only underwater accommodation accessible to the public until recent years when ecotourism has become all the temper. Many celebrities have enjoyed a stay including Steve Tyler of Aerosmith, John Fishman of Phish and former Canadian Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau.

Visitors to Jules who are not specialized divers will go through a 3-hour crash course in scuba diving before shacking up in their room for the night. After all, the doorway to the hotel is 21 feet underwater on the sea floor. If you are a diving fan, the Undersea Park is your Mecca. Also to the scuba crash course, the staff of Jules’ Undersea Lodge offers common scuba certification courses and diving tours.

After diving down and resurfacing through the wet room access, residents can doff their scuba clothe and take pleasure in all the amenities of modern life 21 feet below the surface. Supporters marvel at unobstructed views sea life in their normal settings through 42 inch windows. Completely stocked with modern conveniences like air-conditioning, hot showers, a stereo and a DVD player this hotel is perfect for the romantic escape or the adventurer who truly desires an exclusive experience. Once underwater, visitors do not have to come back until they wish. Dinner and breakfast are provided by the world’s only “mer-chef” and delivered punctually at 6:00PM (dinner) and 8:00AM (breakfast). I would advise a stay at the Undersea Lodge to anyone with a daring spirit.

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Popularity: 50% [?]