Gondogoro La Crossing

Rather than returning down the Baltoro the way you came, the Gondogoro La crosses south from Concordia to the Hushe valley over a pass of about 5,585 metres. It turns an out-and-back into a traverse, and the view from the col takes in K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum IV and Laila Peak at once.

The crossing is genuinely mountaineering terrain. It involves a pre-dawn start on snow, fixed ropes on the steep sections, and the use of harness, crampons and ice axe. We only run it with a rope team and guides who have crossed the pass before, and it stays weather-dependent to the last moment — the safe decision is sometimes to turn around and walk out via the Baltoro.