Contrary to general belief Gasherbrum doesn't mean "shining wall". The name comes from the Balti words rgasha, which means beautiful and brum which means mountain. There are six Gasherbrum Peaks. Gasherbrum I, also known as K5 and Hidden Peak, a name given by William Martin Conway in 1892 in reference to its extreme remoteness. It is the highest peak among them. It is also the 11th highest peak in the world and is the second highest in the Karakoram Range. It is one of the four 8,000m peaks located in a tight cluster on the upper reaches of the Baltoro glacier, the main access route to the mountains which cuts through the center of the Karakoram Range. The Karakoram is the second tallest mountain range on earth. It lies about a thousand miles west of Nepal's Himalaya mountain range. The range is bordered by Tajikistan, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India. It is a condensed cluster of high peaks with 60 mountains over 6900 meters. Of the world's fourteen highest mountains, four are located within the Karakoram Range: K2, Gasherbrum I and II, and Broad Peak.
Gasherbrum is a remote group of high peaks in the Karakoram, located at the northeast end of the 36-mile Baltoro glacier. The group forms a semi-circle around its own South Gasherbrum Glacier. A French Expedition led by H. De Segogne made first attempt in 1936, but they could not climb beyond Camp V at a height of 6797 meters. However, in 1958 an American Expedition led by Nich Clinch made the first ascent of Gasherbrum I. Pete Schoening and Andy Kaufman were first to reach the summit.
The peak was also the venue of the world’s first 8,000 meter climb in pure Alpine Style. This means that the start of the climb is done from the bottom of the mountain and all gears are carried on the way, if any bivouacs, they will be found on the way. No route preparation is done. Supplemental oxygen is not used. Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler achieved this unprecedented feat in August, 1975. On 8 August 1975, they began their climb. They had no rope with them, no supplemental oxygen, just personal climbing gears. On August 10th they summitted the peak and thus introduced pure Alpine style climbing to the Karokaram.
Gasherbrum I is one to the "least popular" of the 8000 meter peaks. It still has less than 200 ascents and is in tenth spot on the ascent-list for the 8000 meter peaks. It is also one of the peaks with least deaths, but this probably has to do with the fact that only really experienced mountaineers try a peak as difficult at Gasherbrum I.
The most common way to climb the peak is to attack on the western side and all routes here leads to "The Japanese Couloir", which is located on top of the north-west face. The first ascent (1958) was made via Spur Peak and then via the long south east ridge to the summit.
Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Islamabad & Transfer to the Hotel
Day 02: Rest day in Islamabad (585m)
Day 03: Fly from Islamabad to Skardu (2,228m)
Day 04: Rest Day in Skardu : Expedition briefing and preparation
Day 05: Drive from Skardu to Askole (2,600m) : Camping
Day 06: Trek from Askole to Jhola (3,185m) : Camping
Day 07: Trek from Jhola to Paiyu (3,383m) : Camping
Day 08: Rest day in Paiyu : Camping
Day 09: Trek from Paiyu to Urdukas (4,130m) : Camping
Day 10 : Trek from Urdukas to Goro II (4,250m) : Camping
Day 11: Trek from Goro II to Sharing Camp
Day 12: from Sharing to G1 Base camp
Day 13 - 43 : Climbing Period [Basecamp - Summit (8068m) - Basecamp]
Day 44: Cleaning Up Basecamp : Preparation for descending back
Day 45: Trek from Basecamp to Goro II : Camping
Day 46: Trek from Goro II to Khuburtze : Camping
Day 47: Trek from Khuburtze to Mundung : Camping
Day 48: Trek from Mundung to Askole : Camping
Day 49: Drive from Askole to Skardu
Day 50: Fly from Skardu to Islamabad & transfer to the Hotel
Day 51: Leisure day in Islamabad
Day 52: Transfer to the International Airport for final departure