In September 2023, my friend Marc and I was part of a Mountain Wilderness International expedition to the Hindu Kush (Hindu Raj) Mountains in Northern Pakistan. The Hindu Kush is the mountain range connected to the Karakorum in the North, which contains some of the highest mountains in the world like the Chhogori ( K2). Mountain Wilderness International and ISMEO initiated this project, divided into four phases, with the aim of creating a guide for sustainable tourism and the protection of the largely untouched nature in the Swat Valley.
The long-term goal of this project is the protection and conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of this region through the establishment of a National Park. The objective of this project is to convince the Pakistani authorities to designate a National Park in the area.
The phases of the project where as follows:
In the first phase in 2018, 21 young women and men from the region were trained as trekking guides. The training program also included extensive education on sustainable, environmentally friendly, and respectful interaction with nature.
In the second phase, potential trekking routes were discussed and explored. The first approaches to the surrounding and mostly undeveloped peaks were undertaken, and initial maps of the region were created.
Phases three and four involved evaluating the initial stages, and another expedition to explore the region was carried out.
Currently, a guidebook is being prepared and compiled for the Pakistani authorities to ensure the future of the region.
Our group of four mountaineers, four altitude porters and two local guides explored the region from the Gurbila Pass to Miangul Sar, a beautiful unclimbed Peak with around 18 000 feet / 6000 m.
All images shot on Sony A7IV & DJI Mavic 3 Classic
