SKARDU, July 24: A Baltistani mountain rescue team after hectic efforts has reopened the Baltoro’s region’s famous and highest Ghondoghoro Pass which was blocked for the last two years due to opening up of a large crevasse just below the Ghondoghoro top.

Mohammad Iqbal, a guide working for Mountain Travels Pakistan, who on Thursday reached here from Shigar via the pass, told Dawn that in the beginning of the season this year, the Ghondoghoro Pass rescue team belonging to Hushey had tried to lay a path over the crevasse but failed.

"Later, just a week ago a 10-member mountaineering rescue team belonging to Hushey and Machulu villages headed by a famous climber of Machulu, Haji Hassan, tried to restore the pass again and finally the team was able to make a path over the crevasse by fixing ropes along it and made it safe to travel for the trekkers," he maintained.

Mr Hassan said since the restoration of the pass, some 20 foreign trekking groups had crossed the pass and entered in the beautiful Hushey valley from Shigar. The foreign tourists thanked the rescue team and said its contribution in promoting mountain tourism in the area was laudable.

Ghondoghoro Pass is 5,800 meters high from the sea level and one of the favourite and strenuous trekking routes in the world in mountain tourism field. This pass is located between Shigar and Hushey valley near Concordia in the Baltoro region of Karakoram Range.

Mr Ali, a resident of Khaney village in Ghanche district, was the first to cross the pass from Shigar side and enter Hushey valley along with a foreign trekker in 1987. He also introduced the pass for tourism. Since then the pass became a favourite trekking route among the world tourist.

And hundreds of foreign trekking groups and expedition parties have been using this pass to get access to Hushey valley from Concordia. Along with them thousands of local porters, guides, cooks and helpers also cross this pass each year.

From Shigar side, the tourists and expedition parties start trekking from Askoli – the last destination of jeep journey in the Shigar valley that takes seven days to get Concordia. Concordia is the junction of several famous lofty peaks from where one can have a spectacular view of world's famous and beautiful mountains, including K2 (the second highest in the world), Gashabrum I & II and Broad Peak.

Crossing Ghondoghoro Pass itself is a great challenge and thrilling adventure for the tourists. It is very difficult to cross it during day time during which the snow melts because of the sun heat and avalanches are expected. That is the reason because of which the trekkers normally start their climb from Ali Camp (5,100 meter high) at midnight to cross the pass. At that time, the snow is frozen and journey over the pass becomes safe.

Every year in the summer season two groups of local mountaineers belonging to Hushey and Machulu villages fix ropes along the Ghondoghoro Pass to help the trekkers who travel though it. One team stays at Ali camp towards Concordia side and another team waits at Khiyuspang (4,900 meters high) towards Hushey side and members of each team provide rescue services. This effort of the local mountain rescue team is no doubtfully a great contribution for the promotion of mountain tourism in the area. The government should encourage these people in reward for their tough work.

Owing to blockade of Ghondoghoro Pass all the trekking groups and expeditions had to return from Concordia during the last two years and many foreign tourists also cancelled their plans. Now the pass has been restored again and it is hoped that the mountain tourism would flourish in Baltistan again.