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Ask Richard Bangs: Traveling the Karakoram Highway:Posted By: Tom Braswell Ask Richard Bangs: Traveling the Karakoram Highway
Whether it's travel advice, queries about his experiences in the wild, or clarifications on past expeditions for Yahoo!, Richard Bangs has the answers. (Do you have a question about adventure travel for Richard Bangs? Send it to askrichardbangs@yahoo.com.)
Dear Richard, -- John W. Hi John: The Karakoram Highway is the road that connects Islamabad (Pakistan) to Kashgar (Western China). Kashmir is in India, though the region is under dispute and part of it is under control of Pakistan. Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, and Lahore are very large cities and can be visited without too many concerns, but it is prudent to respect local traditions and customs, and to stay clear of political demonstrations and large gatherings. It may be easier for Chinese people to travel there than Anglo-Americans, given the current political situation, although most often local peoples are savvy enough to separate Americans from their government political choices. There have been robberies reported along the road, but then there are few major roads anywhere where robberies have not taken place. For a time Miami was cited by the Germans as being unsafe because of its rash of car-jackings. Nonetheless, it is highly recommended to hire a guide to show you around the cities, and use a reliable agency to provide services along the Karakoram Highway. For many years I have used Walji's, the original adventure outfitter in Pakistan that became famous supporting many of the classic Karakoram climbing expeditions, including to K2, second highest mountain in the world. The Karakoram Highway (see Wikipedia article) is usually open between late May through October, and is infamous for its landslides. When I traveled the highway some years ago while making the first descent of the Indus River, we passed many trucks and buses that had been swept into the gorge by landslides. So, besides the political issues, there are objective risks. On the other hand, the Karakoram Highway just may be the most scenic highway in the world, twisting above one of the world's deepest gorges, and beneath some of the highest mountains on earth. It will literally take your breathe away, and I would not hesitate to return and do the drive again... though I would wear a helmet.
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