Nanga Parbat Rakhiot Face (Gilgit Baltistan)

31st March 2017

 

Nanga Parbat Rakiot Face is the sharp vertical face of Nanga Parbat Mountain. It rises 22,966 feet from Indus River valley in just 25 km. Fairy Meadows is the lush green plateau in front of it.

About Nanga Parbat

Nanga Parbat, also known as Killer Mountain, is located on the border between Diamer and Astore districts. It is locally known as Diamer, King of the mountains. It is the 9th highest mountain in the world, having a height of 8,126 meters. It is the most difficult mountain to climb due to its vertical and dangerous structure. The weather conditions here, are too much uncertain, within few minutes, it covers with clouds and temperature drops below freezing point.

Nanga Parbat has a sharp vertical and prominent peak on all sides, rising 15,090 feet from the base camp from the Rupal Face that is the highest mountain face in the World, whereas it rises 22,966 feet on the Rakhiot Flank from Indus River valley to the summit in just 25 km, that is one of the ten greatest elevation. Nanga Parbat has the second most clear and prominent peak in the World, after Mount Everest. The north side leading toward the Indus River is covered with a number of subsidiary summits including North Peak, also known as Chongra, which is more difficult to climb.

Nanga Parbat is a long ridge that is composed of a huge bulk of ice and rock from southwest to northeast. It has three faces, the Rakhiot, Diamer, and Rupal faces. On the southwestern ridge, also called the Mazeno Wall, has number of small subsidiary peaks. In Northeast on the main ridge, there is Rakhiot Peak at the elevation of 23,200 ft. The south side is dominated by the Rupal Face. The north side leads to the Indus River is more dangerous and complex and splits into the Diamer face and Rakhiot face. The North Peak at the elevation of 25,643 ft at three kilometers from the main summit. There is a glacier lake called Latbo Lake near the base of the Rupal Face.

Nanga Parbat is the western anchor of the Himalayan Range and is just on the south of the Indus River. Nanga Parbat peak has tremendous vertical relief over local terrain in all directions.

Nanga Parbat was first climbed by Austrian climber Hermann Buhi from the Rakhiot Flank on 3 July 1953. Ali Sadpara, a Pakistan climber, was successfully climbed in winter season on 26 February 2016.

Fairy Meadows is the splendid place to visit in front of Rakhiot Face, which is full of lush green landscapes. Tourists can enjoy the beautiful weather there with a splendid view of Nanga Parbat in front of them. One-night stay gives you the chance to observe the sky full of stars in clear weather. Camping sites are also available there. If you visit in dark nights, then you will observe the hunge number of stars in the sky. It will be a unique experience in your life as you have never seen such sky with countless stars.

Beyal Camp is the next point after Fairy Meadows to get a closer view of Nanga Parbat. It is a resting point to start the next most dangerous 4-5 hours trek toward Base Camp in front of the Nanga Parbat. Trek passes through the Riakot Glacier, which is the most difficult part of the trek. Trek can be even covered by inexperience trekkers as it is much straight trek with a little difficulty, so no need of specialize mountain hiking equipment. But you must equip yourself with special hiking shoes and hiking stick.