Nicholas Rice: Broad Peak Dispatch

2007 Broad Peak Expedition

Dispatch One: June 10th, 2007

Arrival In Islamabad, Pakistan

Hi from the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad. Having endured eighteen hours of flights (not including layover), I arrived at 5:50am and cleared customs (minus one bag!) with almost 200 kilos of luggage, spent over an hour filing a claim for the lost bag, met my rep from Adventure Tours Pakistan, and got on my way to the Pak Continental Hotel in Islamabad. I relished the cool morning hours knowing full well how miserably hot the city would be a few hours later (it was predicted to be 40 degrees Celsius). I sorted food and gear in my room for a few hours then took what was supposed to be an hour nap… which turned into three. I woke up and went downstairs to meet Essar Karim (ATP) to discuss the agenda for the next couple of days. Our meeting was ended when he was called regarding a trekking group that required a helicopter evacuation from Jhula. Having only had the small boxed breakfast that British Airways served be at 4:30 AM, I ventured out to eat at the Marriot Hotel in Islamabad. The air conditioning and wireless internet connection could not have been more welcome. I worked on sorting out a few more of my technical issues and had a delicious lunch. Afterwards, I got back to my hotel (it’s a hard hotel to find!) and sorted gear yet again in order to ensure that I hadn’t overlooked anything important (acquiring climbing equipment in Pakistan is nearly impossible, but your best chance is in Islamabad). I made a small shopping list for the market tomorrow, had a much needed shower and realized that nearly all of my “city” clothes were in my missing bag, so I donned my mountain hardwear shirt. After a thoroughly exhausting day that lasted almost 60 hours, I hit the hay at 11:00pm.

Far Left: Map of Pakistan

Left: Saddar Bazaar in Rawalpindi